Gourd-shaped nests offer home to martin colony
Bird's Eye View by Terri Gorney Lehman
According to “The Young Birder’s Guide” by Bill Thompson III, hundreds of years ago Native Americans placed hollowed out gourds on poles for purple martins to use as they are colony nesters.
In late February, Ouabache State Park placed out gourd-shaped nesting boxes to attract purple martins to nest at the park.
A colony of martins will feed on thousands of insects, including mosquitoes.
Nesting boxes are made ready early in the year as the older purple martins are the first to arrive, usually by the end of March in this area.
The purple martin is the largest of our North American swallows. Both the male and female sing. Their song has been described as a warbling chortle. When they are on the wing, they are constantly vocalizing. Many times you will hear them before you will see them.
The male birds are a shade of blue and black that in the sun appears purple, which is how they received their name of purple martin. The females are plainer with more of a gray blue tone. Their tails are forked, which helps identify them from other birds.
The park has the perfect habitat for the birds with its open grassy areas and Kunkle Lake. Besides watching the nesting boxes, a good place to look for the birds would be to watch them gliding low over the water at Kunkle Lake. They are eating insects on the wing.
All too soon the purple martins will gather in flocks and prepare for their fall migration in August. They will spend the winter in South America.
I hope everyone has a chance to see purple martins this year. They are cheerful and colorful birds as well as practical as they help rid the park of mosquitoes!
Good birding!
Terri Gorney Lehman is known throughout the local birding community for her enthusiasm and support of fellow birders. She is an Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist, member Friends of Ouabache, Friends of the Limberlost, and Stockbridge Audubon Society.
Commentaires