Purple Martin

Published on Jan 7, 2013

www.purplemartin.org This video by Larry Melcher, gives a general explanation of how the Purple Martin depends on man. It explains the migration from early Spring when martins just arrive, completely through the nest cycle and includes pre-migratory roost footage as the Purple Martins begin their journey to winter grounds in South America.

Uploaded on May 24, 2007

The Wingscapes BirdCam http://www.wingscapes.com/ took this video of a day with purple martins.

A new Bird Camera, BirdCam 2.0 with Flash, is available at http://www.wingscapes.com. It takes photos and videos of backyard birds and wildlife while you are away.

Please feel free to leave comments and rate our videos.

Uploaded on Feb 12, 2007

David Attenborough demonstrates how purple martins have found a habitat in American gardens and towns. From the BBC.

Uploaded on Mar 18, 2008

Central Ohio Purple Martins (Waldo Ohio)

Uploaded on Aug 31, 2007

http://www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/emobirds/
http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/12199.pdf

Purple martins are among our most endearing birds.

Their cheerful, chattering calls, graceful flight and appetite for insects make them pleasant neighbors.

Purple martins are our largest swallows... measuring up to 8 inches long.

The martin's excellent flight allows them to catch insects from the air, sometimes catching several hundred insects an hour.

They prefer larger insects such as dragonflies and wasps, but also eat houseflies and mosquitoes.

The first males usually arrive in the Midwest during march.

The females join their partners a few days later, and nesting occurs from May to mid-July.

Martins usually leave by early September to travel to their wintering areas in southern Brazil.