Purple Martins Add Joy To Springtime
When I was a kid growing up in the country, this was the time of year when our family kept our eyes on the skies listening and watching for the arrival of our annual visitors, that being purple martins.
We always had a bird box set up on a pole in the yard, and without fail, there was an air of excitement when we heard the first lilting twitter high in the air, excitement that escalated when a martin landed on our box. It was a pleasure to keep tabs on the pair of martins that found our little box a good place to raise their young and to watch them feed the little ones amid all the flutter and twitter.
That all ended for me after I grew up and left home because in spite of my best efforts to install boxes for martins, I could never attract any, so I had to jealously enjoy those my neighbors had that settled into their living quarters.
Choudrant’s Dick and Trish Albritton are blessed every year with bird houses full of nesting purple martins. I got a message this week from Trish letting me know that they got a Valentine’s Day surprise when the first purple martin scout showed up on their boxes on February 14.
I visited with the Albrittons last year after martins had moved into their houses, and Dick shared some information about how he and Trish attract martins.
“I have 50-60 boxes plus gourds up in our yard, and we have over 50 martins here now,” he said. “My boxes formerly had round entrance holes that martins used, but starlings did too, and that was a problem. My boxes now have smaller rectangle holes, martins have no trouble entering; yet they’re too small for starlings.”
An online site about these birds described them this way…
“Renowned for their chattering songs, aerial acrobatics, insect-eating habits, and tolerance of humans, they stand as one of America’s most cherished songbirds.”
There are other characteristics of purple martins that Albritton has observed.
“Fledglings will return to the spot, often to the same cubicle this spring, where they were hatched last year. Also,” he added, “purple martins like to be close to humans, so it’s important that their houses are 60-100 feet from where people live. There needs to be a water source, such as a pond, and power lines nearby for perching. They start arriving by late February and begin leaving around mid-July.”
Part of the Albrittons’ success with attracting purple martins involves quite a bit of work.
“I will lower the boxes before birds begin arriving to clean them out, and place a handful of straw in each cubicle before raising the boxes.”
I have been seeing reports through Facebook of homeowners reporting the arrival of these birds. They started showing up in places earlier, like Florida, and later along the Gulf coast, but are now starting to move north to give folks in our part of the country the pleasure of watching them for the spring and summer.
Although my success at attracting them has been zero, I can enjoy getting to hear their music high above and seeing them on neighbor’s boxes. I might find excuses to visit Dick and Trish, as I can assure you, their boxes and the surrounding skies will be filled with plenty of flutter and twitter.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are starting to move up to spawning areas and lipless crank baits starting to produce. Crappie have moved up in response to warmer temps anticipating the spawn.
For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE –Crappie are getting positioned to spawn and are hanging out around the brush. Bass are also moving up in the timber and flipping jigs is picking up some fish. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still quite low because of lock and dam problems down stream. Fishing overall is slow for bass and crappie. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are starting to move up to more shallow areas preparing for the spawn. Jigs and crank baits are picking up some. Crappie are moving up around brush and timber and some are being caught on shiners and jigs. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are moving up the back of the creeks to prepare for the spring spawn which with warmer temperatures is right around the corner. Jigs and shiners are picking up some. Bass are hitting crank baits, spinners and soft plastics around shallow brush. Lots of males in the shallows. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are good while crappie are just now beginning to bite around the boat slips on shiners and jigs. No report on bass. For information, call the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake level is on a rise bringing in river water which will bring new fish into the lake. Water temp too cold just yet for crappie and bass. Buffalo and catfish are being caught in nets. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.