PURPLE MARTIN UPDATE AT CEDAR KEY   

 by  Scott Wright

January 12, 2021  

  BOLO!!  Be on the lookout for the first Purple Martins of the 2021 season.  The textbooks tell us that PMs should be arriving in our area in mid-January. Of course, that time varies year to year for many reasons.  The first birds observed are often called scouts and they are either male or female.  These birds are the oldest in the population and will migrate as early as weather allows.  Unless they are just “passing through” on their way to their breeding sites, these early arrivers will begin to colonize existing houses they have used in the past. So those houses on the island that were active last year, and previous years will be the most likely place to see the early birds this year.

  Once the established sites are occupied, later arrivals will seek other spots to colonize.  Last year we did not have any birds colonize our new houses (which is not unusual).  But several did prospect our houses. These “prospectors” are birds that have finished their breeding but have not yet migrated.  They fly around looking for other new potential sites to colonize.  So, having prospector birds checking out our houses is a great potential for colonizing this year.  It’s not a guarantee but it’s encouraging.

  If you have not cleaned out your houses for the coming season, there is still time.  Give them a good clean and don’t forget to mark them so that you can put them back up in the same order you originally installed them.  After cleaning and drying add some fresh pine needles to spice up the décor.  Make sure the AC is working and the view is still attractive. 

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