If two examples are anything to go by, a Purple Martin comeback is possible.

The posting regarding a Seattle location roughly parallels the story at
Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver. After many years of trying, the Wild
Bird Trust negotiated a lease on an area on the north side of Burrard Inlet
to the east of the Second Narrows bridge. One of the first projects was to
erect Purple Martin boxes on old logging moorage posts (can't think of the
real name) out over the water.

Two years ago a pair bred, last year it seems that there were two successful
pairs breeding. The birds returned late this year so we don't know yet if
they have successfully raised more young. In all the times I've watched the
boxes I've never seen a Starling in the area; it seems true that they don't
have any interest in building a nest over water.

In addition to the Purple Martins, Maplewood Flats boasts the only pair of
breeding Osprey in the Greater Vancouver area. The next nearest pair that
we know of are at Pitt Lake, about 30 miles east. When Maplewood Flats was
first proposed as a wildlife sanctuary a breeding platform was built on top
of some posts. The Osprey's returned to the area about 10 years ago and
have breed on this platform every year since. On a Sunday in May of this
year, two Osprey could be seen in the vicinity of the nest and another three
were close by.

Eric Greenwood
Vancouver, B.C.
egreenw at intranet.bc.ca