Kitsap Audubon Society

Purple Martin Page

For further information, contact the Purple Martin Committee Chairs:
John McDonald at jcmcd@earthlink.net or Paul Carson at paulrcarson@comcast.net

Purple Martin Web Links:
Purple Martin Conservation Society: www.purplemartin.org
Purple Martin Society: www.purplemartins.com

Purple Martin report for 2010:
We had another disappointing season this year. The weather was cold and wet at a critical time and it reduced our Purple Martin baby count. We all had nest boxes to fill ,but some of the birds didn't finish a nesting, or the boxes didn't get used at all. We hope to have better luck next year.
Brownsville: Sandy Pavey, reported 16 boxes installed, but only 4 boxes were used. They found 3 dead Purple Martin babies and 1 unhatched egg. We estimate on average that the Purple Martins produce 3 to 4 babies a year. During hard times, we use a number in our count of 3 babies per box. Four used boxes times three babies in each equals twelve fledglings.
Seabeck: John & Claudia McDonald, reported that they put up 22 nest boxes. Five of the ones put up over water had babies in them. Others over the water weren't used. Thirteen of the 22 boxes were used successfully. Thirteen fledglings times three is an estimated 39 baby Purple Martins.
Poulsbo Oyster Park: Paul Carson and Phillip Bangs put up 12 boxes that were a mixture of gourds, PVC pipe tubes, and wooden bird boxes. The types were all tried, but not all used. 8 boxes were used and one box had an unhatched egg in it. Due to the harshness of this year we estimated a count of 22 babies.
Silverdale Marina: Phillip Bangs and Paul Carson, report that they put up 10 boxes in the Silverdale area. We put the gourds in two different places and were able to get 9 of them used for a total of 27 babies.
Driftwood Key: Jane Ritchey, reported that several people in that area are putting up Purple Martin boxes. They had mixed results on 5 different sites. They put up 16 boxes and 9 were used. Four produced young. They estimate 12 birds.
Bainbridge Island: Judy Willott reported on the Purple Martin action at the Head of the Bay on Bainbridge Island. The boxes were already put up so they watched which ones were used. They found 6 of the boxes were being used and were producing babies. She reported she saw 12 adults flying around the area and using the boxes. She estimated 18 baby Purple Martins hatched.

That is a total of 148 fledglings added to the Purple Martin population. With luck they will return next year, and we hope they get better weather. We wish to thank the people who helped us this year, including those who have installed bird boxes of their own. We hope you get a better chance to raise Purple Martins in the coming year.


Martin over nest box attached to piling.


Martin in old wooden boat "Noah's Ark" nest box in Seabeck, WA


Martin feeding nestling in wooden nest box.


Nestling Martins in plastic gourd - in Brownsville, WA


Purple Martins on Tube nest boxes in Seabeck, WA


Female Martin feeding nestling in wooden nest box.


Purple Martins photographed in 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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