Tim McCarthy took over as nest-cleaner in 2018.Ģ020 At least 3 nestholes were occupied by Purple Martins this year! A group of 20 individuals was seen near the nest box in late July.Ģ021 The Purple Martin house was cleaned out on April 14 by volunteers led by David Creelman, in preparation for this year's arrivals. No breeding was confirmed this year.Ģ015-2019 No confirmed breeding activity but some adults were seen flying over Grenadier Pond, perhaps nesting elsewhere nearby. Two females were seen checking it out as soon as it was erected. Clair for the supplies), the Purple Martin house was raised again. At least two nest-holes were occupied this year and several young were fledged.Ģ014 After some minor repairs and a new paint job (thanks to Ray and Mike, and Sherwin Williams at Keele & St. This house is designed with removable sections to make cleaning easier. No young were seen after this event, so likely the two broods were lost.Ģ013 NEW PURPLE MARTIN HOUSE Purple Martins were given a new High Park home because of the talents of a few Bishop Marrocco / Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School students. Another nest hole was used on the pond side of the box, so at least two pairs bred this year.Ģ012 During a brief storm in late June, the nest box was torn off its post by the wind and later recovered from the nearby marsh. They lowered the house, scraped out the remains of nests, and washed the whole house down with a weak solution of bleach before reassembling and re-erecting it to await next spring's migrants.Ģ011 A pair of purple martins once again occupied the nest box at the south end of Grenadier Pond, same hole as last year. In fall 2010, two volunteers, Ray Bielaskie and Michael White, took on the task of cleaning the purple martin house. During the summer Purple Martins from various nesting sites in the area can be seen soaring over Grenadier Pond as they "hawk" for insects.Ģ007 Purple Martin House erected by TRCA.Ģ010 First nesting observed in May and was successful. Nesting continued for several years but then there was a long gap until 2020, when at least 3 nestholes were occupied. While bird enthusiasts were disappointed that no Purple Martins nested there in 2008 or 2009, May 2010 saw two pairs of the bird establish nests there. In spring 2007, as part of a shoreline restoration project, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority erected a new house that could be lowered for regular cleaning and maintenance. Noting these changes, the High Park Natural Environment Committee recommended to park staff that a new nesting house be erected at an unobstructed site on the south shore of the pond. To make matters worse, the old nesting house on the east shore of Grenadier Pond erected by Toronto Field Naturalists in the 1960s had become hemmed in by trees and was taken over by house sparrows. Then in May 2002 a sudden cold spell across much of southern Ontario killed off their food supply (flying insects) and left many individuals dead from starvation. Purple Martins used to be a regular visitor to the park, breeding at the pond for many years.
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