Prime Hook Friends group continues monitoring purple martin nests
In spite of weather extremes, as of July 22, the Friends of Prime Hook Purple Martin colony continues to be active and vocal, filled with community chatter and sounds of parents feeding their nestlings and raising their young.
To date this season, there have been 247 hatchlings and 77 fledglings. The team was able to experience the joy of watching three chicks fledge during a recent visit including one that wasn't able to take flight on her first attempt. Only moments after being re-nested, she pushed out of her gourd in successful flight, with momma following close behind!
Using a rough estimate, the team anticipates about 90 additional chicks will fledge in the coming week. Due to the later arrival of the sub-adults and delayed nest building, fledging is expected to continue into mid- to late August.
Interested visitors are welcome to join the Friends of Prime Hook group at 10 a.m., Tuesdays for nest checks. Everyone should wear long sleeves, long pants and insect repellent.
The Friends of Prime Hook's mission is to support educational, environmental and recreational activities at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, located at 12322 Turkle Pond Road, Milton. For more information, call 302-684-8419 or email info@friendsofprimehook.org.
