Sad time of year

[Ginny Pres]

This is always such a sad time of year. Through late June, baby Purple Martins were hanging out of all the nests. Moms and dads were flying crazy every which way feeding them. We go out of town for a week, and all the activity is over when we get home. Yes, we still have a few Purple Martins flying around and stopping for a bit, but the main fun is over for another year. (At least we have a second pair of Blue Birds with eggs to watch.)

[Mstan]

Yes Ginny, I am in Farmington Mo. south of St Louis. I still have 6 Martins waiting to fledge. The activity in the morning and evening is still busy. I know it won’t be long until they fledge and all start their route back to Brazil. I will miss sitting out in the evening watching their aerobatics in the sky, doing nest checks and changes when necessary. The fledging season is so joyful knowing our labors have helped them succeed. The fall season is beautiful in Missouri as you know so that helps with my blues. The looking forward to their return in the Spring helps me endure the winter. Thank you for being a Martin Landlord and I hope for continued success and blessings for you in caring for your birds.
Stan

[Ginny Pres]

I know they're not totally gone yet. I have a pic from July 24, 2004, with about 24 birds hanging all over our house. (We hadn't yet put up our gourds.) It was a rainy day. I guess they just wanted to rest? A few years ago we did a short camping trip into northern Arkansas in early August. A Purple Martin house was erected across the road from our campsite (in a Corps of Engineers campground). I guess the Purple Martins were gathering there to rest as they came from more northern areas? It was cool to see them while we were there.