Purple martins gather around the nesting gourds at the port’s wetland mitigation bank.

Each spring and summer, the cheerful chirps of purple martins can be heard from the port’s wetland mitigation bank. These migratory birds come each year to lay eggs and raise their chicks. The port’s nesting program began 13 years ago, when the port’s environmental team partnered with avian experts and wildlife agencies to help increase Southwest Washington’s purple martin population.

New nesting gourd waiting patiently to be installed in the spring of 2025.

They installed avian-friendly structures that replicate the natural nesting cavities preferred by purple martins. What started as 16 bird-friendly structures grew quickly to 32. With over 60 hatches in 2023 and 2024, the current habitat needs to expand again. Next spring, a new tower with eight additional gourds will be installed.

For the first 12 years of the program, volunteers under a federally issued permit were required to place individually numbered bands on each hatchling to track movements, longevity and migration patterns.

In 2023, the banding process was deemed no-longer necessary by the state’s wildlife agency based on the program’s consistent success. Port staff, however, continues to count hatchings to ensure they’re keeping up with the “demand for housing.” While purple martins are on the Washington State Species of Concern List due to their low numbers, efforts like these are having a positive impact on the population.

“It’s so encouraging to see how well these birds are doing here, and they’re coming back in strong numbers each year,” said port Environmental Manager Matt Graves.

The purple martin sanctuary at the port is a testament to the notion that ports and preservation can not only coexist, but thrive