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Purple Martin Voice

Volume 1(1)

Purple Martin Voice is an eNewsletter distributed by Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas. Issues feature the plights and triumphs of Purple Martins in the Dakotas.

Research

Picture

range map courtesy of Purple Martin Conservation Association and York University, © 2013

Cutting-edge technology is being used to pinpoint the important biomes and ecosystems that Purple Martins are utilizing during their long-distance migration. Geolocator research is giving scientists insight into the migration routes used by Purple Martins. As more research is conducted, it becomes evident which areas are of special conservation concern for Purple Martin populations in North Dakota and South Dakota, and especially in neighboring Minnesota with a declining population. To our knowledge little data exists on North Dakota population trends for Purple Martins, but we feel the population trend for both South Dakota and North Dakota is stable with low abundance.

Purple Martins from the Dakotas will start leaving wintering roosts in Brazil for the spring 2013 migration back to the Dakotas in late March and early April. An after second year male (ASY-M) banded from a Sioux Falls, South Dakota breeding colony in 2011 with band number 2331-84506 began spring migration back to the Sioux Falls colony from northern Brazil (Amazon River region) on March 25, 2012. The migration north took four weeks with ASY-M arriving in Sioux Falls on April 21, 2012. This ASY-M traveled 5,265 miles in 28 days averaging 188 miles per day.

Fall migrations may take a more leisurely approach, but in the case of this ASY-M the fall migration was one day shorter. Leaving Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 19, 2011, his migration took 27 days arriving in northern Brazil on September 15, 2011 traveling 4,580 miles averaging 170 miles per day. The total annual migration distance for this ASY-M was 9,845 miles.

In the next eNewsletter, we will learn about another Purple Martin deployed with a geolocator from the Sioux Falls breeding colony. For more information on geolocator research, visit our Research page.

Calendar

April 27, 2013 10:30 am - 11:15 am 2013 Gardening Saturday - How to Attract the Birds You Want to See in Your Yard
April 27, 2013 1:45 pm - 3 pm 2013 Gardening Saturday - Getting Started Bird Watching
June 15, 2013 9 am - 3 pm Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas 2nd annual Outdoor Martin Fest

For more information on events, visit our Calendar page.

Announcement

The first issue of Purple Martin Voice gets distributed.
Purple Martins Coming Soon to a House Near You!