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Welcoming purple martins

Purple martins are small insect-eating birds, related to swallows. They are common in Central Alberta; often spotted diving and swooping over ponds, lakes, and marshes catching insects on the wing. They should arrive in our area about May 1.

Re: Purple martins

Purple martins are small insect-eating birds, related to swallows. They are common in Central Alberta; often spotted diving and swooping over ponds, lakes, and marshes catching insects on the wing. They should arrive in our area about May 1.

As spring approaches, many people call us at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, inquiring how to be a successful purple martin landlord.

Here are some basics people need to know before buying and erecting a purple martin home:

• Pick a suitable location. Usually a home in the city will not be successful because purple martin housing should be placed in the most open spot available (at least 40 feet, but preferably 60 feet from trees or buildings and within 100 feet of human housing or activity).

• Start with a smaller home — for instance one with four or eight compartments — rather than a large home.

• The size of the compartments and their entrance holes is critical as well is the entrance hole. The minimum size for compartments is six inches by six inches, but deeper compartments (measuring seven inches by 12 inches from front to back) offer greater protection from predators and the elements and will keep nestlings more comfortable. Entrance holes should be two and one-quarter inches in diameter and be situated one inch above the floor of the cavity.

• The colour of the home should be white.

• The home should allow for easy access for inspection and cleaning. It is best to have the home hooked to a winch to facilitate raising and lower it up and down the mounting pole.

• The home should be erected 12 to 20 feet high on the pole.

• If possible, keep the entrance holes blocked until just before nesting season to keep out uninvited guests such as sparrows and starlings.

For more information, call the Kerry Wood Nature Centre at 403-346-2010 or go to the Purple Martin Conservancy website, http:// purplemartin.org.

Good luck with the purple martins.

Bob Kruchten

Friends of the Kerry Wood Nature