Purple Martins are nesting in the Preserve

Much to the joy of the Friends and Purple Martins house monitors, 2 pairs of martins have found and moved into the Purple Martin house, which was installed on top of the Biocore Prairie just this April. Martins were first seen investigating the house by monitor Janis Cooper on June 9. Only two weeks later we have the following most exciting report by monitor Chuck Henrikson. To follow the news on the house, click here.

Chuck reports;   "I visited the PUMA [short for Purple Martins] house today, June 21, 2017, from 11:00 – 12:15.  When I arrived all 4 PUMAs were out flying around not far from the house.  When I got close to the house they seemed agitated at first and made lots of vocalizations but after a couple minutes they became accustomed to my presence and quieted down.  I brought down the house and checked the open Apts. (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7).  Apt. 4 had a nice nest, mostly of long grasses, but no eggs.  Apt. 5 had a nice nest with 5 white eggs in it.  Apts. 2, 3, 6 & 7 had a few starter pine needles in each put there by one or more of our group but no signs of PUMA or other bird species’ activities.  I took photos of the nests in Apts. 4 & 5.  After about 15 minutes I returned the house to its normal position.  The whole time I had the house down the PUMAs flew nearby vocalizing.  Once the house was up the PUMAs became quiet and returned to the house.  Wow, 5 eggs, what a great start!  
 
A male House Sparrow came to the house twice while I was there but really did nothing."