Purple Martin (PUMA) house at the Biocore Prairie - 2023
June 28th: Numerous Nestlings!
The PUMA house continues to be a hub of activity with 15 active nests. Eggs started hatching around mid-June! In just one week, the nests went from holding 80 eggs and no nestlings (6/9) to 31 eggs and 50 nestlings (6/16)! By the latest check on 6/28, there were 70 nestlings and only 3 eggs remaining. Look out for fledglings around the second week of July!
June 2nd: An Eggcellent Affair!
The first 2023 PUMA eggs were laid on 5/23. The birds are busy at the house with 13 active nests and potentially more to come (if the pesky House Sparrow keeps his distance). Nest checks and egg counts have started (data below). On 6/2 a young family helped the Biocore Prairie Interns collect data. The budding young scientists counted 66 eggs in total!!!
The PUMA house continues to be a hub of activity with 15 active nests. Eggs started hatching around mid-June! In just one week, the nests went from holding 80 eggs and no nestlings (6/9) to 31 eggs and 50 nestlings (6/16)! By the latest check on 6/28, there were 70 nestlings and only 3 eggs remaining. Look out for fledglings around the second week of July!
- 6/9 eggs = 80
- 6/12 eggs = 75, nestlings = 7
- 6/16 eggs = 31, nestlings = 50
- 6/26 eggs = 9, nestlings = 63
- 6/28 eggs = 3, nestlings = 70
June 2nd: An Eggcellent Affair!
The first 2023 PUMA eggs were laid on 5/23. The birds are busy at the house with 13 active nests and potentially more to come (if the pesky House Sparrow keeps his distance). Nest checks and egg counts have started (data below). On 6/2 a young family helped the Biocore Prairie Interns collect data. The budding young scientists counted 66 eggs in total!!!
- 5/23 first eggs laid
- 5/26 egg count = 18
- 5/30 egg count = 57
- 5/31 egg count = 60
- 6/2 egg count = 66
After counting Purple Martin eggs, a search for monarch caterpillars commenced! There are so many things to explore at and near the PUMA house. We hope to see you out there!
May 18th: Eggspecting Eggs Soon!
With beautiful views of Lake Mendota and plenty of insects rising from the Biocore Prairie, the Preserve Martin House is prime real estate this summer. Over two dozen Purple Martins have been spotted at the house on a regular basis. Nest building has begun and the martins are starting to enter their cavities with green leaves in their beaks. This indicates that egg laying will begin soon!
With beautiful views of Lake Mendota and plenty of insects rising from the Biocore Prairie, the Preserve Martin House is prime real estate this summer. Over two dozen Purple Martins have been spotted at the house on a regular basis. Nest building has begun and the martins are starting to enter their cavities with green leaves in their beaks. This indicates that egg laying will begin soon!
May 9th: Early Season Update
The 2023 Purple Martin Season is off to a great start. On March 29th, braving temps in the low 20’s and snow on the ground, David Liebl, Chuck Henrikson, and Seth McGee hung four gourds and opened a three house compartments in preparation for the season. With a retooled winch mechanism and new nest boxes, the house is ready for spring migrants to arrive.
David Liebl first spotted a pair of martins investigating the gourds on April 11th. They’re back! As David continues to keep an eye on the house, he has recorded increasing numbers each week. Traveling migrants sheltered among the gourds throughout April. Currently, a mix of male and female adults and subadults appear to be settling into the house. All of the house compartments have been opened. On May 5th, David counted 27 purple martins on the house!
The 2023 Purple Martin Season is off to a great start. On March 29th, braving temps in the low 20’s and snow on the ground, David Liebl, Chuck Henrikson, and Seth McGee hung four gourds and opened a three house compartments in preparation for the season. With a retooled winch mechanism and new nest boxes, the house is ready for spring migrants to arrive.
David Liebl first spotted a pair of martins investigating the gourds on April 11th. They’re back! As David continues to keep an eye on the house, he has recorded increasing numbers each week. Traveling migrants sheltered among the gourds throughout April. Currently, a mix of male and female adults and subadults appear to be settling into the house. All of the house compartments have been opened. On May 5th, David counted 27 purple martins on the house!
Purple martins at their house on May 5th. Photo by David Liebl
Stop by the house in the next few weeks to experience martin courtship with your eyes and ears. Thier vocalizations are comprised of a complex vocabulary of bubbling chirps, rattling clicks, and churring whistles. Listen for the distinctive chatter of Purple Martins while strolling the Community Gardens, Second Point Woods, or the Biocore Prairie.
March 29: PUMA house is open!
David Liebl, Chuck Henrikson, and Seth McGee opened the PUMA house for the season
March 29: PUMA house is open!
David Liebl, Chuck Henrikson, and Seth McGee opened the PUMA house for the season
