I've observed only one adult male visiting briefly here this season, the
rest have been females and sub-adult males. I'm not always comfortable in
making distinctions between females and sub-adult males unless I'm really
close. I've seen various numbers of martins here in the last 5 weeks or so,
but just in the last week or two they seem to be settling down consistently
into the same three boxes at dusk.

Last night and other recent evenings I've seen what appear to be three
pairs; one or two individuals I think are banded (at least there were that
many seen last week, when I checked the boxes during one of my many house
sparrow evictions.)

I can send jpgs to those interested and capable of handling them.


Kevin Li
King County Environmental Lab
322 West Ewing St.
Seattle, WA 98119

(206) 684-2344

Visit our Lakes website:
http://splash.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/lakes/index.htm


> ----------
> From: Eugene Hunn[SMTP:hunnhome at accessone.com]
> Reply To: hunnhome at accessone.com
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 7:07 PM
> To: Kelly Mcallister
> Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Re: Purple Martins at Shilshole
>
> I judged them to be juveniles because they had a buffy white forehead and
> nape, giving a strong capped effect and seemed a bit unsure of their
> wings.
> Plus there were six all together and no immediate signs of adults.
>
> Gene.
>
> At 03:46 PM 6/29/99 -0700, you wrote:
> >
> >
> >On Sun, 27 Jun 1999, Eugene Hunn wrote:
> >
> >> Just ran out to Shilshole (West Seattle) to check for the martins and
> >> counted six juveniles perched on or near their boxes, occasionally
> >> chortling.
> >
> >Young-of-the-year Purple Martins already? Seems about 3 weeks early.
> >
> >Kelly McAllister
> >
> >
>