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This Morning Outside

by Diane Porter

May 5, 2014
Birdwatching Dot Com
Fairfield, Iowa

I was sure happy to see this adult male purple martin investigating every one of the eight gourds this morning. It's right on time for the colony to get under way again, but I've been worrying about the birds after our long, wet, cold spring. Worrying about whether our martins might have come back too soon and succumbed to the weather.

But here he was. Clearly one of our gang from last year, the way he seemed to know all about the gourds. He sang his wild song for a while, making big circles overhead. I hope he succeeds in attracting a mate. I hope the other four pairs who nested here last year come back.

And bring their friends.

purple martin
© 2014 Diane Porter

—Diane Porter

Chickadee on hand

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from This Morning Outside

  

 


Deluxe Gourd Rack

Deluxe Gourd RackThe complete system! It includes heavy-duty 2-inch-square aluminum pole assembly, 4-part pulley system for easy raising and lowering, and 12 SuperGourds.

It's an integrated system for housing purple martins.

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Purple Martin Dawnsong

A Useful DVD

Play this audio CD early in the morning to attract purple martins to a new colony.

Dawnsong DVD

Adult purple martins come back to the breeding area a month before the young, first-time breeders. Early in the morning, the adult male purple martins sing this song to attract young adults to their colony.

By playing this cassette before 4 A.M. and 6 A.M., you are putting a signpost on the migration highway. Young Purple Martins hear the song as they fly over, and that's how they know that suitable nesting space is available.

See price