Photo credit CornellLab All About Birds
Seabrook Island Birders are bringing an exciting new collaborative to Seabrook Island.
Later this year we will be erecting Purple Martin housing through the very generous and enthusiastic support of the Equestrian center, Jennifer Tyrrell of the Charleston Natural History Society(Audubon), Seabrook Island Environment and Wildlife Committee and the Town of Seabrook Island.
In early February we hope to see our first “scout”* and if all goes well, become adopted as a “martin landlord”*. *Purple Martin “Scout”: The term scout is given to the very first martin(s) observed back at an active colony site each year. Scouts are the oldest individuals in the population, who migrate north as early as weather allows. They can be either male or female.
*Landlords began with Native Americans: The Chickasaw and Choctaw Native American tribes began the tradition of erecting purple martin housing. They would grow gourds and hang them in groups around their crop fields to invite martins to colonize their crop fields. The Martin colonies would control insect pests that would do harm to the tribes’ crops and the start of the farmer/Martin partnership began.
“The first Purple Martin arrivals of the season are always an exciting event,” said Joe Siegrist, President of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. “Tracking the migration is not only fun, it also provides us with valuable information that helps inform our research and strengthen our efforts to make sure we’re doing everything possible to sustain the population of these amazing birds.”
North America’s largest species of swallow, Purple Martins winter in the rainforests of Brazil before making up to a 7000-mile migration north into the eastern United States and Canada.
“The landlords provide critical shelter for the martins,” Siegrist said. “In return, they are rewarded with a family-like bond with the birds who return to the same colony year after year like clockwork.”
Keep your eyes open for future announcements regarding this exciting new project.
Excerpt from The Island Connection. Feb.8, 2024
Birdwatching.com
All about Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Purple Martin Conservation Association.
Based in Erie, Pa. the Purple Martin Conservation Association is an international tax exempt, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Purple Martin through scientific research, state of the art wildlife management techniques and public education.
Submitted by Jen Jerome