Please Be on the Lookout for Color-banded Martins
From: James R. Hill, III
Date: 6/7/01
Time: 5:15:26 PM
Comments
The
PMCA is asking all landlords throughout the entire breeding range to be on the
lookout for color banded Purple Martins. Lots of folks are now banding martins
in several states as part of ongoing projects and we are finding that they disperse
100's of miles in all directions. Try to read the numbers (and in some cases
numbers and letters) using a spotting scope and tripod (all landlords should
have these to really enjoy their birds up close). Color bands can be read with
a good spotting scope from up to 100 feet away. Please record which leg of the
bird has the color band, what color the band is, plus the age and sex of the
bird. The bands in this photo are colored yellow, orange, white, pink, blue,
and red. These bands are plastic. Some color bands are anodized metal. Let the
band spin around on the leg of the martin several times to make sure you are
reading the entire number. Some have only one digit, some have four digits.
Some have "alphanumerals" (i.e., letters and numbers). Please e-mail
the PMCA with any sightings you may have. We would also be interested in what
type of housing the bird is nesting (natural gourd, plastic gourd, wooden house,
metal house, etc.)
In our experience, a surprisingly high percentage of colony sites have at least one color-banded martin breeding there. We are learning a great deal about martins using color banding. For instance: breeding site fidelity, mate fidelity, dispersal of young, longevity, wintering range, migration speed, winter site-fidelity, post-reproductive wandering, home range size, and much more. It is a very valuable technique and is how we have learned so much about the birds of the world.
For more information on banding birds, refer to FAQ #37 by clicking on the "FAQ" tab at the top of the top frame or go directly to the Bird Banding Lab's website at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/James R. Hill, III
Executive Director/Founder
Purple Martin Conservation Association
Be on the Lookout for Color Bands Continued.....
From: James R. Hill, III
Date: 6/8/01
Time: 11:44:50 AM
Comments
Regarding my earlier post, below, with a photo of colored martin bands: I just had a private e-mail from a Texas landlord who wanted to help look for color bands, but said it was probably too late for this year as most of his martins were ready to fledge. Many of these color banded birds are this year's young and wander widely after reaching independence from their parents. In the 4-6 weeks after fledging, and before heading toward Brazil, they visit dozens of breeding sites. All landlords, everywhere, have the rest of the summer to look for color bands. And they need to look daily, if they have the time and inclination.
Let me tell you what else we've already learned by this color banding. A fellow color bander in Ohio had color-banded fledglings from over 20 other colony sites in Ohio visit his colony site late in the season. We will be publishing this research in an upcoming Purple Martin Update. I find it fascinating. Fledglings obviously travel widely and visit many colony sites (looking for next year's breeding sites?) while fattening up prior to migrating to Brazil for the first time. Please, everyone, be on the lookout for color bands as often as you look at your birds. New ones may arrive daily, all season long. Thanks.
James R. Hill, III
Executive Director/Founder
Purple Martin Conservation Association
