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Purple Martin Voice
Volume 1(9)
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.
Outdoor Martin Fest
Purple Martins pay no attention to state lines and neither did the attendees of the Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas at the second annual Outdoor Martin Fest. There were 33 Purple Martin enthusiasts, who came from a four state area including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
The event started with registration, coffee, and a doughnut social where
enthusiasts could meet one another and check out the Purple Martin colony on the property. Throughout the day HAV-IT Services of Harvey, North Dakota showcased the prototype of their T-14 Purple Martin house. HAV-IT Services also distributed order forms for their houses and brochures about the services they provide to their clients. Before everyone was formally welcomed by the cofounders, attendees also got a sneak peek at the door prizes, valued at over $500. Recognized during the welcome was Dakota Birders, who made the festival part of their June field trip.
Attendees were prospective landlords and a few experienced landlords, who helped make the seminars interactive with tremendous audience participation. The attendees asked some really great questions, and early in the day, organizers knew the question and answer session would be a big draw. All sessions were well attended and the breaks allowed everyone the chance to enjoy the Purple Martins throughout the property.
Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas thanks the attendees for their free-will donations during the event. Donations will be used to cover the lunch provided. Any additional funds will be used for future projects. During lunch attendees were able to converse with one another and once again enjoy the Purple Martins. The afternoon sessions were attended by a reporter from American News Aberdeen. Both cofounders were interviewed and the article was published on Sunday, June 16th.
A bountiful supply of door prizes ensured that everyone still remaining at the end of the day went home with a prize. Using an Excluder Gourd to hold the attendee ticket numbers, a randomly selected guest drew the first winner, while additional prize numbers were picked by the previous winner. What a joy to see newcomers win prizes to start off their adventure into becoming landlords. Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas especially thanks South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society, ERVA / Nature House, Purple Martin Conservation Association, and Purple Martin Products by Creative Universe Enterprises for their sponsorships.
Organizers are already thinking about the event for next year to be held in North Dakota. Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas thanks Paul and Joy Mammenga for so graciously hosting the event on their property. Last, but certainly not least, HAV-IT Services sold their prototype T-14 Purple Martin house making their load back to Harvey, North Dakota a little lighter and one happy attendee the owner of a very fine-looking new system. Thanks to everyone for making the second annual Outdoor Martin Fest a success, and we can’t wait to see you all again next year.
Research
range map courtesy of Purple Martin Conservation Association and York University, © 2013
Summer has arrived. Many landlords in South Dakota are reporting hatchlings. North Dakota landlords are reporting nests full of eggs. Clutch sizes seem to be typical, but there may be a few less nests with 7-8 eggs. It is hard to believe, but typically about half of the Purple Martins’ season is over by this time of the year. Since winter was extended into spring, many birds are nesting about three weeks later than last year. So hopefully the Purple Martins stay with their babies through fledging before making their fall migration.
An after second year male (ASY-M) banded from the same Columbia, South Dakota breeding colony in 2011 with band number 2331-84530, began spring migration back to this Columbia colony from northern Brazil (Amazon River region) on April 12, 2012. This spring migration took over three weeks with the ASY-M arriving back in Columbia on May 4, 2012. This ASY-M traveled 5,341 miles in 23 days averaging 232 miles per day.
The ASY-M left Columbia, South Dakota on September 2, 2011. The fall migration took 2 weeks longer than the spring migration to complete. His migration took 34 days arriving in northern Brazil on October 5, 2011 traveling 4,924 miles averaging 145 miles per day. The total annual migration distance traveled for this ASY-M was 10,265 miles.