>Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 13:56:00 -0700
>From: "Li, Kevin" <Kevin.Li at metrokc.gov>
>
>Shilshole Purple Martin update: Yesterday I saw one martin chick tempted
>to leave the nest, as its mom perched just a few feet out of reach, on
>an adjacent piling; then the male flew in and fed the noisy crowd of
>young ones. Since the hole is only two inches and I was 120 yards away
>with a scope, it was impossible to see how many were inside.
>
>Today we saw 3 fledglings, at least two flying at a time, with very
>close air-borne parental company; it was much like viewing the Blue
>Angels. The mom was being especially high strung, chasing away nearby
>gulls, crows, starlings, and sparrows. It won't be long before they take
>off for the season, so viewing moments are precious! I'm told that this
>is the first known PM family in Seattle in perhaps a decade. Last year a
>martin activist had one family in a nestbox, and this year they have
>four; this could be just the start for Shilshole! I'll be trying to get
>photos over the next several days.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416