My Best Nest: A Purple Martin Story
Martin Hooligans
 
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"Teenage" male martins sometimes cause trouble for their older neighbors.

An after-second-year male Purple Martin arrives home and discovers there is trouble
All photos on this page copyright 2008 Joe Dellinger
Here an after-second-year male Purple Martin arrives home and discovers there is someone already in there, and it isn't his mate!
After-second-year male Purple Martin
And they aren't friendly!
After-second-year male Purple Martin

As if I didn't already have enough trouble with Starlings!

Second-year male surprising an after-second-year male Purple Martin

And the one inside has a partner in crime on the outside! I'm outnumbered two to one!

Second-year male intruder

The new intruder successfully drives the rightful homeowner away!

martin vandalism

The pair of vandals get to work kicking nesting material out the door.

Second-year male Purple Martin vandal

Is the coast still clear?

Second-year male Purple Martin vandalizing a nest

Let's get as many leaves out as we can before reinforcements arrive!