Are the martins in the pilings getting access via the rotting tops, or from
the sides? So far I've only been seeing sparrows and starlings going in
through the tops, and I've thought that by capping the tops I might be
reducing sparrow and starling use of the pilings. I'm using shell debris,
which may also be of use to the martins.

Today I took a quick look at the nestboxes at Percival landing in downtown
Olympia, and saw a few boxes active with PMs; I understand about 10 pairs
might be present. It was great to see them, especially in such an urban
habitat: city waterfront and marinas. Today I was helping Kelly McAllister
get some new boxes installed just a few miles North of there, in Budd Inlet.

Check out our lakes web page!
http://splash.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/lakes/index.htm

Kevin Li
King County Environmental Lab
322 W. Ewing St.
Seattle, WA 98119-1507

> ----------
> From: Leslie Ann Rose[SMTP:sylph at nwlink.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 1998 11:39 PM
> To: tweeters
> Subject: Re: purple martins
>
> In and around Commencement Bay in Tacoma we have a wealth of boxes set
> up for Purple Martins. However we have been finding more and more,
> especially on the North side of Commencement Bay, are opting for old
> drain pipes and overflow pipes and cavities in the pilings themselves.
> This is true, even in areas with plenty of vacant boxes. I'd recommend
> spending some time checking out these kinds of potential nesting sites
> as well as the boxes. Who knows?
>
> Leslie Ann Rose
> Tacoma, WA
>
> Janet Carroll wrote:
> >
> > Hi Kevin and Tweets:
> >
> > Watched a male purple martin on a piling in the mudflat just north of
> > the boat launch in Everett last Saturday. Had a male and two females
> > earlier in another area, but I haven't had a chance to check to see if
> > they are still around. Of the four new boxes I put up, two are occupied
> > by tree swallows, two appear to be empty.
> >
> > Janet
> > --
> > Janet Carroll
> > Everett WA
> > jrc at jrc.seanet.com
> > --------------------------------------------------------
> > "No matter what our attempts to inform, it is our ability to inspire
> > that will turn the tide."
> > --------------------------------------------------------
>
>