Guest Author - Malika Harricharan

Purple Martins are beautiful birds. The scientific name for Purple Martins is Progne Subis. These birds breed throughout the United States and southern Canada, and down to central Mexico. They winter in South America.

This is the largest (8 inches long) of the swallow tribe. It formerly built its nest in cavities of trees and still does in wild districts, but having learned to live close to humans, it soon adopted domestic habits.



The best way to have martins around is to erect apartment houses for them at suitable nesting sites--and protect that housing from use by other birds. The nest boxes should be about 15 feet from the ground and made inaccessible to cats. A colony of martins makes great inroads upon the insect population, as the birds not only feed upon insects but rear their young on the same diet.

Are you interested in getting involved in Purple Martin Conservation? If you are, there is a group for you to join. The Purple Martin Conservation Association is dedicated to preserving this beautiful species of birds.

Anyone can join. Membership is $25 but there is a special price for seniors and students. They pay only $20. Membership benefits include four annual issues of Purple Martin Updates and all the free advice you need to become a successful martin landlord.

Anyone with a martin house can register with the PMCA's Colony Registration Program, which is trying to log the location of every active martin colony in North America. The PMCA also sponsors Project Martinwatch, which helps martin landlords take care of their birds and their nests and homes. Check it out. Their website is www.purplemartin.org (or just click on Purple Martin Conservation Association).