Purple Martin Forum

We are so excited to be partnering with Liz Clayton Fuller - one of the most talented artists and natural science illustrators we know - for a Purple Martin Paint-Along! Don't worry! You don't have to be Picasso to participate! Liz will walk us through step-by-step instructions on how to paint a Pur...

PMCA's Holiday Sale is here! Shop now. Save big. And make a difference for Purple Martins. Get ready for the 2026 Nesting Season with new housing and supplies. Or treat yourself to a new Purple Martin T-shirt, hat, or mug. The PMCA’s Holiday Sale is November 21 through December 1. All items in the ...

Hi there! Sorry to hear of your membership renewal troubles! We are actively updating our website to improve functionality and prevent issues like the one you're describing. So we really appreciate all the patience and grace you can spare. Technology doesn't always cooperate the way we'd like! But o...

Hi @Jones4381 - Sorry to hear of your technical difficulties. If you contact our Research Manager at research@purplemartin.org, they may be able to help update your information. We're hoping to update our database system sometime in the future, but in the meantime, always feel free to reach out to u...

Don't forget to tune in to the PMCA's Live NestCam Friday, June 27th and Saturday, June 28th to see the NestCam eggs hatch! The eggs are estimated to start hatching on Friday, and as hatching can take 24 - 48 hours, they may still be hatching on Saturday. So make sure to check in on the NestCam if y...

Watch the PMCA 2025 Live NestCam today! https://scontent.fpit1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/501165846_713511971182866_7429303065712992048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=3inYf0ITeYAQ7kNvwFlyEe6&_nc_oc=Adkl3RDT73vzCs4dmyB3TDi_zdzRLSza5U6Q3-hciaHi7H8pXQy9NyrxSGEq92FNJ...

I have had several days of unusually cold weather. We have at least 12 martins on the ground. We have tried to feed them, keep them warm, but they are all dying in front of us. What can we do? Hi Janet, That's a difficult situation. Unfortunately, these wild birds are insectivores and don't always ...

Hi Sonja! This is a great question and many good answers have already been shared. But just wanted to share a few more resources you can use during bad weather/low food supplies for martins. We have a lot of good information on our website: https://www.purplemartin.org/feeding/ Another note I'd make...

As temperatures drop in some parts of the Purple Martins' breeding range, it's important for Purple Martin hosts to be prepared to help their birds survive the cold! ❄️ Purple Martins are adversely affected by weather if the temperature is consistently below ~48 degrees for three days (or if there i...

You have a new opportunity to participate in a community-based science project led by Dr. Anna Forsman at Colby College in collaboration with the PMCA! https://www.purplemartin.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PMCA-Newsletters-2-768x256.png During the upcoming breeding season, we will be collecti...

Hi there! Lots of great replies to this thread already but wanted to confirm: Wing entrapment can happen anywhere, but the 3/4" thickness of the wood is basically a built-in WEP. We don't hear of many wing entrapment issues with wooden/polywood T14s. If WEPs were added, it would likely be on th...

Go to https://www.youtube.com/@purplemartinco ... on/streams to watch our LIVE NestCam now!

Songbird Essentials shared a letter to Excluder Gourd customers: To All Excluder Gourd Customers, As a company, Songbird Essentials would like to apologize, as some of the gourds recently produced were not up to the standards of being a partnered PMCA product. As we have been made aware, some gourd ...

Maya Higa is one of the top female streamers on Twitch and a rising star on YouTube. But most importantly, she loves Purple Martins! Maya visited Brazil this February with the PMCA & made an amazing video about her experience with Purple Martins! Watch now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EC0...

Thanks Dave! The landlord called in and we have the report in Iowa on our Scout-Arrival Study map. We do accept and want reports if the first arrival is an ASY female as the first scouts returning can be male or female. It is for the subadults that we only accept reports for the males as they are di...

If you already requested info on PMCA's 2024 Amazon Ecotour, you should have received messages via email with trip info and should respond as soon as possible to secure your place on the trip. If you did not receive an email, please call us. And for anyone else interested in the trip, email us at in...

How do you express your love of Purple Martins?

Whether it's in sketches or sculpture, embroidery or earrings, painting or pottery - we want to see it!

Send your artwork to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in our magazine The Purple Martin Update!

You're invited to join the PMCA on another trip to see Purple Martins in the Amazon (February 24 - March 1).

Email [email protected] for more information!

Watch clips of our 2023 trip on Youtube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtEbjP7h8bc

🎉 PMCA's Annual Holiday Sale is happening now! 🛍 sale.png Use code HOLIDAY23 🛒 Start shopping at www.purplemartin.org/shop Promo code HOLIDAY23 gives 5% off all items, with the exception of memberships, donations, and bundled housing systems(all Gourd Rack Bundles, Trendsetter Bundle, Sunset Inn Bun...

https://www.purplemartin.org/promotion/pm_haze.jpg Join PMCA for a screening of Purple Haze: A Conservation Film Saturday, September 16th, 2023 Starting at 6 PM at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505 Film screening will be followed by a Q & A Session with PMC...