Purple Martins, Mississippi River, Mud Lake
It was about time to check on the Purple Martin population down at the Mississippi River. A third nesting tower has been erected this year at Mud Lake Park next to the entrance to the marina and I was wondering how much the numbers of birds had increased. What can I say, the air was filled with martins catching insects mid air and parent birds feeding their offspring or teaching them how to hunt for prey. It looked like all three towers were well occupied. Unfortunately I wasn’t in town during a recent public event to witness counting of birds and care measurements of the breeding chambers like I did last year. However, it was nice to be back with the camera on site and try to get a few shots that tell the story about these beautiful birds of the swallow family.
Three towers at Mud Lake Park now make for 54 possible nest sites.
On a side note, you don’t have to bring mosquito spray while shooting below a tower filled with Purple Martins. These birds will keep you happy. I shot with the Nikon Nikkor Z 100-400, f4.5-5.6 S the whole time, and I think it is a perfect lens for this kind of story telling with the camera. While a little wide for a single sitting bird on the toower, it leaves all possibilities open for birds in flight.
A juvenile Purple Martin sitting in the grass below one of the nesting towers. It may have left the nest a little too early but most likely the parents will still feed it and hopefully the bird will be up in the air soon, unless a predator may get a hold of of it… I hope not!