Purple Martin Early Success

[John Balga]

It looks like that this will be a banner year for the martins. Landlords across the county have indicated bumper crops of eggs and young due to the influx of martins in this area. A new landlord reported going from three pair to ten pair with numerous singles and 42 eggs to boot. Another indicated a jump in their colony from 16 to 28 pair and again lots of singles and over 120 eggs and young. Another reported 49 pair and over 240 eggs and young. As our July 12th meeting approaches we will have a better indication of how our club landlords are doing. Our club members should surely break the 1500 young fledged mark this year if everything goes well.

[Tim Francis]

Its seems to be a good year for all of the PM landlords/stewards/caretakers. I am happy to report that there are over 120 babies and eggs from Raleigh NC. The great news is that 3 new sites have produces 3 pair at Prairie Ridge park with 6 babies. 1 nesting pair with 4 babies at the NC Art Museum. Two pair at the newly established walking park in North Raleigh.
The new sites are the most exciting project we have undertaken. The Prairie Ridge location is on the NC Museum of Science land. There is a LS Goliad with an add a rack. The Art museum has a LS Gourd rack with 8 gourds. It is near the walking trail located on 400 acre dedicated for How nature and art intertwine in our lives. The last site is located at the City Park in Raleigh. The good news is I will be able to reduce the number of gourds at the Vet School and force birds to find the other locations.