November Monthly Meeting

Purple Martins in Minnesota: Bring Back Our Backyard Friends

With Kelly Applegate, Wildlife Biologist and Director, Purple Martin Working Group

Purple martins a once-common backyard species, have declined by 80 percent since 1965 and are becoming a rare sight. Their apartment-like human-made dwellings used to be as common as the American flag in many yards, but interest in “martinizing” has waned, leading to less exposure to kids and the general public. This, combined with competition from alien species like house sparrows and European starlings, are the main reasons for the decline.

To help these aerial insectivores, the Purple Martin Working Group was formed in 2008 under the direction of Mille Lacs Band wildlife biologist Kelly Applegate, along with many partners, including Audubon Minnesota. The group promotes proper care of this human-dependent species through workshops and educational events, and maintains an intensive banding program. A national migration study is underway, using geo-locators to track birds to wintering grounds in Brazil.

As Applegate notes, “We must act now or risk losing this species as a breeding bird in Minnesota.” Come learn more about efforts to restore this striking swallow to our neighborhoods.

Relevant websites:
www.mnmartin.org
www.purplemartin.org