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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 13, 1962 - Purple MartinsPurple Martins Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch by Dennis PuIeston of Brookhaven Focus on Nature by Paul Stoutenburgh There is so much going on in our wide world of spring that it is difficult to keep abreast of the many exciting events as they happen. But one event I take par- ticular joy in each year is the arrival of the purple martin. Everyone seems to know the his- tory of the swallows of Capis- trano but few realize our own purple martin rivals his exact timing each year. Usually there is an advanced guard that will come in and check the sites before the main flock arrives. I saw my first martin this weekend, May 5, in Wading River and expect them any hour at my own apartments. I use the word apartment because martins love company and are noted for their large colonies in man - made houses. The purple martin is the largest of our swallows having the characteristic blue - black color above and below. The female is similar, with the exception of a dingy gray below. Many times when you see a flock together you can tell the first year birds for they too are not wholly dark above and below. The permanent color comes only after the second year. Even before white man's ap- pearance on this continent, his- tory reveals the Indians enticing these birds by setting up nesting boxes in the form of gourds. This tradition of hanging gourds is still carried on in the south and any- one who has traveled there will vouch for their popularity. Nest in Man -Made Sites There are occasions in sparsely settled sections where the martin will resort to trees and crevices but on the whole their nesting sites, are strictly man - made. I have three apartment houses of martins and can vouch for their worth as destroyers of insects, these by the way, make up 100% of their diet. I had always seen them catching insects on the wing, but last year I was amazed to see them flying into the trees and literally snapping off insects or caterpillars, I do not know which, from the high top branch- es. The only objection I can possi- bly see, if it can be called an objection at all, is their continual chatter which is especially notice- able whenever a hawk, owl or jay is in the vicinity. Because of this alarm and mustering of forces, many people in the olden days provided quarters for these birds so that they would drive off any hawks that might have designs on their plump farmyard fowl. Yet this "rich cherreeping" could never be called objection- able. On the contrary, their early chatter seems to start the day in our yard with a smile. Landlord's Problem The one problem the landlord of these apartments might have would -be during the winter when the English sparrow and the greedy starling take over. These squatters become quite a problem to the martin in the spring and it is interesting to see the battle that goes on for apartment A, left side, rear. Usually the martin wins out but I am afraid the Eng- lish sparrow has a stick - to - itiveness unequal to any and therefore one or two families seem to survive the continual harassment. The real joy of having a martin box is to watch their flight. Like all swallows, it is graceful and daring and the long swoops and glides so characteristic of the purple martin are a joy to behold especially on semi - calm days as they approach the box. Winter in Brazil When these birds come to. us in the spring they have just com- pleted their long journey from Brazil in South America, this be- ing their winter quarters. Be- cause of their reliance on insect life, cold wet spells predict dis- aster for them. Not many years ago we had one of these cold, wet springs and reports from all over the area told of hundreds of dead martins that literally starv- ed to death becuase of the lack of flying insects. Whenever we have one of these spells, as we have just recently had, a little silent prayer is said hoping it will not last long enough to endanger these graceful flyers. Almost everywhere in the Unit- ed States one species or another of the martin can be found, pro- viding the weather is mild enough to produce their food. We find them as far north as the southern tier of Canada and even into southern Alaska. In closing I would just like to suggest that during this coming winter, which looks so far away now, some of you indulge in mak- ing, or even buy, a martin house for the future. After it is erected do not become disheartened if your apartment goes unrented for the first year or two. Mine did. It is generally believed that the adult birds return year after year to the same house and only the overflow is likely to look for new quarters. It took me three years to acquire my tenants but it was worthwhile for now we have, with regularity each year, the song and flight of the purple martin. FIELD OBSERVATIONS L R Ernest reports. Southampton — April 28 Buffle - head (2) Southampton — May I Barn Swallows Shinnecock — May 1 Least Sandpipers Black - bellied Plover Common Terns Montauk Point — May 1 Old Squaw (2) Gannets Winifred Billard reports: Cutchogue — May 6 Baltimore Oriole (3) LeRoy Wilcox reports: Shinnecock Inlet — April Red Phalarope (200) Northern Phalarope (25) Shinnecock Inlet — May Willet Shinnecock Inlet — May Northern Phalarope (62) Shinnecock Inlet — May Northern Phalarope (42) Shinnecock Inlet — May Least Terns (60) Remsenburg — April 24 Cattle Egrets (40) Remsenburg — May 5 Mockingbird House Finch (pair) Roy Latham reports: 36 1 2 8 4 Orient — May 4 Barn Swallow (4) first Magnolia Warbler (4) first Vesper Sparrow - first Greenport — May 6 Bob - white (2) Carolina Wren (2) Purple Martin Judd Bennett reports: East Marion — May 6 Kingbird (2) Magnolia Warbler (2) Black - throated Green Warbler Wood Thrush Chimney Swift Yellow Warbler Puleston, Hlama and Terry re- port, Yaphank May 5 Wood Duck Parula Warbler Lesser Yellow - legs Quogue — May 5 Least Sandpiper Least Terns Common Terns Sharp - tailed Sparrow Kingbird Orchard Oriole Evening Grosbeak American Egret Quogue Sanctuary — May 5 Rough - winged Swallow Purple Martins Bennett and Stoutenburgh report from Carman's River, Yaphank and Wading River — May 5: Wilson's Snipe Purple Finch (6) Blue - gray Gnatcatcher Least Flycatcher Parula Warbler Belted Kingfisher Cardinal Pheasant Quail Bank Swallow Purple Martin Black and White Warbler (4) Tree Swallow Yellow - legs Canada Goose Teal (2) Yellow - throat Myrtle Warbler Rough - winged Swallow Yellow Warbler (4) Song Sparrow Phoebe Green Heron Hairy Woodpecker Redstart Great Blue Heron Catbird House Wren Swamp Sparrow Rusty Blackbird White - breasted NuthatchRed - winged Blackbird Black Duck Flicker