Elvis has returned

[Randall Duhon]

A couple of years ago I had a male Purple Martin that had a few extra feathers on the top of his head. I called him Elvis and he even had his pic in the Purple Martin Update in 2006. At the end of the season he molted those extra feathers and his head had a distinct pointed look to it where the feathers use to be. He was very easy to tell apart from the others. He ended up with a mate and raised a family successfully.

Last year I had a male Martin that looked exactly like Elvis and he even returned to the exact gourd. Again he had a mate and raised a family.

Today I am mowing the back yard around where my gourd rack is located and I see a couple of Martins on the rack. And don't you know it, one of them is Elvis and he is going in and out of the same gourd that he used the last couple of years. It is unreal lol. I have been landlording for Martins most of my 45 years and have never seen another bird that looked like Elvis.

Here are a few pics from the time I saw Elvis when he had all his extra feathers and pics from the next 2 years when he lost the feathers but still had a pointed head lol. I hope you can make it out in the pics. I do not have the best camera.

[Julio]

Wow that is unique, great photo and congrats and may the king live on.

[Guest]

Randall my friend, he is a cool looking dude. He might have a comb in his hip pocket. I always thought Elvis was still alive & now I believe it! He just came back a Martin.

Ron, From WV

[Guest]

Randall....this is way too cool!!!!!

Sue
City by the Sea, TX

[Sparky]

Randall,

Well heck, that is Elvis! Thank You Very Much!

[Guest]

Randall...that is awesome! Elvis is so cute!!! All the little female martins are going to be chasing after him!
Glad he came back to you and keep us posted.
Judy

[Guest]

Wasn't Elvis clever!! Coming back as a PM! I think he made a very good choice in his new life! And I am sure he has a wonderful home with you, Randall!!! Now we know for sure, Elvis really is still alive!!!
Have a great year with him! Is his dawnsong just the best you have ever hear?? I bet he really has a beautiful voice!!!! You keep in line with all those girls that must be throwing themselves at him!!! LONG LIVE THE KING!!

[The Olsons]

Congratulations on Elvis's return....he looks cool Great pictures

[Randall Duhon]

I hope he does not loose any more head feathers. I may have to buy him a hat to keep his head warm lol .

[Al Denton]

That's a great story

[John Miller]

A nice example of a long-lived martin -- and great story. You should call your newspaper!

John Miller

[klcretired]

Congratulations on Elvis's return....he looks tooooo cool

[Scully]

Since Elvis is already purple in that first photo, that would make him at least five years old this spring

We had a breeding SY male one year with a bald samurai haircut and crazy hair (but not as suave as your Elvis), we called him Toshiro. Sure enough he showed up the following year as a purple ASY, still bald. He disappeared that same year before nesting, I like to think to another colony

Our oldest proven male was four years old last year, a banded male that occupied our nest cam gourd. We had a few returns just yesterday, but I ain't had time to look for any bands just yet.

Mike

[Guest]

Randall:

I have made 2 posts recently about my martins beginning with one couple in 2005 and only 3 couples at the end of 2007. It appears the older couple have returned each year choosing the same compartment in the apartment. In 2006 the ASY male returned WITH a SY male which I suspect is his one surviving offspring from 2005. The female showed up about 2 weeks or so later and appeared to be the one from 2005. In 2007 what appeared to be an older ASY male, feathers thin and dull, compared to the young looking, shining ASY male returned together. Again a female looking exactly like the one from the previous years--long body, lighter stripe around neck and brownish feathers--joined them in a few weeks. An ASY was accepted in 2006 and 2007--others fought off. The females other than the older one were SY females in 2006 and 2007. I wonder if they were the fledglings from 2006.

All used same nest compartments as previous years except for the male with white spot and mate chose a gourd which I added under the apartment in 2007 but will not use a gourd again as younger and weaker babies did not get fed due to stronger monopolizing the crescent opening.

Without banding, I guess observation is not very reliable; exceptions would be Elvis and mine with the white spot on his back--perculiar markings. But, starting out with only 2 birds and one offspring makes me think I may be observing one martin family and descendants.

[Randall Duhon]

Thanks to all for the nice replies. I had 3 more birds show up yesterday and they all spent the night. That now brings the total to 5 . Elvis now has some company .

I hope everyone gets some Martins soon. Keep looking up at the sky .

[Randall Duhon]

Hello all. I have posted some pics the last few years of a martin I called Elvis. He had a very funny shaped head and always used the same gourd. I knew he must be getting old but I had hoped he would show up again this year. He was like a old friend. I sit outside everyday hoping for his return but he never comes.

It is pretty sad not to see him anymore, but if it was the same bird he was very succesful with raising babies over the years.

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the sky.

Here are a couple of pics of my birds this year. I have more birds this year than I have ever had. They are using all the gourds. If you look close, in one of the pics you will see a martin in the leaf box. They are using about a box of leaves every week for nest building. I like them using the leaf box because it helps keep them off the ground.

[The Olsons]

Randall,

Congratulations on having such a great outcome this martin season

I am of course sorry to hear Elvis had not returned; I do remember the pictures you posted off him. We named our very first ASY male who started our colony "Arnie" because he looked so buff like Arnold Schwarzenegger. That was in 2003 and he kept coming back every year.....we had these great talks in the evening after work; he was a very patient listener. Last year in 2008 was the first time he did not return and I was very sad but thankful for the 5 seasons we got to spend together.

Wishing you a wonderful 2009 martin season.

Astrid

[stan davison]

I was hoping to see this post again this year. Have a great year!!

[Randall Duhon]

Thanks for the kind words. I really do miss him and still keep an eye open for him. Good luck to y'all this season.