FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Purple Martins. Boy, Have I hit the Jackpot !!

[<purplemartin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am glad I found this site!
This is where the REAL Experience checks in.
Thanks for the offers! I'm glad to get some folks offering to drop by at 
Bernheim.

A little history about me:
I'm just a guy that put up a martin house, got lucky and built a nice returning 
bunch of martins, and accidentally fell into public involvement.
Where I work, there were martin houses. I asked around, and found that the man 
that put up the housing had retired long ago. The enviromental engineer 
welcomed my offer to monitor the martin housing.

I quickly got tire of answering, "I'm not sure." to folks that would ask me 
questions about martins at this public site at work. I "armed" myself with 
knowledge, and read about martins more and more. I also downloaded 
informational handouts from The Purple Martin Conservation Association. When 
someone approaches me now, I have some answers, and usually a handout that they 
can take with them to read.

I live walking distance to Bernheim Forest, and always thought this was a great 
place to introduce martins to people. Purple Martins almost entirely depend on 
human supplied nest sites, and so many of the best martin colonies are "tucked 
away", down secluded backroads.

Long story short... I already had the handouts, and read about martins almost 
daily... I'm also a member of a "Purple Martin Clubhouse", and literally talk 
to some of the most experienced landlords in North America and Canada.

So "For some reason", this hobby of martineering has exploded for me, and it is 
my simple goal to share these fasinating birds in a few public places. It 
amazes me that I seem to be "alone" in my public colony venture. Looks like I'm 
the only one in this area, South of Louisville, that is managing public sites.

I'll bet I'm wrong. If you are sharing your birding to "the next generation", 
FANTASTIC !! Our native species have way too much non-native competition, and 
desperately need more folks putting up and managing Bluebird, Purple Martin and 
Tree Swallow houseing, just to name a few.

Larry Melcher
Bullitt County KY
purplemartin AT windstream DOT net


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