Today I made brief visits to 2 purple martin colonies on Tramp Harbor on the
east side of Vashon Island, and saw no martin activity at all during an hour
of collecting clam and water samples; it seems that all 30 or so clutches
have fledged. A few weeks ago the place was bustling with martins, but today
it felt strangely quiet. A certain Vashon resident has really done a
fantastic job of building the Vashon colonies over the past 4 years.

The Ballard martin nestlings are on the verge of fledging, the young ones
restless and barely able to keep themselves holed up. Today I saw a parent
sit on an adjacent piling, waiting and seeming to encourage that brave
moment. I suspect they could be out any second now. I last checked about
3:30pm Wednesday the 8th.
A day ago Kris Baker saw a red plastic band on the right leg of one of the
adult martins. We also saw a parent with a dragonfly sitting near the box
for several minutes; finally it gave in and entered the box with the meal.

Today I was again told of some pilings near Picnic Point that may contain
nesting martins; I have yet to check on the place myself.

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

mailto: kevin.li at metrokc.gov
Mailstop: LAB-NR-0100

(206) 684-2344

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