We’re going to watch to make sure that what’s been done is enough to encourage the birds to find another place to roost before they go to the upper Amazon.” And I think the best compromise has been met. To the bird people everywhere,” she says. “It’s great relief to the people who love trees in Nashville. She says the city has pledged to plant many more trees downtown than the ones they removed. But where did they go? That’s what Melinda and other local researchers are trying to find out. Since the symphony’s trees have been recently been removed or deeply pruned, the birds no longer find a resting spot there. Melinda says when the birds take off in the morning, they all go in different directions at once - making a “donut” shape on a weather map.įor the last two years, these birds have favored the symphony as roosting grounds. When researchers are looking for locations where large groups of birds sleep, that’s one strategy – looking at weather radar. You can actually see the Martins leaving the roost because they are very large drops of water.” “The first big roost that was found using weather radar. ![]() “Nashville has hosted a very large purple martin roost for well over ten years,” says bird biologist Melinda Welton. At the symphony, they would swirl around in something like tornadoes of birds until they would land for the night - sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder on branches. They’re considered the largest swallow at about eight inches in length. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas.Ĭlemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.Maybe you’d never heard of purple martins until last year when the roost of more than 100,000 migrating birds was nearing eviction from trees around Nashville Symphony. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. Parker Johnson, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Agent Place the house where you can enjoy the view!.Placing the nesting sites near open water sources has proven to be more beneficial.Having a power line in the same area will allow them to gather and socialize.It is essential to have the ability to raise and lower the house to clean and inspect the compartments.Houses should be placed on poles 15-30 ft.Purple martins like to nest in groups, so try using either a cluster of gourds or an “apartment-style” system for your build.Locate your martin house at least 40 feet from trees and 30 feet from homes and other buildings.You may even want to try growing your own bottle gourds if that is your preference.īelow are some tips for creating a high-functioning purple martin nesting site: ![]() Materials to build these houses, or even the homes themselves, can be found on many websites. To combat this, homeowners build multi-room bird condos made of wood, plastic, or aluminum hollowed-out gourds are also used. Unfortunately, the introduction of exotic invasive species, such as the English house sparrow and starlings, has negatively impacted purple martins by creating competition for nesting sites. ![]() Instead of digging out their own nesting site, purple martins like to nest in cavities previously made by woodpeckers. After successfully nesting, purple martins migrate each year to South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.), where they molt and grow new sets of feathers. Martins normally show up in the southern part of South Carolina in mid-to-late February some folks even consider their arrival as the “true start of Spring.” Older males generally arrive earlier, often seeking their old nesting areas, while the late-arriving younger males seek new sites. Still, this practice is a lot older than you think. Nowadays, homeowners often spend a lot of their time and resources trying to attract these beautiful birds. Native Americans would attract them by hollowing out gourds and hanging them for the purple martins to nest in. Vern Wilkins, Indiana University, īeing the largest swallow in North America, Purple Martins have always been an extremely popular bird among homeowners and birding enthusiasts.
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