Beloved purple martins return to Delaware

In a sure sign that spring was not far behind, the first purple martins of the year were spotted in Delaware.

The birds were seen March 9 in Harrington by a purple martin enthusiast – one of many people throughout the eastern and central United States who track and report on the birds’ annual migration on behalf of the Purple Martin Conservation Association.

"The purple martins’ arrival in Delaware shows the birds are making steady progress northward since they first made landfall in Florida two days before Christmas,” said Joe Siegrist, PMCA president. “Tracking the migration is not only fun, it also provides us with valuable information that helps inform our research and strengthen our efforts to make sure we’re doing everything possible to sustain the population of these amazing birds.”

North America’s largest species of swallow, purple martins winter in the rainforests of Brazil before making up to a 7,000-mile migration north into the eastern United States and Canada.

The annual migration is a testament to the martins' resilience as well as the unwavering dedication of thousands of martin landlords who maintain multi-compartment nest condos that are essential for the birds' survival. Once widespread in rural America, this species that eats billions of flying insects annually has been disappearing at an alarming rate, experiencing a loss of one-third of its population over the last 50 years.

“The decline seems to be the combination of a few factors: nesting habitat loss, competing invasive species, decreasing prey availability, and climate change,” said Siegrist. “Over the majority of the purple martins’ range, they are unable to nest naturally any longer. Human-provided nest boxes are the only thing keeping the species alive east of the Rocky Mountains.”

Siegrist said the very survival of the species is due in large part to scores of dedicated conservationists who invest their time, money and hearts into maintaining housing for the martins.

“The landlords provide critical shelter for the martins,” Siegrist said. “In return, they are rewarded with a family-like bond with the birds who return to the same colony year after year like clockwork.”

To follow along with the purple martins’ migration and learn more about how to help conserve this treasured bird, go to purplemartin.org.

People interested in learning more about how to attract and care for purple martins can receive a free booklet from the Purple Martin Conservation Association by emailing info@purplemartin.org or calling 814-833-7656.

The association’s mission is educating martin enthusiasts in the proper techniques for managing this human-dependent species.