Lamont McClure and the Parks & Recreation Department thank the Friends of Minsi Lake and the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society with their help in installing a third Purple Martin nesting tower on the western shore of Minsi Lake.

Purple Martin populations have decreased in recent years for a number of reasons including the loss of nesting habitat. Martins feed primarily on flying insects, such as dragonflies, which are abundant near large bodies of water such as Minsi Lake.

Funding for the project was provided by Friends of Minsi Lake. Scott Burnet and Mike McCartney, from the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, assisted Parks employees with the installation by supplying tools, equipment and technical and construction expertise. Three Purple Martins successfully hatched at Minsi Lake in 2020 and were officially recorded and banded by a federally licensed bird bander. Over 60 Martins hatched and fledged from Lake Minsi this year—an increase of almost 2,000%. Most of the fledglings were officially recorded and banded.

“We look forward to next year and the increase in Purple Martins nesting at Minsi Lake thanks to this third tower and we thank the Friends of Minsi Lake and Lehigh Valley Audubon Society for their assistance with this project,” says Lamont McClure.

Purple Martins are among the most gregarious and socially communal songbirds and will readily move into artificial nesting structures established in prime habitat. Installing the nesting towers at Lake Minsi will support and expand this species which is a subject of conservation concern here in Pennsylvania and across North America.

Educational signage at the nesting towers and live in-person banding presentations for the pubic at Minsi Lake add to a better understanding and appreciation of these amazing international migratory songbirds.

 
Information provided to TVL by:
Becky Bartlett
Deputy Director of Administration
Northampton County Government Center
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
https://www.northamptoncounty.org/

 

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