The bird has left the nest!

Or, in our case... the birds have left the nest!

Two years ago, in early winter 2013 we installed a Purple Martin house at Olde Florida Golf Club. The house was installed near the lake that separates hole #2 and hole #10. In our first winter with the house, we successfully fledged three Purple Martins. 

Purple Martins migrate each winter to South America. However, they remain incredibly faithful to their colony (nesting) sites each year, often returning to the United States about the same date. This was the case at Olde Florida. The Purple Martins from 2013 returned in late January 2014 to again utilize the nesting structure and this year over a dozen Purple Martins were fledged at Olde Florida. 

Purple Martins are quite friendly and prefer to nest in close proximity to people, which make golf courses a perfect location for the bird! Interestingly, Purple Martins are the only bird species that is totally dependent on human supplied nest boxes. Qualities that make the martins desirable are they nest in colonies and have fascinating social behavior. Their vocalizations are also quite beautiful, they are extremely graceful in flight and they consume vast quantities of insects.

The Purple Martin house at Olde Florida has been lowered for the summer, but since the nesting structure has been so successful our the plan is to add an additional house next year.