What are Purple Martins, you might ask?

 

Ah, glad that you asked. A few years ago I would have asked the same question.

 

Yes, McKee ranch, located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, has become a haven for Purple Martin families. My husband really wanted these little birds on our property. Thus began a journey of sorts to attract those feathered friends of the swallow variety.

 

It was with great celebration that the McKee family welcomed the first Purple Martin to our PM village several years ago. We instantly became PM landlords. The husband and a neighbor carefully built and installed the recommended Purple Martin gourds. So earlier this week the birds arrived to both our homes. But it seemed they were only passing by.

 

I have never been a true “bird-watcher.” I suppose I’ve always had my nose in a book or plunking away on a computer. I am truly amazed – the phenomenon of lifting one’s head to the sky. Yes, there’s a wonderful bright and blue world out there. I’ve learned from the Purple Martins.

 

It was early this morning the leader bird returned with another bird. We noticed that the first bird was entirely black with a glossy steel blue sheen. His partner was dark on top with lighter blue feathers on the lower part of the body. Immediately Hubs researched and found the lighter color bird was the female and the first bird that had arrived was a male.

 

It will take a few days for the two to settle into their new home. The birds will teach us as they share cleaning duties and we enjoy their lessons.

 

And just now two additional birds joined the happy bird family. Oh they are noisy, but with a pleasant sound. Some have described the sounds as chortles, rattles and croaks.

 

It was very apparent that the different tones mean different things in “PM talk.” We have room for eight families — Yes, we are generous landlords —and later this summer we will welcome the babies and enjoy witnessing flying lessons.

 

I’ve taken the following description from an online site. Purple Martins are aerial insectivores, meaning that they catch insects in the air. The birds are agile hunters and eat a variety of winged insects. Rarely, they will come to the ground to eat insects. They usually fly relatively high, so contrary to popular opinion, mosquitoes do not form a large part of their diet.

 

I admit that part of our PM interest was their insect-eating habits. Yes, we were thinking of mosquitoes, but once the Purple Martin family chose our gourds, we were delighted landlords. Not that I’m an expert, but I certainly hope a stray mosquito is an occasional PM meal.

 

We continued our PM research and found a startling fact. The birds winter in South America and migrate to North America in spring to breed. The migration is staggered. Therefore, our first bird arrived several days prior to the others. We had him pegged right – he was the leader. Once he found a suitable location for their summer home, he brought the female and together the birds inspected available nest sites. When they made their decision, the birds established their territory.

 

We have learned that some birds leave for South America as early as July. Others do not leave until as late at October. We have great hope that our Purple Martin brood will be among the last group to leave.

 

So yes, call me a “bird watching ole lady,” I’ve been called worse. But I’ve learned so much — organization, respect, happy families, working together and relishing life to the fullest. Welcome back my feathered friends!

 

Anne McKee is executive director at Meridian Railroad Museum.