I often check on the Shilshole purple martins at low tide, and they tend to
be very tolerant of people; I suspect their departure when Grant Hendrickson
walked up was nothing personal. During mid day they often take off and can
be feeding miles away. I've seen martins perch as close as five feet from
people on the fishing pier at Luhr Beach. At Shilshole they often stay close
by even when I'm on a ladder doing nest box maintenance.
About a week ago I was sitting high on the beach when five martins landed on
the nearby sand. They were picking up bits of shell, which I've often found
in martin nests on the edge of Puget Sound. I think a number of local
martins are on eggs now, and hatching should be just a few weeks away.

Kevin Li
Ballard, USA
kdli at msn.com
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