Hey tweets, the Purple Martin gourds have arrived, and we are in the
process of putting them up near Yesler Swamp at the Fill!! They should
be ready for business within a week, just in time for martins to move
in.

In the course of researching this project, I have learned several
interesting things about Purple Martins that you might like. I know
these facts have already endeared Purple Martins to me, and I hope
they will do the same for you:

? Most martins have given up on the idea of finding their own nest
cavities out in nature. They have become accustomed to houses supplied
by us. This move toward urbanization evidently began centuries ago,
when Native Americans began supplying houses for the birds, I suppose
because martins eat so many insects.
? Martins are people-birds. Apparently, if you erect their houses too
far away from human activity, the martins won't move in. For this
reason, we have decided to move our own pole a little closer to the
greenhouses (in the fenced-off field on the southeast side of the CUH
buildings). We hope there will be enough gardeners and birders (not to
mention wedding parties) to make the martins feel at home. Please stop
by this area whenever you come to the Fill to encourage martins and
also to find other wonderful birds. It's a great place to look for
rare sparrows foraging on the ground within the fence. It's also a
good place to check for flycatchers perched on the fence or in the
trees to the east and south. The swamp along the south of this field
can be good for warblers, too - the alder grove that borders the
western side of the field is the best warbler spot at the Fill.
? Martins in the eastern part of the country prefer little houses
stacked like apartment buildings. Western martins like gourds. The
gourds we bought are UV-resistant plastic rather than natural gourds.
Natural gourds are subject to mold, and I wanted to get nest boxes
that would last a long time with a minimum amount of care.
? Older martins return to their gourds of yesteryear, which is why
once you start a martin colony, you tend to keep it. Younger martins,
however, must found their own colony. They come through here a little
later than the older birds, so our timing should be perfect.

I want to thank all of you who donated money to make this project
possible. I am very touched by your prompt and generous response to my
plea. You should know that members of the Friends of Yesler Swamp have
donated as well. UW Botanic Gardens has supplied the pole to hold the
houses, and will help with the installation. The pole measures more
than 8 feet tall, so I think they plan to use a crane to put it in the
ground. Jerry Gettel has been working on building the actual
installation, putting arms onto the pole and attaching cordage to each
gourd so we can raise and lower the gourds to clean them each year.
Allie Kerr has offered to design an informational sign that we hope to
post near the gourds. Kevin Li, that wonderful man who made Purple
Martin recovery such a big part of his life and legacy, tried to
install gourds at East Point at the Fill years ago. He tried twice,
and both times the gourds were vandalized. We hope that putting our
new gourds behind a fence will discourage vandalism. We also think
putting up a sign explaining the project will keep our gourds safe.

I will be writing the copy for the sign. I wonder if any of you
photographers out there would be willing to supply some color
photographs for it?? Pictures are worth a thousand words, and I think
it would really help the birds if we could build empathy for them
among non-birders. What say? - Connie, Seattle

P.S. The Fill was ever-beautiful yesterday, despite the cold. Spring
migration is still slow, but I found two Northern Rough-winged
Swallows over Main Pond. They were literally over the pond, clinging
to a little branch overhang. They were all hunched up against the
frigid weather, as I was. Grumpy, too, like me. Cinnamon Teal pairs
have moved in - one pair on SW Pond, another pair in Yesler Cove.
Wilson's Snipes are flying around the marsh cattails, so you can see
them for a change. The Brewer's Blackbirds that used to nest in the
bushes around the helipad have apparently moved their nesting site to
the west end of Wahkiakum Lane in the North Blue Forest. The CUH
gardener trimmed the helipad bushes too low to suit the blackbirds, I
think. The birds seem extremely happy in their new locale, which is
nearer to bathing facilities (i.e., puddles) and farther from softball
tournaments. Lincoln's Sparrows are hanging around Kern's Restoration
Pond again, making noises like they want to nest. They did this last
year but eventually moved to their northern breeding grounds. They
will probably do the same this year, although with our current
weather, maybe we have fooled the birds into thinking this is Alaska.

constancesidles at gmail.com
www.constancypress.com


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