Hello, my name is Bob Buskas, welcome to my "Northern Sky's" Purple Martin colony site, and home of the NORTH STAR Purple Martin house and the BUSKAS BUNGALOWS.
I
named my site "Northern Sky`s", because each
spring I find myself looking to the sky and listening for the arriving PM's.
They have just completed the long migration to my "Northern
Sky's" colony site here on the farm southeast of Wetaskiwin,
Alberta, from their wintering grounds in the Amazon Basin in Brazil. Watching
their excitement and actions, tells me they are just as excited about their
spring arrival as I am. As they swoop over the colony site, singing loudly,
it is time to raise up their houses and say hello, another nesting season
has begun.You may notice I referred to the houses as theirs... yes I built them, but as far as the Martins are concerned they belong to them. Once they nest successfully, they will return to their house faithfully each spring for as long as they live.
Rather amazing isn't it?
) |
With good manageable, properly located housing, starting a colony is not as difficult as it once was. Much more is now known about what type of housing Purple Martins prefer, and with proper mentoring from myself or an experienced landlord in your neighborhood, you can have a colony of your own as well.
For myself; tracking the migration northward on the Internet, the challenge of attracting my first nesting Purple Martin (Mr. T), and watching him build the colony I now have, has been a wonderful experience.
) |
Click on picture for larger version
|
I'm always looking for little changes to improve the housing and finding easier ways to control Starlings or maybe someday building the perfect Sparrow trap. Also helping to mentor people when starting and managing their colonies, are all the things I enjoy.
The most important thing is that we all work together for the betterment of the PM.
Purple Martin numbers have recovered unbelievably well in Alberta since the mid 1990's. Actually, the population is now at an all time high in Alberta. Local Martin landlords with help from the internet and just local word of mouth are now well educated on good colony management. I am extremely pleased that my “North Star” house design with the slide out nest trays, has made it so easy for landlords to manage their sites. Fast and easy nest checks and maintenance as well as S&S control is the key to a successful colony.My colony here at “Northern Sky’s” has grown from just one pair “Mr. T ” in 1996 to a “Super Colony ” of 90 plus pair in just over a decade, fledging close to 400 nestlings a year. If someone would have told me back then that I would have a “Super Colony” in 10 or 12 years, I would not have believed them. I now offer 100 compartments here at “Northern Sky’s” and will not expand any further. The youngsters will have to move on and establish their own colony as my “Mr. T ” did here back in 1996.
“Country Nine” golf course (my second colony)
has 48 compartments and is pretty much 100 % full each year as well, fledging
over 200 nestlings. If you like camping and golfing, check out “Country
Nine” located just 4 km. north of Bashaw on Hwy 21. They
have daily camping available in Colonial Village campground, so you can
camp with the Martins as I have one house located in the centre of the camp
ground, and the remainder near the club house. If you love golfing and birding
as I do, this is the place to be. Please stop in and visit me at camp site
#34. I will be glad to show you around and maybe we can do a round of golf,
there are lots of Tree Swallows and Mountain Bluebirds along the course
as well. Here at "Northern Sky's" Colony, located 1km South of Secondary Hwy. 611, on Range Road 230, Southeast of Wetaskiwin, (see map). You can take a look at the very latest in Martin house designs, Gourds, as well as Starling and Sparrow traps which I have on hand. I also have a Nest Cam installed in a North Star house. So you can sit in comfort in my wood work display room and watch on television, the goings on in an active Martin nest, what you will see is truly amazing!
So feel free to stop in for coffee any time.
-- Information and plans on the North Star Martin House --
-- Information on the Buskas Bungalow --
-- Attracting Purple Martins to your Colony --
-- Managing a Purple Martin Colony in Alberta --
-- Supplemental Feeding of your Purple Martins --
-- Starling and Sparrow Control --
-- See Map to Northern Sky's and Country 9 --
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
