Purple Martin Nestling Banding #2

Purple Martin Nestling Banding #2 June 11 (THUR), 0900-1000 (Historic) Yates Mill Pond County Park Directions: The nest colony is to the north of the parking lot and is easy to spot and walk to after parking. You will see it on your right as you enter the parking lot. Simply park and walk over to where we will be set up, about 50' short of the nest gourds. PURPLE MARTINS have been nesting at this site for several 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 whys 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 fewer Purple Martin nestlings at this colony than at Wednesday's site, so we are allowing about an hour 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.