Purple Martin Nestling Banding #1

June 10 (WED): 0930-1100. University Club at 4200 Hillsborough Street. Directions: There is a small parking lot near the nest gourds, on your left fairly soon as you come up the entrance driveway. It is before and on the west side of the building. If the lot is full, continue on the entrance road and there is a much larger parking lot ahead, then walk back. PURPLE MARTINS have been nesting at this site for many years, using artificial nest gourds designed to keep predators and unwanted birds out. This season there are fewer nestlings. They will be old enough to band this week. People can come out and watch, chat etc. *We will discuss the why's and ways of tagging birds. Anyone can hold one of the nestlings if they wish* \- we check the birds over first for mites \(because mites are common on baby martins in some years\)\. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs, please. There are at least a dozen more Purple Martin nestlings at this colony than at Yates Mill Pond, so we are allowing 30 minutes more to do what we need to do: removing nestlings from the numbered gourds, measuring, banding and replacing each nestling in their gourd. We may remain longer if we need more time.