Celebrate Purple Martin Palooza at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course is celebrating the annual migration of the purple martin with Purple Martin Palooza in May 2026.

2026 Purple Martin Palooza

Tall purple martin nests on a golf course.

Purple martins with information that says they are migratory songbirds and the largest member of the swallow family.

Walt Disney World golf courses have been certified for many years by Audubon International as Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuaries. Celebrating the annual migration of the purple martin is one example of Disney’s focus on the environmental impact of its actions.

Purple martins are the largest member of the swallow family and are a priority bird species for conservation in Florida. They migrate several thousand miles annually from Brazil in South America, traveling over Central America and Mexico, before arriving in central Florida in December to January.

To support their migration efforts, man-made nest structures were installed years ago at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course. Similar structures can be found elsewhere at Walt Disney World, like EPCOT and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. The purple martins nest upon arrival, and once they do, Cast Members schedule weekly checks of their nests to monitor the birds and their eggs. The nests can be raised and lowered, and there are also side caps for visual observation of the interior.

Cast members at Purple Martin Palooza. They are standing in front of a table with plush purple martins and example nests with diagrams of information.

Before the birds migrate back to South America in June or July, Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course will be celebrating the conservation research with Purple Martin Palooza on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 7 – 8:30 AM.

Fans of the purple martin can also purchase a plush version of the bird at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.

Are you planning on attending Purple Martin Palooza this year? Let us know on social media.

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