Where in Ballard do we find the martins?


-----Original Message-----
From: Li, Kevin <Kevin.Li at METROKC.GOV>
To: 'Tweeters (postings)' <>
Cc: 'Tirhi, Michelle' <tirhimjt at dfw.wa.gov>; "'Baumann,
Molly'" at u.washington.edu <"'Baumann, Molly'" at u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 6:29 PM
Subject: Martin Update


>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