Essex County purple martin festival seeks to recruit 'landlords' for declining swallow population
The purple martin festival marks the 25th year of the Ontario Purple Martin Association
A 25-year-old association that works to conserve a declining swallow population will celebrate its quarter century of existence on Saturday with a festival in Essex County.
The Ontario Purple Martin Association says it's hoping to encourage more young people to become "landlords" to the birds, who are uniquely reliant on humans for their survival.
"Right now [the] people that are interested in purple martins and helping them out is basically [the] 50 years and older population," said Karen Padbury, a member of the association who's helping organize the festival.
"They're a very good bird to have. When you put up housing for them, they'll provide you with all kinds of entertainment."
The purple martin is the largest swallow in North America, according to the Audubon Society.
Most winter in the Amazon basin but spend the breeding season in the eastern half of the United States and in southern Ontario; the southern edges of Quebec, the Maritimes and northwestern Ontario; and parts of the Canadian prairies.
Almost all purple martins in the east now nest in birdhouses, according to the society's website.
"They have a wonderful call that, you know, we recognize as soon as they come, and they are a social bird," said Padbury, who currently has around 30 adult birds and 56 babies living in the colony in her yard.
"They do interact sort of with their landlord … when I go out to my nesting area for them … they do recognize me. They don't seem to be upset that I'm around."
In fact, Padbury said, she checks the nests on a weekly basis for parasites, deceased birds and blocked entrances, and the birds don't seem to mind.
The festival will take place at the Colchester Heritage Schoolhouse in Essex County, which is home to both a purple martin colony and a colony of chimney swifts.
It will feature vendors, children's games, bird banding presentations, and speakers on topics such as butterflies and moths, bat box research, Great Lakes water quality, Essex County's natural environment and falconry.
The Pelee Island Bird Observatory, Essex County Field Naturalists, Canada South Land Trust and Watershed Watchers will have booths there.
And experienced Purple Martin landlords will be on hand to answer questions.
People can find more information about the festival on the association's website.