The Johnson County Songbird Project is holding the 10th annual Purple Martin Workshop in Kalona today.Doors open at 8 a.m. for the event begin hosted at the CAM Clothing Center. According to director of the Songbird Project, Jim Walters, there are several homeowners in Washington County who manage purple martin colonies.

He says the landlords have several options when it comes to what they use to house the birds, from metal structures to plastic molds made to look like gourds. He shares the real challenge is creating the perfect conditions, like making sure there are no gnats. He says one bite from a gnat can kill a baby purple martin.

For more information on becoming a purple martin landlord, listen to Wednesday’s In Touch with Southeast Iowa.