MDI Birds
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    Purple Martin / Progne subis

    Wanderer: early Apr-late Jun and again early Aug-early Sep, with all fall records from Mount Desert Rock.

    Miscellany: We’re just a bit too far northeast for Purple Martins but they’re fascinating in that the eastern North American population breeds almost entirely in human-provided, apartment style birdhouses or gourd clusters and has since before 1900, and there are 18th century reports by early naturalists of Native American, who may have noticed the species prodigious insect catching abilities, suspending gourds to attract martins. At some point long ago they must have nested in natural cavities as many western populations still do.

    Last Updated: April 27th, 2022