Western Purple Martins in need

[Matt F.]

I happened to stumble across this photo, of some western Martins (arboricola subspecies) nesting in a gourd, with babies that look almost ready to fledge.
The photo was taken just a few days ago.
The natural gourd, looks like it's seen better days.
In fact, it's amazing it held up this season.
Here's the photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127653321 ... 654328043/
I inquired with the photographer as to where the photo was taken, and it turns out it was taken at the Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland, WA (the gourds are out over the water).
Maybe Stan Kostka, or someone near there, can take a look at those gourds?

[diane vB]

OMG, those poor babies! Imagine the weather elements they endured! Those gourds should be thrown in the garbage and replaced. Nice to see the fledglings tho!

[stan kostka]

These gourds were installed in the spring of 2006 by friends of the late Kevin Li. Kevin planned to install the gourds himself but died tragically the previous winter. His job with King County had him often out in a boat on Puget Sound and Lakes Union and Washington in and around Seattle, and he installed gourds and nestboxes at many locations over fresh and saltwater beginning in the 1990s until his death. Since then, some of his colonies have been maintained by others, and some obviously have not. I do not have any first hand experience with this site, such as distance to nearest public launch, condition of the old abandoned pilings, whether or not they may be scheduled for removal, etc. Maintaining martin colonies by boat on abandoned offshore pilings is no easy task, and I'm not surprised the site has subsequently gone unmaintained. I will send out a few emails, and maybe someone will pick up on it, I do not know. I pretty much quit trying to keep up with boat only sites many years ago, due to the complexity of it all. All the colonies I currently monitor and maintain are accessible on foot at low tide, or on piers, or upland poles in the North Sound, well north of this site in King County.

On a positive note, the first site Kevin ever installed martin housing was at Shilshole Bay in Seattle, and he had about a dozen pairs nesting there when he died. That site is much easier to access, with ladders at low tide, and has been maintained and expanded by others, and in recent years has had 30 or more pairs nesting.

The Pacific Northwest is currently experiencing one of if not the driest and warmest summer on record. So, those nestlings did not have to deal with much if any adverse weather this season.

[Matt F.]

That sounds great Stan!
Thanks for all you do for the Martins!
Your work over the years has no doubt not only kept the Martins from completely disappearing from many areas, but has been key in the growth in numbers in many areas as well.

[DebA]

That is definitely slumming it in the martin world.
Deb