Monitoring Martins

Last week while sitting on the curb across from the martin houses, Mr. Anthony and Martin pointed out that some sparrows were occupying a couple of the gourds. We watched for a few more minutes. Students noted that the smaller birds were behaving a lot like the purple martins, swooping, soaring, gliding.

After consulting with some knowledgeable ornithologists, Jane Tillman, Victor Emmanuel, Teri Siegenthaler, and Susan Sanders, it became abundantly clear that sparrow removal was a necessity. Purple martin populations are declining, sparrow populations are thriving. Sparrows are known to destroy martin eggs and hatchlings.

The class was predictably unhappy about the situation. Some accepted the verdict, others were very opposed. A bird is a bird is a bird. A bird is life and each egg a potential life. In the end the class voted to relocate the sparrow nests. Turns out there were three polygourds with nests. Equipped with buckets and weeders, we did the deed.

Sparrow nests are larger and contain mostly grass. It was easy to tell the nests apart. The weeders were unnecessary. Small handed students removed fistfuls of interwoven materials.

One of the sparrows was old enough to try flying away. The other, pictured here, seemed days younger. Notice the pink skin.

Once the nests and two hatchlings were removed, some of the students headed for the woods to find a suitable relocation site. Others remained to conduct a census of martin eggs. None had hatched out yet. Some clutches had up to six eggs. We have yet to tally them all due to lack of time.

The martin nests varied in size and mud content. The retention pond is now dry, so mud isn't available.

After we had satisfied our curiosity, students hoisted the houses and secured the ropes. The birds, martin and sparrow alike, immediately returned.

Students are recording their observations and findings in the field journals. Here are four examples.

Native Plants and Animals is my largest class (34). When monitoring the martins, student misbehaviors are not an issue. No one complains of boredom. Questions fly fast and furiously.

Score one for outdoor education.