Last week at low tide, the Purple Martin crew met at Three Crabs for the annual spring installation of Purple Martin nest boxes. Purple Martins are our largest swallow and have nested in this area for decades. These long distance migrants will be coming back from their wintering grounds in South America. We want to roll out the red carpet to welcome them on their return!

While preparing for the trip out on the tidal flats, Bob Boekelheide (left) checks eBird for the closest reported sightings of Purple Martins. They are enroute from coastal California!

Dow and Dan ensure that the nest box panels are properly secured to their transport vehicle. There are three nest boxes per panel.

The procession to the beach and across the tidal flats goes smoothly. The veteran crew members know the route to the pilings that allows for firm footing. Straying too far afield, one might find themselves bogged down in mud…and without a boot!

The first panel of nest boxes is in place! Bob secures a tension wire to the piling securing the panel during wind events.

Vince, Ken and Bob unwind these long tension wires prior to each panel installation.

The crew eyes the nest box panels carefully to ensure correct positioning.

Having refined the nest box placement procedures over the years, the boxes now go up rather quickly. Thank goodness for rubber boots! Now, on to the pond!

The pond nest boxes are a bit trickier to install. A telescoping pole is used here to slip the panel over the top anchor nail.

Dan wins the gymnast of the year award for scaling the tree trunk and placing the nest box. Not an assignment for the faint of heart!

According to Cornell, the first arriving Purple Martins are the older martins returning to areas where they nested before. Martins returning north to breed for their first time come back several weeks later.