Purple Martins Move In!

What a day--March 21st! A pair of mating Purple Martins spent the day flying around the Purple Martin Palace and landing on the gourds. It was wonderful to hear their songs and watch the sun shine off their purple backs. Then around 6PM, they went inside and built a nest. This morning, Sunday March 22, 2009, they were dive bombing crows and a Red-Shoulder Hawk—anything—that flew into their territory. The female is very active and cheerful, and like our dearly departed sweet baby dog Windy, the female Purple Martin flies like the wind. We have named her Windy! Her husband is Steve. What a fun addition to our bird family. (Photo: Steve (left) sings to Windy (right) on top of the Purple Martin Palace.)