Migration Habits: The Desert Purple Martins have a very different migration pattern than other sub-species. They are a forest nesting subspecies ( Progne subis arboricola) that can be found in central AZ in Ponderosa Pine forest using woodpecker holes and can be found as far north as Washington State and British Columbia. It is important to also be aware that a second subspecies of Purple Martin occurs in Arizona. The Desert Purple Martins are vastly understudied and very limited in their breeding range as they are restrcited to areas with either Saguaro or other large columnar cacti such as cardon, with woodpecker holes, their preferred nesting sites. You could be a part of an important scientific discovery! Let Jennie know if you have a feather at Information for Surveyors – For Members of the Desert PUMA Crewĭirections for watching and monitoring a nesting colony Protocol Document – Can be viewed and printed here Data Form Document – Can be viewed and printed here Map of active and documented colonies of nesting Desert Purple Martins can be seen here Online Data Entry submission – use this online form Information about Desert Purple Martinsĭesert Purple Martins have VERY different behavior from the Eastern sub-species. We have partners that can do lab analysis on these feathers and learn about the genetics of this distinct subspecies and maybe determine where the birds wintered or migrated through using stable isotope analysis. Join the team here.Ĥ) Find a feather from a Desert Purple Martin: If you find what you believe to be Desert Purple Martin feathers near a known nesting location or a dead Purple Martin please let us know immediately. We may also have group excursions into larger areas to look for colonies. Participants will have the opportunity to observe and monitor nesting colonies of Desert Purple Martins in publicly accessible areas or on their own properties if applicable. We do have several endoscopes and long poles we can use to peek into nests and gather data!ģ) Join Tucson Audubon’s Community Science Purple Martin Project. If you know of a nesting colony on your own property or in an area that is accessible to the public please let us know here. Desert Purple Martins are loosely colonial which means that multiple pairs will form a community and nest in the same stand of saguaros, often in excellent Sonoran Desert habitat. Here are the different ways you can help:ġ) If you see or hear Purple Martins anywhere in southeast Arizona please report them here or enter your sightings into Ģ) Report a nesting colony of Purple Martins. This summer Tucson Audubon is launching a study on these fascinating birds and we could use your help. The Desert Purple Martins are extremely understudied with large gaps in knowledge about their nesting, migration and wintering grounds. They are “wild” martins that use naturally occurring cavities while the eastern subspecies is said to be entirely reliant on human-made nestboxes. The Desert Purple Martin is a distinct subspecies that timing their nesting to monsoon abundance and nests almost exclusively in saguaros or other large columnar cacti. Have you ever seen a Purple Martin in Southeast Arizona? These charismatic, large swallows are a beloved and iconic nestbox species in the eastern half of the United States but if you know where to look they can be found here as well. Female Desert Purple Martin looking out of nesting hole.
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