Purple martin colony

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In 2018, we installed a purple martin nesting colony at the Field Station as part of the Osprey Nesting Platform and Habitat Enhancement Project. We installed the base of the nesting colony by pouring some concrete around the base for stability.

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In 2018, we installed a purple martin nesting colony at the Field Station as part of the Osprey Nesting Platform and Habitat Enhancement Project. We installed the base of the nesting colony.

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Brian Haas installing the gourd rack on the pole.

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Brian Haas installing the gourd rack on the pole.

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The finished nesting colony with twelve nesting gourds installed.

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The finished nesting colony with twelve nesting gourds installed.

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In the spring, we set up decoys and played morning songs to attract subadult purple martins.

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Two nesting boxes for tree swallows. Tree swallows are territorial and help prevent nest competitors from taking over purple martin colonies.

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Tree swallows successfully nested at a nesting box at the Field Station in 2019.

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There weren't any purple martins in 2019, but there were many tree swallows that nested nearby!