Western Purple Martin Nesting Updates, Call for Volunteer Monitors
By Mary Hollen
The future is bright for Whidbey Island’s nesting population of Western Purple Martins, now that the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has taken an interest. Staffers led by Christa LeGrande are spearheading a survey and data-gathering effort. Members of the international Western Purple Martin Working Group, inactive since COVID, are being contacted, and WPMWG Secretary Stan Kostka of Arlington is developing survey protocols. Data location is being decided and may involve eBird lists. New volunteer surveyors will be sought and trained.
Crockett Lake colony
Meanwhile, Steve Hampton and Ruth Richards installed a new “flock” of eight PVC nest boxes near the existing wooden boxes at Crockett Lake just this spring. Steve is conservation chair of Rain Shadow Bird Alliance (formerly Admiralty Audubon Society). He worked with students of the OCEANS class, affiliated with the Northwest Maritime Center and Port Townsend High School. They built PVC boxes, using the Three Crabs design from Sequim.
Example of Three Crabs nesting box design
At Crockett Lake, Steve and Ruth placed two posts holding PVC boxes, at the end of the short path from Highway 20 to the South edge of the lake. On pilings further out in the lake are four boxes built and installed by Stan in May 2006, and two additional boxes built by Jay Adams with Ruth and friends, installed within the last two or three years.
The Crockett Lake Purple Martin colony now is big enough to be monitored and results included in the new survey. Jay and Ruth moved to New England recently leaving a giant hole in the Whidbey Island birding world, especially around Crockett Lake.
Survey protocols will likely include the following for this site:
Spend 20 minutes to a half hour observing the nest boxes, two or three times during the period mid-July to late August.
Count active nests by observing a food delivery or fecal sac removal.
It is delightful work, once you’ve spent a few minutes getting used to this remarkable bird’s breeding season behavior.
Want to try it out? Anyone can join Cathi Bower’s Birding in Neighborhoods South outing on July 10, when she will visit the Lagoon Point Purple Martin colony. You’ll get expert coaching on observation methods. Contact Cathi for the meeting time and place.
PUMA tubes workshop
