Purple Martin Project
Protecting a Migratory Icon in Volusia County

What It Is

Purple Martins are North America’s largest swallow and, in the eastern US, depend almost entirely on human-provided nesting housing.

SEVAS manages and monitors a local Purple Martin colony to provide safe breeding habitat and support long-term population stability.

Why It Matters

These birds migrate thousands of miles between South America and Florida each year. Along the way they face habitat loss, severe weather, and pressure from invasive species.

Well-managed nesting sites dramatically improve breeding success and chick survival.

Supporting martins strengthens the broader migratory bird population that depends on Florida as a critical stopover and breeding region.

Local stewardship strengthens a hemispheric migration story.

What We Do

• Maintain and monitor our martin condos at the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach- our fifth year!) and an auxilliary condo at the Riverside Conservancy Center in Edgewater.
• Monitor nests throughout breeding season at MDC.
• Collect data to support conservation research
• Engage volunteers in hands-on stewardship
• Educate the community about migratory bird conservation

This project connects local action to hemispheric migration.

Get Involved

→ Volunteer for Monitoring
→ Teach About Purple Martins
→ Support the Project