I just returned from our vacation to Washington state, touring the lighthouses along the coast, whale watching, etc. While there, I was delighted to hear a familiar sound. I even ranked this sighting right up there with being able to see humpback whales and Orcas. How weird am I?
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com/2017/08 ... ilson.html
Purple Martins at Port Wilson Lighthouse, Port Townsend, Washington
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
That is weird Kathy - I would've thought you would've ranked seeing the Martins higher than seeing the whales and orcas..........KathyF wrote:I even ranked this sighting right up there with being able to see humpback whales and Orcas. How weird am I?
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Matt, it was very, very close! 
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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stan kostka
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 7:59 pm
- Location: Washington, Seattle
Hi KathyF,
Just wanted to say thanks for posting this totally cool sighting of the martins at Point Wilson, with photographs to confirm.
I've spent quite a bit of time chasing martins around the Olympic Peninsula, mostly in Jefferson County. I've found them nesting in all kinds of places, on ledges under piers, in the ends of rotten timbers on docks, in broken streetlights, in pipes on the sides of boats and waterfront buildings, on a ledge under a navigation marker, and wooden piling cavities, to name a few. Finding martins in any non nestbox/gourd substrate always is a totally cool thing to experience. Gives me the same feeling I get when watching salmon jumping up into a cascade.
Martins first started using nestboxes here in the 1980s, pretty much. There are some nestboxes in Port Townsend at the marina, and also at Fort Wooden, where you were, on the marine science pier. I don't know with certainty if the boxes are still there but they were last year. You went right past it on your way out to the lighthouse.
Glad to hear you also got to see some Orca. I worked for a short time at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, many years ago, and just totally fell in love with these truly amazing creatures.
Thanks again for a great post.
Stan Kostka
Arlington WA
Just wanted to say thanks for posting this totally cool sighting of the martins at Point Wilson, with photographs to confirm.
I've spent quite a bit of time chasing martins around the Olympic Peninsula, mostly in Jefferson County. I've found them nesting in all kinds of places, on ledges under piers, in the ends of rotten timbers on docks, in broken streetlights, in pipes on the sides of boats and waterfront buildings, on a ledge under a navigation marker, and wooden piling cavities, to name a few. Finding martins in any non nestbox/gourd substrate always is a totally cool thing to experience. Gives me the same feeling I get when watching salmon jumping up into a cascade.
Martins first started using nestboxes here in the 1980s, pretty much. There are some nestboxes in Port Townsend at the marina, and also at Fort Wooden, where you were, on the marine science pier. I don't know with certainty if the boxes are still there but they were last year. You went right past it on your way out to the lighthouse.
Glad to hear you also got to see some Orca. I worked for a short time at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, many years ago, and just totally fell in love with these truly amazing creatures.
Thanks again for a great post.
Stan Kostka
Arlington WA