PensacolaNewsJournal.com, FL – Mar 17, 2007
Birdlovers open their hearts — and their yards — to these faithful part-time residents
Kate S. Peabody
kpeabody@pnj.com
They have no money. They pay no rent, and just like Aunt Edna from Omaha, they show up every spring to enjoy our Southern hospitality and soak up the sun.
Who are they? The Martins — the purple martins, the largest member of the North American swallow family.
It’s that time of year when these feathered friends return to the Panhandle to nest and raise their young before returning home to winter in South America.
Known as much for their beauty as their loyalty, the males are a deep, solid sparkling purple and have a forked-tail. Female purple martins are equally dazzling, but with a grey underbelly.
And they can sing, too.
While visiting our area, purple martins are at the mercy of their human “landlords” for temporary housing.
But while purple martins are popular among avid birders nationwide, there is concern among experts about their future: Their numbers here and in other areas are declining.
“They’re very sociable,” John Atteberry of Cantonment said. “They count on us —— if we don’t put up houses, we could lose them.”
Here, a few enthusiasts share their thoughts:
