Uncovering the Mystery of Purple Martin Migration
Joe Siegrist, Purple Martin Conservation Association

The Purple Martin is an aerial insectivore that is experiencing a significant longterm population decline. Much is known about its unique ecology during the breeding season in North America and its complete reliance on human provided nesting cavities for successful nesting. However, the remainder of the life cycle covering migration and overwintering in the Amazon Rainforest has remained a mystery. For the last 15 years, researchers at the Purple Martin Conservation Association in collaboration with international partners have characterized migration using light level geolocators and GPS dataloggers. This research set in motion a sequence of events that led researchers from the US and Canada to the rivers and jungles of Brazil, where they’d risk life, limb, and jail time to find a missing roost of a half million Purple Martins.

Clips from:
Rota do Sol:    • RotaDoSol  
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300,000 Purple Martins in the Amazon:    • 300,000 Purple Martins in the Amazon