82 



The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108 



ACTIVITIES OF PURPLE MARTIN AT ST. MARKS, FLORIDA 



1912 1913 1914 1915 1917 1917 1918 



First seen and number 



Second appearance and number 



When abundant 



Commenced building 



First feeding young 



Young first flying 



Vacate boxes 



Becoming scarce 



Last seen 



Number of nesting pairs . 



1 



Feb. 23 



5 

 Feb. 27 



Mar. 7 

 April 17 



June 27 

 Sept. 15 

 Oct. 2 

 7 



' In every instance first arrivals were J'. 

 - Juveniles, ten days or more old. 

 ■^ Were under way. 

 * Probably ten pairs. 



SUMMARY 



First arrivals vary from February 3 to February 23. 



All first arrivals are males but sometimes the females 

 follow within a day or two. 



The birds arrive and depart in the early spring at 

 various times of the day. 



Many birds tarry for a few days or a few hours only 

 in the early spring as they first arrive on the vernal mi- 

 gration. 



Often sit exposed in a cold rain rather than seek the 

 shelter of a box on which they are resting. 



Show a strong attachment for a former nesting box. 



Exacting as to the selection of a new box for nesting 

 purposes. 



Nest building begins from April 10 to April 17 as ex- 

 tremes. 



Generally but one brood reared yearly. 



