Audubon program focuses on Purple Martins

  Tuesday, February 25, 2014 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Andrew Burnett, who has led a drive to restore Purple Martin habitat in Parsons, Kan., will talk about “Purple Martin Biology and Purple Martin Colony Management Methods” at the Sperry-Galligar Audubon meeting at Pittsburg State University on Thursday, Feb. 27. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in 102 Yates Hall.

Burnett, a PSU alumnus, is a member of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. In his presentation, he will talk about the life cycle of the Purple Martin and review colony management methods that allow Purple Martins to thrive and prosper. He will cover housing design, placement, and protection, as well as ways to protect martins from predators and the weather.

Burnett will share the latest research about Purple Martins and talk about local projects to restore their populations.

According to the Purple Martin Conservation Association, more than a million North Americans put up housing for Purple Martins. East of the Rocky Mountains, the birds are totally dependent on human-supplied housing.

The main reason homeowners fail to attract martins to the housing they supply is that the housing is placed incorrectly or the site is inappropriate habitat to begin with, according to the association.

For more about the Sperry-Galligar Audubon Society and its programs, visit their website at www.sperry-galligar.com.