Tampa Bay Newspapers, FL – Jan 31, 2014
Article published on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2014
PINELLAS COUNTY – In the birding world, few species generate more excitement than does the Purple Martin, a swallow that is arriving now throughout Florida, with reports of scouts logged almost daily online.
Purple martins, the largest of the swallows in North America, are totally dependent on man-made housing and faithfully return to the same locations each year, so it’s understandable that human “landlords” anxiously await the return of “their” birds from wintering grounds in South America.
The earliest arrivals to the eastern U.S. occur in Florida and dates and locations are watched by martin enthusiasts nationally on an online data base – at www.purplemartin.org – maintained by the Purple Martin Conservation Association, a nonprofit conservation organization.
The earliest arriving martin in Florida this season occurred Dec. 22 in Naples, followed on Dec. 23 in Punta Gorda and Jan. 2 in Pembroke Pines.
While the southern-most locations tend to get the earliest arrivals, purple martins begin arriving in central and northern Florida after about January 15, according to a PMCA migration map. Migration is especially drawn out in Florida, with arrivals continuing into May.
Purple martins nest in colonies in gourds hung from large racks and in multi-compartment bird houses placed in open areas in yards. Colonies have returned to housing each year at golf courses at Walt Disney World for over a decade.
Adult male purple martins are glossy blue-black in color, which they obtain at age 2. Females are a bit drab, with a gray breast. One-year-old martins – so called “sub adults” – begin arriving 10 to 12 weeks later than the older birds in the South. These younger birds are more easily attracted to new housing locations.
The term “scout” is a misnomer, according to the PMCA. These earliest arrivals are simply experienced mature martins that have made the journey before and are eager to reclaim their housing.
The PMCA recently analyzed long-term data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and found that – thanks to devoted men and women who erect and maintain housing – purple martin populations overall are holding steady in North America.
However, there are declines in some regions, including much of Florida. The BBS surveys find that the species has been returning in slightly fewer numbers for many years throughout the state; perhaps as the tradition of erecting housing wanes – but martins are still fairly common in the state where housing is maintained.
While generations of Americans have hosted purple martins – the custom adopted from Native Americans who hung out nesting gourds – specific techniques to help a colony thrive emerged in the past decade, based on research conducted by the PMCA and landlords in the field.
Among innovations are deeper compartments to better protect nestlings from rain and from predators, and specially-shaped entrance holes designed to admit martins while restricting European starlings, an invasive, non-native species. The PMCA also recommends that landlords actively manage colony sites, including monitoring of nests for progress or problems.
Because purple martins are birds of the open sky – catching insects on the fly – the PMCA’s number one tip: place housing in the most open space available, but where the colony can be enjoyed and monitored.
More information about purple martins is available from the Purple Martin Conservation Association by calling 814-833-7656 or visit purplemartin.org.
