My Best Nest: A Purple Martin Story
Martin Hooligans
 
Purple Martin NestlingsEnemy #1: StarlingEnemy #2: House SparrowMartin HooligansFeeding time!Bird features"My Best Nest," the bookA tale of beginningsBibliographyUseful linksActivities for kidsStudent ExercisesFor librariansAuthor and contributorsBuy the book

"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!