On Friday 7/12 Eric Greenwood writes:

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

>...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...

>...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.

Someone in Everett (sorry I don't know who) has installed at least four
boxes on pilings in the Port of Everett area just north of the 10th Street
Boat Launch parking lot. There are several pairs of Purple Martins in the
area. It seems that there are more than in previous years but I do not
have a count. However, at least here, there is a lot of Starling activity
in the rotting and cracked pilings on the waterfront. In fact practically
every piling with any cavity at all seems to have a Starling nest and the
birds are constantly going back and forth. At least one of the Osprey
nests has at least one, and probably more Starling nests "in the basement"
of the Osprey nest itself. This nest is probably about 100 feet from the
shore (when the tide is in). Most of the other pilings that I refer to
are about this distance or less from the water's edge. John Flavin, who
is heading up the Caspian Tern project on Jetty Island, said he thought the
Martins would use the same cavities as some of the Starlings after the
Starlings fledged.

BTW, John could sure use some help on Jetty Island this weekend. He has
been working five days a week out there for the last couple weeks and would
like to get things completed in the next week. He can be reached at
206-744-0805 if you can lend a hand.

Ed Schulz
Everett, WA
eschulz at eldec