Purple Martins are a type of swallow. They spend about four months during cold weather in the United States in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the Amazon Valley. They feed almost exclusively on insects benefiting the Brazilian coffee, sugar cane, corn and soybean plantations.
In late January, Purple Martins return to the southern portion of the United States to begin another nesting season. They continue to consume large numbers of mosquitoes. Researchers have found that one Martin can consume up to 2,000 mosquitoes a day. The birds natural United States range extends from Florida and Texas into the midwestern states and up into the eastern seaboard into southern
Canada. All of these areas are largely agricultural.
Purple Martin populations are declining steadily due to pesticide poisoning. Farmers use pesticides to kill crop damaging insects. The Martins eat the poisoned insects and die.
Eight of the world's 75 swallow species migrate into the state of Texas. Towards the end of July, they begin to congregate in large groups preparing to head back to Brazil. This makes them one of the earliest migrating birds.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
North American Wildlife Health Care Center
- nature's notebook
- The North American Wildlife Health Care Center is beginning its 20th year of aiding wild creatures in Western North Carolina. The Center is a 501c3 (not for profit) organization dedicated to wildlife research and education. The center is small, covering nine acres on the top of a mountain, in the Black Mountain range, surrounding Black Mountain at an altitude of 3,250 feet. The highest peak east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell is only 16 miles north of the center. More than 135 creatures, mainly birds, call the center home.
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