This morning (Monday5/24) I got a report from Al Vetrovs of a pair of
martins finally arriving at the Ballard nestboxes; hopefully they'll stick
around this season. The address is 6321 Seaview Ave NW, toward the south end
of Shilshole Marina, off the public access beach behind West Marine and the
Ballard Elks Club. I'm lucky to be boating past that area this morning, and
will take a look while summer is here today.

While I'm unaware of any past martin nests between Ballard and Everett, it
wouldn't surprise me if some have been using pilings around the Edmonds
area. There are also many sites further north in Victoria and Vancouver, so
perhaps you're seeing birds still en route to their colonies. Dave Fouts has
told me of birds arriving at his colonies as late as the 4th of July.

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: S. Downes[SMTP:sdownes at u.washington.edu]
> Reply To: sdownes at u.washington.edu
> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 1999 11:07 PM
> To: tweeters
> Subject: Purple Martin
>
> Tweets,
> I was out working on the patio this afternoon and had a quick flyover of a
> Female Purple Martin. This is the third straight year that I have had a
> record (heard or seen) of Martin over my place. I am about 5 miles from
> Shilshole Marina as the Martin flies and since this is the closest colony
> I know of it seems rather far for a martin to be ranging. Is there a
> closer colony near Carkeek maybe that Martin's might be or could this be
> just nonbreeding individuals ranging around? It seems very odd that I
> would detect Martins 3 times in as many years when I'm not that close to
> martin sites. For those who might question the ID, the bird flew over my
> head at about 20 ft. up and saw the bird extremely well, no question it
> was a F. PUMA. Thanks for any insights,
>
> Scott Downes
> sdownes at u.washington.edu
> Seattle WA
>
> "Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
> are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood
>
>