Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Purple Martins

Purple Martin House
Purple Martin House - WildBirds.com

Who are those birds that live in “condo” type houses?  Those are the largest of the swallow family, the purple martin, whose journey home can be as long as 5,000 miles!  Look for their houses at Arcola Creek Park, Lakefront Lodge, Veterans Park,  and Erie Shores Golf Course.

Did you know? 
Purple Martins are colony nesters. Twenty or more families will raise young together in a very compact area. Special Purple Martin houses that look like small hotels are available. In eastern North America, Purple Martins now nest exclusively in housing provided by humans.

The (Native Americans) attracted Purple Martins using hollow gourds hung near each other. (They) liked the Purple Martins because they functioned as "scarecrows". They drove away Crows from cornfields and Vultures from meat and hides hung out to dry.

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