The Purple Martins are Here!

From April to September, purple martins can be found at their nesting boxes on the pilings at the end of East Bay near Olympia Ave NE and Marine Drive (across from the Hands On Children’s Museum). Migrating to the Pacific Northwest and up into Canada from as far away as the Amazon River and southern Brazil, purple martins return to their summer home-sites delighting us with their aerial acrobatic flights.

Track Your Observations

Consider submitting your findings to Project MartinWatch (PMW) by clicking here! This continent-wide citizen science initiative collects valuable data on nest activity, housing types, clutch sizes, and fledging success. Your observations not only help landlords manage their colonies more effectively but also support the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA) in tracking reproductive trends and guiding conservation efforts. With its long-established dataset, PMW is a trusted resource for researchers studying these fascinating birds.

Check out these videos to see the purple martins in action and to learn more about these magnificent creatures!

An Introduction to Purple Martins

Purple Martins Competing for the Perfect Nesting Box

Purple Martins Waiting to be Fed (July 2020)

Purple Martin Bringing a Dragonfly to Its Young

For some short video clips, visit the Purple Martin Video Playlist on YouTube.