Images of Purple Martins by KAS member.

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Doors/Zoom Room opens at 7:00 (note change for this month)

Home-Tweet-Home for Purple Martins

Purple Martins were once gravely threatened by such invasive species as House Sparrows and European Starlings which compete aggressively for natural nest cavities. But Purple Martins have rebounded because of their human friends who provide them with lovingly tended artificial colonies. Robert Pavey will share his knowledge and experience based on more than 24 years of befriending Purple Martins. He will talk about identifying them, their migration, nesting and breeding behavior, on-going conservation programs and how you can help.

Robert and Sandy Pavey first started birding when they lived in California, where they met and married in 1999. After moving to Virginia in 2000, they established their first Purple Martin colony in Lovettsville, Virginia, in 2002. In 2007, they moved to Poulsbo, Washington, and set-up their new colony.

Sandy has been involved with the Kitsap Audubon since 2007 and took on the role of Purple Martin Ambassador in 2009. Since then, Sandy and Robert have managed their own colony and the Kitsap Audubon colony at the Brownsville Marina. They have recently also taken on the Kitsap Audubon colony at Oyster Plant Park in Poulsbo.