The birds have returned
| INSIDE THE GOURD | EXTERIOR CAMERA |
Last Year
Hatch: June 21st, Fledge: July 18th
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Welcome to Gazebophil.com
This website features live coverage of the hatching, feeding and fledging of the largest swallow in North America:
The lovable and fascinating Purple Martin
Yep, this is live. And don't forget to turn the sound up.
And tell the kids!
Our Purple Martins arrived in late April/early May and will depart in August not long after the chicks leave the nest. We call this fledging. The chicks call it scary. Not long after fledging, the whole family (including the new members) will fly off to their winter home in Brazil, really - Brazil! And come back next year. Cool!
The column on the right is written by a young naturalist from the Connecticut Audubon Society. (Scroll down for photos of some of Connecticut Audubon’s faithful). These neo Darwins are the only wise men and women standing between a busy shore line of birds galore (see our exterior camera video at low tide) and an empty wasteland of man-made decay. Audubon volunteers work to ensure your grandchildren will actually see a live Purple Martin.
Scott Kruitbosch's piece at right offers information about Connecticut's Purple Martin world, including our population at
Your questions welcome.
Here are links created by bird lovers who became as fascinated with this drama as were the slaves who lived in colonies in early America. They placed real gourds, carved out, on a pole or a high clothes line. These imprisoned people must have watched enviously as the free Purple Martins spent the whole day swooping out and about, back and forth in non-stop daily feedings and finally, their departure for the flight back to Brazil.
You will find everything you wanted to know about Purple Martins at these websites:
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A slow and cold start to nest building
There have been some very cold nights for mid-May lately! It turns out I was wrong about our change in weather as inland Connecticut had freeze warnings recently and coastal areas nearly saw some frost. This is definitely abnormal for the region for this time of year. These types of days mean that birds like the Purple Martin are going to be entirely focused on finding food instead of beginning to nest. They need to eat more during such weather to stay healthy and active and they also need to work harder to find prey. This year we have yet to see any number of dragonflies either migrate into the state (like the Common Green Darner) or emerge from our waterways, and while some butterfly species have been seen, they are still less common than usual for the date as well.
I have seen a pair in the cam gourd and nearly all of the gourds are occupied with birds. It is normally nest building time by now. During last year's extremely warm spring we were well on our way with large nests throughout the colony. You have likely noticed that we start each gourd off with a handful of pine needles. This is to encourage building and help provide a bit more warmth in the gourds early in the season. However, just like any of us would, the Purple Martin pairs want to construct, design, and decorate their home themselves, so we leave it to them to bring in the majority of the nesting materials.
This year, as you can see in our cam gourd, there has only been a little bit of construction taking place. The pair has added a few leaves and a few scoops of dirt or mud. They have a long way to go and we have some more wet and cool weather coming up soon. This is not atypical of May at times, but hopefully we will see some sunnier and warmer weather overall soon without the very cold nights. Once this pattern ends and we hopefully return to normal we will see rapid progress on the nests. Be on the lookout for Purple Martins going in and out of the gourds as they build their homes. Most of them should have a lot of the work done by the beginning of June with eggs not far behind.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician
Questions From Our Visitors
Q: It looks like your gourds have extra holes for ventilation. Did they come with extra holes or did you drill those in? I know it can get very hot in summer and I worry the parents and nestlings may be overwhelmed by the heat. Our gourds have no extra holes for ventilation. Am now wondering if it would be a good idea to drill some holes in the bottom of each gourd. What do you think? -- Lisa C., Wichita,USAA: The holes in the bottom of the gourds serve primarily for drainage (for example, in case rain is getting inside the entrance hole) and do also help with ventilation. Ours are manufactured this way. Depending on local climate it may be a good idea to purchase gourds made this way or, if possible, imitate it by creating some yourself.
Scott Kruitbosch - Conservation Technician
Q: Do you ever move the camera? Not looking so good so far this year. -- M C D., Massachusetts,USA
A: Keep watching! I have seen birds in the cam gourd from time to time and it is early in the season. Pairs typically fill every gourd at Gazebo Phil's but it takes time for them to arrive, choose a home, and sometimes to argue over them.
Scott Kruitbosch - Conservation Technician
Q: Glad to have you back live. Thank you so much for your dedication.....and for sharing the excitement and the view as the purple martins return for another season. -- Mary A D., Whiting,NJ
A: We thank you for your dedication along with all of our viewers! It may be a little slower to start this year but the action will be picking up very soon.
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 |
