Kathleen CA - I'm checking with some of the PMCA members to get all of the facts correct, but there are small numbers of Purple Martins in California. They nest differently though; where the martins in the eastern half of the country are human-imprinted and colony nesters, the ones that have moved to the west coast tend to nest in smaller, or solitary, groups and not near people. I know there were several larger colonies forming around Sacramento. The birds have discovered the drain pipes built in to some of the larger highway overpasses were excellent places to nest. They also nest in pilings and piers along the coast. I'll get back with you when I get more info. I don't know how far south they go. Socks/Kathleen CA - Yes; Wes has been a great help with the my Purple Martin hobby/obsession. When we moved from the base to the new/old house in Larimore in 2007, one of the very first things he did was to dig the 36" deep, 12" wide hole and set the ground stake in cement so it could cure and hold the pole before winter. The pole slips down 30" into the stake. This is the same set up I had on the base. We had a nearly-impossible-to-budge rope-and-pulley system until now. I don't know why it never worked correctly, but the manufacturer replaced the entire hub system with a new and improved one! Since it can hold two layers of eight gourds each, we bought a boat winch to "power" it. The system was easy to install on the old pole and it works beautifully. It would have taken me weeks to put together and install the winch, pulley and hub if I had to do it on my own. It would have involved blood, bruises, pain, and probably broken fingers. Wes had it all together in an hour or so. "I think I'll keep him!" There have been four Purple Martin "scout" sightings in North Dakota since April 11. Two in Mandan, and one each in Devils Lake and Coleharbor. I have three "martineering" friends in Grand Forks and Bismarck. They have not seen birds yet. Purple Martins are native American birds that migrate to and from Brazil each fall. They return in the spring to nest from Florida to north of Winnipeg. At one time they were in danger of extinction because of lack of properly monitored housing (the vast majority of the birds only nest in man-made housing) and predation by non-native European starlings and English house sparrows. Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Martin Conservation Association

Connie, maybe their hiding out in the gourds. I've never done it, but a guy told me how to feed them. I buy mealworms for my bluebirds, but you can also buy crickets, for Purple Martins. Then fling them up in the air with a long plastic spoon. But, maybe you have a dish to hoist up in the air near their roost? Leslie (who's still waiting for her PM's)

Thanks, everyone, for the nice comments. I do look forward to the Purple Martins return from their winter vacation in Brazil. Socks...When the PM eggs hatch, the chicks are called "hatchlings" or "chicks" until they leave the nest at about 28-32 days old. At that time they will be as big as the adults and are called "fledglings" or "HYs"...birds in their Hatching Year. In late summer all the PMs, HYs included, migrate to Brazil where they spend the winter eating, growing, relaxing, molting new feathers, and building up strength for the return migration to their nesting areas all over eastern North America. When this year's chicks/HYs, return next spring, they will not be the solid dark color of the adults. They are then considered "Second Years", or SYs. The males will have at least one, but usually several black feathers on his chest and belly area. The SY females are much lighter versions of the adult females. SYs will sometime breed, but most don't. Normally, SY females will mate with an adult (ASY) male more often than a SY male will mate with an ASY female. And, just to mix things up, you'll sometimes see a pair of SYs matched up. Now the seasons change and they again migrate to Brazil. After they arrive, the SYs will molt into their final color phase and be considered ASY (After Second Years.) Once they've reached this stage you won't be able to tell if a PM is three years old, or 10. I'll post photos that show the age/sex differences later, or check out the Research Links and Download Center of the PMCA. It has a wealth of PM information. Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Martin Conservation Association

Hey Leslie; this is my latest year ever. They didn't even return until Mother's Day this year. They didn't bother making nests and just used the comfy pre-nests I made them. They were late pairing up, and they're late laying eggs. The eggs I have are big and heavy, well, big and heavy for the size of the birds. I've been hosting PMs since 2004. This is the latest, coldest, oddest season yet. Also, starting the new colony was hard. I'm 15-20 miles west and north from the base where I had to turn dozens of pairs away; I simply couldn't afford to put up more than the two racks I offered there. I think I've "stolen" three colonies here, and I still don't have a full house. I'm going to try to do another nest check tomorrow and take photos. I might have a pinkie or two by now! I've had a mystery illness this spring and then had an MRI last week. It knocked me for a loop. The iodine dye gave me a bad reaaction; I was covered in hives from scalp to my toes and all points between. I "watch" the birds; but I've not been too interactive with them this spring. I will do the nest changes when the chicks are 10 days old even if I have to hire a neighbor to help me.