Some people have good luck attracting martins with hollowed-out gourds.
• Select several large gourds.
• Hollow out the inside of each gourd through a 5.5-cm-diameter entrance hole.
• Hang the gourds on crossbars mounted on a post or simply hang them from trees 3 to 6 m off the ground.
• A cluster of individual nesting boxes, placed 3 to 6 m off the ground, with 5.5 cm entrance holes will also attract purple martins. See "Build and Maintain Nesting Boxes" for details.