Narrative and photos by Dee Renee Ericks
Purple Martins with their nest boxes during nesting season.
Last fall, OPAS Purple Martin nest boxes were removed from their summer perches for cleaning, sterilization, and then carefully prepared for winter storage.
Brushing off the cobwebs this spring, volunteers have been busy with nest box repairs. Using eBird, Team Leader Dow Lambert has been keeping a keen eye on the northward migration of our northwest Purple Martins from their winter habitat in southeastern Brazil. They are headed our way!
The walking route across the tide flats is strategic so rubber boots and wagon wheels don’t submerge in deep muck.
During the low-low tide on April 6th, the Purple Martin Team was able to maneuver needed equipment from the 3 Crabs parking lot across loose sand and logs to the tidal flats and finally to the off‑shore pilings. A beautiful day with rising winds made the air increasingly crisp.
Approaching the pilings during low tide near 3 Crabs.
Alex and Dan doing preparations.
Alex goes up the ladder for the first installation, carefully locating the nail that holds the top of the nest box in place.
Meanwhile Dow, Dan, and Bud keep a firm hand on the ladder below.
Scott looks on as Dow secures wires attached from the bottom of the nest box to the piling, minimizing wind vibrations.
Alex examines wire attachments. Each set of nest boxes have spikes on top to deter predator birds from landing.
Of course, even with best-laid plans, small repairs are needed. Ken, Wallace and Holly work to replace or extend wires.
Dow splices wire pieces together to extend length.
Dow carries the next nest box to the ladder for installation.
A group effort. Below are Dan, Bud, Dow, and Holly, with Alex on the ladder.
The Purple Martin nest boxes on the tide flats are now in place. You might think we are done! Nope.
The trickiest Purple Martin boxes to install are over the mucky tidal pond near the 3 Crabs parking area. Footing can be precarious. Bud, Dow and Alex work to align the top hole over the mounting nail.
The last nest box installation requires a limber acrobat to scale the ladder and crawl onto the flat timber tops. Dan is the only one of our group who qualifies for this gutsy assignment.
Dan kneels on the timber tops, securing a nest box in place.
Ken with our newest Purple Martin team member at 8 months. Britta, daughter of Jason and Anna Bausher joins the fun.
If you are interested assisting with this Citizen Science Project, let us know! We would love to have your help in nest box monitoring, installation, care, and upkeep. Younger backs, joints, and muscles are a plus but we welcome everyone!