Purple Martins

[brewmaster15]

Purple Martins, (Progne subis) are North America's Largest Swallow. They are a really beautiful birds and though they nest in holes in trees , they also will gladly nest in Colonies if you set up multifamily housing for them . The migrate in the winter and return to the North to breed in the summer. My local birdwatching hot spot, Hammonasset State Park here in CT has an active colony that returns each year, The Colony is a Sanctuary for these birds and I really enjoy watching them. They are very challenging to photo because of their colors and iridescence , as well as their speed. Once they have chicks they are so busy getting bugs that its even harder... at best you get them perched at the bird condo holes. This year I thought I would try photographing them during nest building...

Purple martin (Progne subis) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Purple martin (Progne subis) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Purple martin (Progne subis) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Sharing of the leaf Ceremony by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Purple martin (Progne subis) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[Second Hand Pat]

Beautiful little guys and just try to pan on them in flight...NOT lol. Does the leaf exchange mean something Al?
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Beautiful little guys and just try to pan on them in flight...NOT lol. Does the leaf exchange mean something Al?
Pat

It was kind of Funny Pat. I watched this particular nest alot as they were closest to where I was hiding a bit. All the birds were bringing back sticks and leaves... this fellow brings back this green leaf and passes it to the female..normally they just each bring stuff in.. but he passes it to her and she then Flys off the perch with it and Drops it in the bushes about 20 feet away. I took that to mean she was not on the same page as he was as to what a nest should be made out of. I honestly have never seen that before.....so I dubbed it a "ceremony"

al

[Second Hand Pat]

It was kind of Funny Pat. I watched this particular nest alot as they were closest to where I was hiding a bit. All the birds were bringing back sticks and leaves... this fellow brings back this green leaf and passes it to the female..normally they just each bring stuff in.. but he passes it to her and she then Flys off the perch with it and Drops it in the bushes about 20 feet away. I took that to mean she was not on the same page as he was as to what a nest should be made out of. I honestly have never seen that before.....so I dubbed it a "ceremony"

al

Perfect name Al, it's funny how a pair can be out of sync with each other.
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Martins 2024


Purple Martins are migrants here.They come to CT to breed and raise their young. The Martins leave by summers end and return every year in the beginning of May /end of April. My favorite Park has a Martin Sanctuary so I have been blessed with many opportunities to see these large Flycatchers. Usually I see them once they are frantically catching bugs to feed their young. This year I caught the return just as they are pairing and nest building. A little ways from nests I found a muddy puddle I noted a few martins visiting. So I set myself up there and spent a few hours just waiting and watching as they would come in... circle , land and snatch up mud and grass for nest building.

I find them beautiful birds but frustrating to photo due to their color and how they spend so little time in one place. I did get some nice pics which is good. I haven't been out in weeks due to a killer cold.

Muddy mouthfull by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

This ones quite the over achiever..
_AJS8180 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

_AJS7947 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr



yes.... its a PURPLE MARTIN
Yes, I am Purple by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


Sporting Bird Bling
Purple Martin Ankle Bling by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


What I hoped was I would get a few aerial shots since I knew they would be landing and taking off. It was still a royal pain, but I did get a few shots I Really liked.

Purple Martin (Progne subis) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Purple Martin (Progne subis) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[Second Hand Pat]

What gorgeous little birds Al Is it the females who have the gray breasts? Love the rich blue/purple color. I think you lucked out finding this little pond. I try to get similar little birds here and they are tough to capture. I think they maybe barn shallows? They are so quick. I can post a pic if you do not mind.
Pat

[Discus Fever]

Hey Al, you can start a new trend and call a certain discus a Purple Martin!!

[jwcarlson]

Beautiful birds and fantastic pictures, Al!

[brewmaster15]

Thanks guys..These guys are a really fun bird to watch and they are really vocal as far as swallows go.. I can watch them for hours and often do. The males are dark purple and the females more drab.They are prolific insect eaters.

Scott lol, just what we need, another discus name.

[Iminit]

Well if where going there? Can I get a Purple Martin snake skin?
Nice pics and good looking birds. How big are they? Never seen one so they must bypass Long Island. Lots of colorful birds passing through. Notice a lot more with the camera.

[brewmaster15]

Tom they are like swallows only a bit bigger . They are on Long Island.. just need to know where to look.

Since you are a facebooker...

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067656618931


and..

https://www.easthamptonstar.com/spor...-purple-martin

[jwcarlson]

Well if where going there? Can I get a Purple Martin snake skin?

Purple martin snake skin would be called Regal Petunia from a different breeder and a Mauve Royal from another and a Fork-Tongued Amethyst by another.

[brewmaster15]

Sadly if I did breed some such beautiful purple snakeskin.. Everyone would buy them from me. Breed them and rename them as their own. Instead of being known as the creator of the Purple Snakeskin.. people would argue that it was infact created by someone else.. Thats an aweful lot of aggravation and frustration. And since I am not on facebook I would probably not have many followers to argue,harp,hawk, and flame on my behalf.

Think I will just stick to being a discus nut.. not cut out for the harsh world of Competitive Discus naming.

[jeep]

I can't say I've ever seen a Purple Martin, or at least I haven't noticed them, but I see Martin houses all over the place.

Someone just a few blocks away from me saw an Oriel yesterday. That's the first one I've heard of in my area since I was probably 7 years old.

All these bird photos are making me put out my hummingbird feeders today!

[Iminit]

Forked Tongued Amethyst is that the political Discus?
Ok now I’ve got a few more places to visit. Thanks Al!!

Seems kind of cold still here. Guessing a lot of birds are having problems with the weather. What’s the secret to get humming birds? We’ve got a lot of flowering plants in my yard but non flowering yet. Wife put up a humming bird feeder near my bird feeders but haven’t seen any thing.