Avian Apartments
Fine Art Prints and Art Gifts
Also spotted on Meadow Island was this multi-family dwelling for Purple Martins - which are notoriously good at insect control.
"The population of eastern Purple Martins is dependent on artificial martin houses of wood or aluminum and fake plastic gourds, supplied by individuals and organizations fond of the bird. This tradition was in place even before the population crash; Native Americans are said to have hollowed out gourds and erected them for this purpose. The situation requires ongoing maintenance, as European Starlings and House Sparrows compete with martins as cavity-nesters, and will fight with martins over nest sites. Starlings have even been known to kill Purple Martins, especially nestling young, and Purple Martins have been known to evict House Sparrows from their nests. Thus, unmonitored Purple Martin houses are often overtaken by more aggressive, non-native species. Purple Martin proponents are motivated by the concern that the Purple Martin would likely vanish from eastern North America were it not for this assistance."
Camera Data
Canon
Canon EOS 5D
1/256 second
F/6.3
105 mm
50
May 7, 2012, 10:09:14 AM
Adobe Photoshop CS Windows
Canon EOS 5D
1/256 second
F/6.3
105 mm
50
May 7, 2012, 10:09:14 AM
Adobe Photoshop CS Windows
