Purple Martin
Purple Martins are North America’s largest swallow. I really can’t say that I have even seen one. I have seen many Purple Martin houses but generally they are filled with English sparrows instead of Martins. Martins have been nesting in human provided nest boxes for hundreds of years. Even before Europeans arrived here, Native Americans hung dried gourds for them to nest in. I don’t know when the apartment house type boxes (do you wonder if they have bunk beds in the compartments?) came onto the scene but you see them all over. In the east, Purple Martins nest exclusively in boxes while in the west they still rely on natural cavities. I think I will make it a goal to find a Purple Martin. Even if I have to travel to a nearby town that has a Purple Martin festival.
August 9th, 2007 at 11:40 am
My FIL has martin houses (gourds) at the lake house. There are no mosquitoes at all on their property. It is awesome.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:00 am
You got some interesting articles in your list there.. great job my friend. keep it up.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I fledged 131 baby martins this year. I make sure the sparrows and starlings stay away from my purple martins homes though.
Did you ever get to see any martins?
If not you can see them (in season) on a live streaming webcam of a colony at PurpleMartins-R-Us.com. It should start up in January and is live 24/7 till August.