Eggs?
Last year: June 2nd
Egg watch begins Memorial Day - Nest Building Under Way
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| INSIDE THE GOURD | EXTERIOR CAMERA |
Last year: (Eggs: June 2nd) (Hatch: June 21st) (Fledge: July 18th)
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Welcome Back to Gazebophil.com
This web site features live coverage of the hatching, feeding and fledging of the largest swallow in North America:
The nitty gritty Purple Martin
Yep, this is live. And don't forget to turn the sound up.
And tell the kids!
Our Purple Martins arrived in April/May and will depart in August shortly after leaving the nest, which we call fledging.. The birds call it scary! Not long after fledging, the whole family (including the new members) will fly off to their winter home in Brazil. And come back next year! Cool!
The column on the right is written by young naturalists from the Connecticut Audubon Society (scroll down for photos). These neo Darwins are the only wise men and women standing between a busy shore line of birds galore, and an empty wasteland of man-made decay. Audubon volunteers work to insure your grandchildren will actually see a live Purple Martin. See Scott Kruitbosch's piece at right for information about Connecticut's Purple Martin world, including our population at
Purple Martin Acres by the Sea
Gazebo Phil
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Gourd and nest check
It has been a busy week at Purple Martin Acres by the Sea! CAS Senior Director of Science and Conservation Milan Bull recently went to check in on all of the gourds and martins up close, pulling them down to see how many had birds, how far nest building has progressed, and to keep an eye out for any problems. Here you can see him checking through each gourd after having reeled them down from the top of the pole.
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Unfortunately, he did find two deceased birds. Both appeared to have succumbed to either starvation or some of the cold nights we had not long ago. He believed both were males. Luckily, one of these birds had both a color band and a silver federal band on its legs. However, we do not believe this was one of Connecticut’s color bands from last season. Below you can see the bands being removed from the bird.
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We have submitted the band information and are awaiting word on its origin and background information. I will post this for all of you in the next update. It may not have been a fortunate fate for that poor bird, but at the very least, because of banding, his death will teach us something about the species.
As you can see, nest building has begun in most of the gourds. Some actually have had all of their pine needles removed as birds from neighboring gourds took it for themselves earlier in the season. We will be replenishing these empty gourds with some more pine needles. You can also see some leaves and more material have been brought into the cam gourd. This pair is clearly starting to get moving on their home building, and for their sake, we can hope a warm and sunny season is just around the corner.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician
Questions From Our Visitors
Q: Are the pine needles in the gourd what you put in or did the martins? Here in Iowa I always put a big handful of needles in each nest. They spin it into more of a nesting bowl to keep warm on the cold nights. Thanks for the video site. We enjoy checking in a couple times a day to see your birds. Monday night with that wind holwing and just one martin shivvering in the gourd I wished I could have covered it with a blanket. -- Randy A., Arnolds Park,IAA: We place a small amount of pine needles in each gourd when they are erected each spring. They have a abundant supply of nesting material to collect on their own, and we allow them to do most of this work. The gourds always end up quite full and warm for the nestlings as can be seen in our success rate of 185 chicks old enough to be banded in 2011. It has been chilly as of late and they have been doing a bit of shivering, but for the most part the Connecticut coast stays warm and nearly always far above freezing from mid-April onward.
Scott Kruitbosch - Conservation Technician
Q: I have been following the Purple Martins for a couple of years on your site. I am smitten with them and would love to assist with their advancement and help any way I can.
With regards,
Theresa Simpson -- Theresa R., Harrison,USA
A: The best way to help Purple Martins is to set up your own gourd tree or similar martin housing in an acceptable habitat. The best place would be an open area near water. Otherwise, we suggest spreading the word about their plight as a species, how much they depend on us for their survival, and educating the next generation by using this beautiful species as an example of conservation.
Scott Kruitbosch - Conservation Technician
Q: Has there been a study on dark verses light nest cavities? -- mike t., beaver dam,KY
A: If you are referring to the color of the gourds themselves they are made a light color to keep the inside cooler during hot summer days. A dark gourd would mean much warmer temperatures that could harm eggs or young nestlings.
Scott Kruitbosch - Conservation Technician
Click HERE for more Questions & Answers!
Dear Gazebophiles,
Below is a letter we received from a U.S. soldier in Iraq. Pardon our pride, we are all pumped around here knowing that our BHU (Bird Housing Unit) is playing a CSU (Combat Housing Unit) somewhere in what is probably a lousy neighborhood.
For our soldier visiting us: Thanks, Ms.W. (You didn't tell us your rank) You made our day. You might say, we're tickled purple!
Gazebophil
I am an active duty Soldier, currently stationed in Iraq, as part of the combat stress control team. I can't tell you how great it has been the last few weeks, to check in to your webcam, in anticipation of the arrival of a nesting pair of these beautiful and interesting birds. And how exciting it is to watch them begin to set up house in the gourd. I love to hear the whole flock- my CHU (Combat Housing Unit) is filled with their songs. I have sent the site to my team members and am certain they are watching in wonder, as well. I will be giving it to many of our stresed out soldiers, too. It is a very wholesome, relaxing and stress-reducing activity! Thank you for setting this up! I am eager to follow the progression from setting up house, to flight of the fledgelings!
Glenda W., IRAQ
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| Laurie Doss, volunteer, banded birds |
Tom Mitchell, volunteer, opened bands |
Milan Bull, CAS Senior Director of Science and Conservation |
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| Geoffrey Krukar, CT DEEP staff, banded birds and recorded data |
Audra Valailis(L) CT DEEP staff, banded birds and recorded data |
Barbara Mitchell(R at gourds), volunteer, transported birds |
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| Gazebo Phil | Dr. Twan Leenders, CAS Conservation Biologist |
Laurie Fortin, CT DEEP staff, banded birds |
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| Ann Murray, volunteer, aged and weighed birds |
Tammy Conley, volunteer, transported birds |
Scott Kruitbosch(L), CAS Conservation Technician |
