Purple Martin Association of the Dakotas

The first Purple Martins of my 2020
season arrived at 10:18 a.m., April 24, 2020, in Larimore, ND.

There were 5 ASY males and 2 ASY females.
Many more came in near dark; I heard them but did not see them.

According to my Countdown App, and based on the average return date of my Purple Martins, we have ...

1 month, 3 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 43 minutes,and 56 seconds before the Purple Martins return.

Let’s get ready to rumble!

For my first tweak, I have three tunnel entries to fit into gourds ...

Congratulations! I'll have to poke around in my Word or emails files and find last years arrival date. This year's is April 29.

The first three Purple Martins for my 2017 season arrived around 5 p.m. April 29 here in Larimore, ND. The "normal" return date for my flock is around April 23. I've seen them as early as April 14, and as late at May 7.

I am so glad they did not arrive during the last cold spell and snow.

Today ...

Allen, all my birds are ASYs. There may be one SY female, but she is big and burly. I'll try to get a better look at her this evening and determine her age.

I would love to hosts some of your banded birds, but no bands so far. I'll look at Mr. G's site, and the Colonel's when it's cool enough for ...

Since I was gone for 2+ weeks to AR and TX, I had no idea what I would find when I got home to peek inside the PMs' gourds.

I did a thorough nest check this afternoon.

There are 15 gourds hanging on the rack.

I am hosting 15 pairs of martins with 15 nests.

Each and every gourd has a nest. There ...

I've been setting out plants out in front garden this morning. I'm not making much headway since it seems to take me longer and longer to get down on the ground - and then get back up. I'm sure I amuse the neighbors.

I walked under the martins' pole and felt eyes staring at me. A large ASY male was ...

Late yesterday afternoon I noticed the first rose-breasted grosbeak of the season. A beautiful male was in the tray feeder I have hung in the tree. He was dining with house and gold finches, all in full spring colors.

The orioles seem scarce and I've not seen a hummingbird yet. Poor things are ...

Normally I hear the Baltimore Orioles arrive before I see them, but today was different. I was in my perch at the front window, yakking on the phone and drinking hot tea when I glanced up and saw a beautiful oriole on the nectar feeder.

I had just emptied and cleaned it, so it was ready for him.

I ...

Not counting the decoy; here are 10 of my pretties from this evening (May 8). There were more on the other side.

I saw at least 15 flying around above the house and had 8-10 in the gourds at the same time. It's getting birdy around here.