Meet our Founders

Perry D. Vogel

PictureMy colony is located on the south side of Grand Forks, North Dakota. I have been a Purple Martin landlord since 2001 and have served as a mentor since 2008. Initially starting with 4 pairs, my colony peaked at 29 pairs, successfully fledging 109 young. Currently, I focus on expanding Purple Martin distribution by establishing and revitalizing colony sites throughout the Dakotas.

I am actively involved in the North Red River Valley Purple Martin Project, which includes public lecture programs designed to educate the community about attracting Purple Martins. These programs emphasize the importance of proper placement, nest box maintenance, and monitoring. The public will benefit from hands-on education about Purple Martins, with five public access sites available—one in Minnesota and four in North Dakota.

Paul W. Mammenga

PictureLocated near Columbia, South Dakota, I have been an active landlord for Purple Martins since 2000. My colony has grown significantly from its initial 2 pairs to 55 pairs, successfully fledging around 200 young each season.

In addition to managing my colony, I am engaged in a migration tracking research project in collaboration with York University and the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA). In 2011, we deployed 33 geolocators that collect light level data to study migration patterns. We plan to deploy an additional 15 geolocators on returning martins equipped with these devices. Furthermore, I aim to color band 400 to 500 nestlings as part of a natal dispersal research initiative in South Dakota.