Purple Martin Workshop Winging Before Migrants Come to Wisconsin
Purple Martins are a symbol of spring, migrating much like robins, bluebirds and redwing blackbirds in early April to Wisconsin. The difference is that purple martins are the first of many Neotropical migrants coming from South America compared to the other North American species mentioned.
Purple martins are dependent upon man for their housing, choosing to be close to developments, people and security they provide. The free workshop on Saturday April 2 at the Heckrodt Wetland Preserve in Menasha is to bring people together toeducate future, current and former proprietors on martins. A need is to keep current colonies vibrant, encouraging new colonies and prevent failure of colonies. Learn from actual mentors and the statewide organization Wisconsin Purple Martin Association about purple martin ecology, how to attract martins, predator control, maintenance of existing colonies, how to counter weather related problems, being a responsible caretaker and many more martin related items.
Information is available online from Wisconsin Purple Martin Association at http://www.wisconsinpurplemartins.org/ or Heckrodt Wetland Preserve http://heckrodtwetland.org/ in Menasha.
Purple martins are the largest members of the swallow family weighing a little over 2.25 ounces with an overall length of 7-8 inches. Martins are colonial nesting, raising one brood per year laying up to seven eggs. At one time, martins and their housing used to be common in the Great Lake States. Today in Wisconsin, purple martins are rapidly declining throughout the state and are listed as a species of special concern. Annual surveys conducted for nearly 50 years (1966-2013) have shown purple martins have declined 6.35% per year in Wisconsin while declining 2.48% per year within the decade from 2003-2013.
“Our martin family members are dependent upon our care. They in turn give us an intimate personal outdoor connection to wildlife we so desire in our backyards”, said Dick Nikolai, a retired biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources”. He can be contacted at prairiechicken@att.net for further information.