Hi all,

If you are anywhere near it, you might want to go down to Jack Block Park and see the Purple Martin Show that goes on there every evening courtesy of Kevin Li.

(Jack Block Park, on Alki way in West Seattle to access from Seattle take the next exit after Harbor Island and head toward Alki, it comes up soon on the right)

We just got back (it?s 8 pm) and it was still going on when we left. Martins appear to be using all the nesting structures and as we left each structure had an adult male sitting on top. There were lots of Martins flying around, performing nice swoops and glides, some singing their beautiful song, some sitting on the front stoop and one gourd where you can look in, even without binoculars, and see four babies. A lot of the action is up close and personal, and the Martins aren't shy. We thought there might be seven active nests, but we weren?t able to make an accurate count.

Kevin Li put a massive amount of work into this area this winter (as well as many other nest site areas) and it sure has paid off. The Port of Seattle helped by installing the posts after Superfund work removed the old pilings but all the superstructures holding the gourds was built and installed by Kevin, who I happen to know lacks a rational fear of heights.
Thanks are due all the volunteer Martin stewards in the state. There is Stan Kostka in Snohomish Co. and parts North, Rich Siegrist (sp.?) on Vashon Island, Kevin working King Co. and Thurston etc, and no doubt others I should be naming. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

Ed Newbold Tweeter by digest, residential Beacon Hill, Seattle, WA newboldwildlife at netscape.net

P.S. delighted to hear about Mary Klein's Bremerton Nighthawks. Too bad they don't use gourds
..


__________________________________________________________________
Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register

Netscape. Just the Net You Need.

New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp