Eagle Point bird houses

[kastern]

Last evening we walked over to Eagle Point Park - first spooked a pair of Wood Ducks - first I've ever seen right in this area (have seen them up quiet arms of the Chehalis River) - my husband had just said that maybe we should consider putting up some Wood Duck Nesting boxes when we noticed 'something' on one of the old pilings out at the edge of the water.

Someone had erected a cluster of very official looking nesting boxes - all numbered. I'm delighted but also a little curious as to where they came from. I'm sure they hadn't been there earlier in the day when I'd been over. Do you know Gord? They are an interesting design - I assume they are meant for Swallows.

Speaking of Swallows - there were a number of Norther Rough Winged there as well as the Tree Swallows.

Kathy

[Gord]

Hi Kathy, those boxes are for Purple Martins placed by the BC Purple Martin Stewardship & Recovery Program. They are hoping to get colonies inland once again. They are colony nesters and that's why the boxes are all close together.

Im sure tree swallows will take over one box, but they will probably not allow any other pairs to nest which will always keep a few boxes open and ready for any martins should they show up. Any martins we see will be later in May and more likely June. These birds will be the young from last year who come north later than the adults. These young birds are the ones that usually start new colonies when their home colony is full.

[kastern]

Thanks Gord - I'll have to keep a careful eye open for Purple Martins!

Kathy