Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Q Help! We used to have a lot of Purple Martins, but they've been dwindling and
this year there's just one pair left. House Sparrows took over the rest of the martin
house, and all we ask is that they leave the one hole alone for the Purple Martins,
but they're being so aggressive! I'm afraid we'll lose our Purple Martins for good.
Is there anything we can do?
A
HouseSparrowsareoneoftheworstproblemsfacingPurpleMartins.Havingevenone
pair in a martin house is eventually going to eliminate the martins. Every year, the entry
holes should be closed or blocked until martins return.
For the most current suggestions for dealing with House Sparrows in Purple Martin
houses, visit the Purple Martin Conservation Association's website at
www.purplemartin.org.
A “COMPOST” NEST THAT WARMS THE EGGS
Australian Brush-Turkeys
have unusual nests that actually give off enough heat to
incubate the eggs without the parents. The male uses his oversized feet to scratch togeth-
er a pile of dead leaves, branches, and other fallen vegetation, constructing a huge nest,
sometimes 12 feet (3.6 m) in diameter and 3 feet (1 m) deep. The nest looks like a messy
pileofleavesbutworksasacompostpiletokeepeggswarm.Femalebrush-turkeysmate
with the males whose nests seem to provide the best incubation environment in which to
lay their eggs. After the chicks hatch, they dig their way out of the nest and move on,
ready to lead independent lives immediately.
It's illegal to collect nests — both state and federal laws protect birds and their feathers,
eggs, and nests from being collected. Nests sometimes harbor mites, lice, and botfly lar-
vae, so they probably aren't a good choice for keeping indoors anyway.
PROVIDING SAFE HOUSING FOR BIRDS
Unlike human housing, birdhouses don't have to meet any building codes and, sadly,
many birdhouses on the market are made of metal or cheap plastic, both of which can get
