Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/14/2014 4:28:26 PM

Have had Martins every year since I finished the lake house 14 years ago.  Not looking good..  had first scouts on March 10th, but the little rascals have disappeared.  Nada, zip, none..  Anybody have a colony?? 

Name:	Mack -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/14/2014 6:14:56 PM

I have, what I think are Martins zipping all around my dock and yard. I have no idea where their house is. There are two Martin houses(?) mounted on tall poles in our slough but I have not seen any bird using them. Maybe these birds are not Martins, but they surely look like the pictures I see in Google and the profile in flight is similar.

A delight to watch. I get a little dizzy trying to track a single bird in flight. They love to get inside my boathouse when the door is open and fly very fast in patterns, even in this small space,,,, and then almost take a layer of hair off your head when you walk in.

Do Martins have very dilated black eyes??

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/14/2014 6:48:18 PM

Probably not Mack, but thanks for the reply.  You are likely seeing a lesser variety of swallow, like a barn swallow..  nest under your pantoon boat.. .  Martins are the largest North American's variety of swallow, guess about the size of a robin.. specialize in man made/installed martin houses..  guess I will check with the Auburn bird guys..  Miss the little guys..

Name:	lakeguy -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/14/2014 9:14:03 PM

I have Martin houses near my pier and the rascals are back in force this yesr---and glad to have them.

Name:	John C -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/14/2014 10:01:33 PM

there's a family in front of a house I have for sale on Little Kowaliga.

Name:	Council Rock Doc -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/15/2014 10:07:53 AM

Yes, I agree, those most likely are barn swallows.  Kamikaze personalities if they roost under your dock.  If you find their nest and remove all vestiges of the mud during construction you may ward them off.  They are insectivores however, and your bug population should be down while they are around.

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Purple Martins
Date:	5/15/2014 8:18:55 PM

Durn it pal..  don't know what happened here..  Have multi unit houses, always great colonies for many years (14)  The scouts arrived early March (I watch each year) -- they hauled butt and moved on..  glad you have them, but I will miss them this year..