Purple Martins (Progne subis)

I can't imagine a better bird species to host on our campus.

We have the wide open spaces they crave. Our retention pond in front of our school provides them with the mud with which they love to decorate the interior of their houses. Food is not a problem. There is no shortage of flying insects in our area.
Our school colors are purple and silver. Their color is, well, purple.

Our first two houses were donated by the Floto family whose children all attended our school. These houses are the metal bird condo model and have, since their installation in early 2001, been seasonally occupied. We have cleaned them every January, but they are showing their age. Both the old houses and the recently installed newer polygourds can be lowered like flags for maintenance and observation.

It was during one of these cleanings that we made a gruesome discovery. At the entrance to one of the condo units were the remains of two fledglings. Apparently they were in a hurry to exit and couldn't decide who should leave first. So they attempted to leave simultaneously. They became stuck and died, solidly wedged in the entrance. We had to use weeders to pry them out. This is precisely why we teachers are so adamant about single file lines. The story is actually a bit more tragic. A third fledgling patiently awaiting its turn never got it and expired behind the bodies of its siblings.

I've never caught anyone throwing rocks at the martin houses, but they are a bit beat up. I contacted Danny Sinclair who runs a business called Purple Martin Propagators. He gave us a good deal on the regionally preferred Polygourd houses. Apparently I wasn't the only one who noticed the battered condition of the original houses, as Noreen Baker contacted me about donating a polygourd set up. When Danny came out to install our order, he showed two of my student aides what he was doing. They, in turn, put up the Bakers' donated polygourds. Within moments of completion the martins began staking their claims. Now all four houses are fully occupied. Danny suggests taking the metal ones down at the end of the season. The metal models aren't really suited for our climate. I imagine the martins will be disappointed next year.