Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas

Ref. Banding I don't band birds. The banding is a coordinated effort between MN DNR and Bemidji State University. The study is being done on colonies in Bemidji, Bagley and my site in Crookston. My colony is larger than the other colonies combined that are in the study. The researcher is thinking ab...

261 birds banded in 2015. Over 50 different birds have been re-sighted at my colony as of today. Birds all have BSU Red bands on left leg and USFWS Silver bands on right leg. Last 3 digits will be the same. I have a copy of the list so I can verify them. One bird was sighted here and later in Bemidj...

That's great news. Are all your birds ASY's? If you have any SY's are they banded. Bands on each leg, one silver and the other red in color. BSU researcher has identified banded birds from my colony in Bemidji. Would be nice to know of any that returned to this area. All young birds were banded at t...

Today I have at least 4 Banded SY's at my colony. 2 Males and at least 2 Females. Looks like about 10 SY's total and my ASY pairs are only down by about 5 now. Season is looking better now. Hope lots of last years young come back to the area and start new colonies.

Had 3 SY's this morning. 1 Male and 2 Females. Not banded, all of the young birds at this site were banded last year. With South winds expecting more shortly. My adult numbers appear down slightly from last year. Nest building at a furious pace. Hawk attacks more frequent also.

I now have about 50 PM's total. Last year had 48 ASY pair. First SYM was 05/13/15. Long way to go to reach last years numbers. Birds have been trickling in on S or SW winds lately. Many new arrivals head to platform feeders first and chow down mealworms. The ones that been here awhile have been igno...

Was watching my colony when all birds flushed from housing and feeders. Immediately after flush ASYM hit bedroom window and was killed. He was in great shape. Would have been flying around trees in yard trying to escape something. I have Merlins. Sharpshined and Coopers here on a daily basis. I real...

Count now over 25 almost even M/F. Coopers hawks at least one adult and one Juvenal raising Cain yesterday also a Sharpshinned. Attempts on PM's and at least one Grackle killed. Hope Coopers are just passing thru. Most new PM's Came in Tuesday night and Wednesday Morning at first light. Only 1 or 2 ...

It's not you I tried to add one just now and says something about quota being reached in red at top. I haven't posted pics so don't understand. It was a photo I had posted to PMCA site and is small in size.

I now have 4 ASYM and 1 ASYF this evening. Noticed that the new one was trying to pull out the plug on a gourd on my rack. T-14's all were open since the 18th. He even waited for me to lower the rack and pull out the plugs. Hope everyone has good success this season. Caught 12 H S today.