Uncovering the Mystery of Purple Martin Migration

Uncovering the Mystery of Purple Martin Migration
Joe Siegrist, Purple Martin Conservation Association

The Purple Martin is an aerial insectivore that is experiencing a significant long-term population decline. Much is known about its unique ecology during the breeding season in North America and its complete reliance on human provided nesting cavities for successful nesting. However, the remainder of the life cycle covering migration and overwintering in the Amazon Rainforest has remained a mystery. For the last 15 years, researchers at the Purple Martin Conservation Association in collaboration with international partners have characterized migration using light level geolocators and GPS dataloggers. This research set in motion a sequence of events that led researchers from the US and Canada to the rivers and jungles of Brazil, where they’d risk life, limb, and jail time to find a missing roost of a half million Purple Martins.

Clips from:

[jasonmiller]

As of May 8, 2024… I have approximately 150 purple Martins hanging around my Gourds and houses. I’m offering 187 holes and the colony keeps enlarging every year I feel very fortunate and lucky to have watched it grow from just a few birds 10 years ago

[anitamcloughlin]

Will you please do this presentation again using sound check, sound kept going in and out and could not hear the valuable shared information. Thank you

[backyardbeautybrainsbirdsb]

I love my martins!!! Their song and energy - so thankful for the visitors every spring and summer I am so sad to see them go at end of season

[beckyc.]

This was fascinating. Thanks so much for sharing it.

[sumbich]

I live in Montgomery, TX and this is my third year to try and get P Martins to house in my gourd colony on my property with no success. I've viewed videos and research and don't understand why they don't establish nests here. They visit and land but don't build nests. I do see the blue birds here as well. Would love it if someone local could visit to see what I am doing wrong.

[keithfridell]

Dude...your volume doesn't work well with your voice