All photos by Kevin Li
Seattle's Purple Martin
Summer Air Show is Back!
In the 50s and 60s Purple Martins nested in considerable numbers in Seattle, with multiple nests on the Bon Marche building and nests in Pioneer Square, among other places. Then came the dark days of the 70s, 80s and 90s when Martin populations in Seattle crashed to near zero. Now the Purple Martin's cheery loud call note can again be heard in Seattle!
The devoted pairing, effortless flying, convival living habits and loyal parenting of Purple Martins can be observed in several locations in Seattle, including the largest colony at Shilshole Bay, plus significant colonies at Jack Block Park and locations to its East in West Seattle (shown), T105 and Kellogg Island in the Duwamish, and hopefully new sites in the future.
This male's all-purple plumage marks him as 2 years old or older.
Check out the winglength on that bird! These guys can fly!
These Purple Martins would like to thank the following:
At the risk of missing many people who have put work toward this noble effort, I'd like to credit some of the Martin stewards in the area, such as Ballard's famed Kevin Li, who has installed and tended nests all over Seattle & King County, as well as helping in the South Sound and other areas. The late Jack Davis of Olympia, who worked for what's now the Dept. of Wildlife is widely credited with being the grand-daddy of Martin stewards in this state. Secretary of State Ralph Monroe has put up countless boxes on his land in the south Sound and has a large colony, with a ditto for Lannie Davis, the Olympia Commercial Fisherman whose ownership of a Cherry-picker has been of help for the restoration efforts. Stan Kostka has nearly jeaopardized his career by practically taking off the entire summer of 2005 two devote to Martin stewardship & research projects in Northern Western Washington and other parts of the country. Kostka has colonies at English Boom, Warm Beach and many other spots to show for his efforts. (Martin stewards tend to deflect efforts to give them credit, and point to the birds themselves as the ones deserving of the accolades, which, although partly true, is why this paragraph is necessary). Rich Siegrist has helped enable a viable nesting population on Vashon Island. Todd Tannery kept work going on Martin housing in Tacoma and elsewhere during the 80s and 90s. The Kitsap Audubon Society, Port Townsend Audubon Society, Rainier Audubon Society, among others, have all actively organized help for Martins. The Washington restoration effort has built upon the success of the effort in Oregon state which has been led by another tireless Martin steward, Dan Fouts of Portland. I apologize to the many whom I have failed to mention.
Here a male martin brings a large Darner Dragonfly to his kids as another male watches.
Post Script
about a year after this web page went up, Kevin Li (shown with his partner Kris Baker) was killed in a diving accident off Whidbey Island. Follows the copy of an ad I placed in the Seattle Times and Post Intelligencer on Feb. 10, 2006:
Paid Advertisement
The Spirit of
Kevin Li
Many have now heard the story: By the mid-90s, Purple Martins were on the ropes in Seattle. In a city where scores of Martin families had once resided on the Bon Marche bldg, the cheerful chirping of this large swallow had become a sound that was rarely heard. It’s telling that in a place with so many environmentalists, so many birdwatchers, & so many organizations, it was really only one person who sprang into action to help the Purple Martin. On his own time and on his own dime, Kevin Li worked tirelessly, rigging up gourds & boxes in all the right places. The Martins learned to recognize Li and perched excitedly on his ladder as he put up their housing. Now the Martin come-back is on in Seattle.
Li was a scientist by training & inclination, an unassuming man who cared deeply about people as well as birds & usually could find humor in any situation. We lost Kevin, who was 50, in a diving accident off Whidbey. For those of us who were fortunate enough to know him, life will never be as good as it was. But if we are lucky, Kevin’s spirit will continue to find expression in Seattle & the world.
Ed Newbold-Wildlife Artist
Delia & I would also like to extend our deepest sympathies to Kris Baker, Kevin's significant other for ten years and a partner in his Martin stewardship.
more Martin shots by Kevin:
All photos by Kevin Li