On 03/11/13, whitea60@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
This is Segment 3 that will allude to the presentation given by Dr. Andrew
Dolby. The purple martins will be
most of this discussion. The purple martins that migrate mostly from the Amazon
area of Brazil in South America each year to produce and raise their young are
the largest birds of the swallow species. They have the same high metabolism
that was referenced in Dr. Dolby's presentation. But, since they rely on a diet
of flying insects , they are forced to leave Brazil's Amazon in the month of
December when the rainy season began because insects can't fly in heavy rain.
After the 2 to 3 weeks of migration they arrive in the warm climate of Florida,
the Gulf Coast, and the Yucatan Peninsula. As they follow the warming
temperatures through the adjoining states, some them will reach our purple
martin nesting site at Bryan Park in Richmon VA on or near March 15. But, their
problems are not over yet. There will be some very cold days before Spring sets
in... eventually becoming Summer . Since they know that occasional cold days
are sure to come, they begin eating lots of insects to regain the fat that they
lost during the over 5,000 miles migration. They will also began preening
themselves by oiling all of their feathers from the oil glands that are located
on their backs near the tail area. Now , the rain will roll off their bodies
protecting the soft fluffy down that is under the feathers near their skin
surface keeping them dry and warm. I have also observed the purple martins
staying in their houses or just sitting still on the caged in porches. They
will only began flying if the weather warms up causing insects to become
airborne. Otherwise they will stay in the house all day or on the
porches.........conserving their energy. Don't worry; they won't starve during
this period. They have conserving energy down to a survival perfected science.
Personally, at Bryan Park on one cold day from my car, I saw a purple martin
flipping a leaf on the ground and eating
something found under it. I don't know what it ate. What do you think it was? I
know that they prefer flying insects. I will summarize a final segment of Dr.
Andrew Dolby, the president of VSO (Virginia Ornithology Society, very soon.
whitea60@xxxxxxxxxxx
**************
Gone to the Birds----Purple Martins Festival Aug. 3, 2013
Adolph White a Purple Martin caretaker/landlord at Bryan Park in Richmond, VA.
and presently the temporary acting president of Gone to the Birds festival,
that will be held in the Farmers Market location (6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. )in the
city of Richmond on Saturday, August 3 to educate the public about the Purple
Martins. We will have advisors and purple martins landlords at this event to
answer your questions about this aerobatic bird. One of our local TV Channels
will be on site as well. Between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m about 20,000+ purple
martins will be circling overhead giving you a synchronized aerial show that
will fasinate you beyond your wildest imagination. Then, they will give you a
final synchronized display as they dive into their roosting trees, the Bradford
Pear Trees.
whitea60@xxxxxxxxxxx
