Purple martins and their relationship with humans

Sparks of purple in the sky, mixed with the serenading sound of songs, can be seen as spring comes into full force in Manitoba.

Purple martins have returned to North America, including the Canadian prairies — for their breeding season, a festive sight for bird lovers across the province.

Dave Barnes has loved the bird since he was young and is now one of the many bird watchers who look forward to their return in the spring.

For Barnes, her favorite aspect about purple martins is the bond they have with people.

“People have developed a long-term relationship with purple martins,” Barnes said.

He said the beautiful songbirds depended on humans for shelter hundreds of years ago.

“It is believed that the ancestors of the indigenous peoples installed these poles with pumpkins and carved pumpkins on them to attract martins to the nest.”

Barnes says it's not just a one-way relationship. Nests are built around crops and since martins are insectivores, they keep bugs at bay.

According to Barnes, they are very protective of their nests, so they prevent other birds from planting and eating the growing plants.

“There aren't many birds that can catch them, and when they're up, you've got 50 to 100 (martin) crow divebombs, it's time to move.

“So the martins would protect the seeds in their gardens. . . . They kept the crows and blackbirds from coming and hanging out.”

Dave Barnes holds one of the nests of the purple martin aviary. Inside are newly hatched purple martins. Uploaded on May 19, 2024. (Dave Barnes)

This relationship has continued to flourish over the years, with people – now known as purple martin owners – caring for colonies of martins.

Barnes is one of those homeowners and currently oversees the largest purple martin colony in Brandon.

“We will provide 48 apartments in four blocks on four pillars. On a good summer we get 200 young martins (flying) in the sky.”

These purple martin apartments or condominiums have evolved over the years from the aforementioned gourds into these “castles” that can be seen scattered across the country.

According to Barnes, people may be familiar with the aluminum tower in Gimli, Man. Dozens of purple martins are attached to it.

Purple Martin Tower in Gimli, Man. April 26, 2024. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News Winnipeg)

However, they are not too common anymore.

“These are already dinosaur artifacts, towers,” Barnes said.

He said there are about five towers in Manitoba, but they have become home to purple martins and have been taken over by other birds such as swallows.

For those that still inhabit the martins, Barnes says cleaning them can be difficult because there's no easy way to get to them.

“The trick with those dark towers is that they're not meant to be climbed. You can't go up there to clean out an old sparrow's nest.'

One of the people who helped revolutionize purple martin houses was Bob Buskas.

Wetaskiwin, Alta. According to the native, his interest in birds began in 1996. He developed his woodworking skills and enjoyed the challenge of creating a colony to build new aviaries.

When he first started the hobby, he noticed that houses had a number of limitations.

“The houses mostly didn't fit. None of them could be raised or lowered on a winch or anything, so they were difficult to control. The rooms were too small … with round entrances that were too small for the martins,” Buskas said.

So Buskas set about designing a bird-friendly house, and in 2000 he built his first North Star House.

North Star Birdhouse for Purple Martins designed by Bob Buskas. May 19, 2024. (Bob Buskas/northernskys.ca)

Each house can have up to 12 apartments and each unit has a door for easy access to them and a tray that slides out to make cleaning them easier.

Buskas also designed them so that they can be easily raised and lowered onto a wooden or metal stand.

Now, every winter, he builds about 8-12 homes for sale. He also sells homes that have been cut but still need to be built, and many people have purchased his designs to create their own North Star home.

A trio of North Star birdhouses inhabited by purple martins. May 19, 2024. (Bob Buskas/northernskys.ca)

“In the U.S., I sold a few house plans,” Buskas said. “But my North Star house is basically a Canadian thing.”

Gordon Oleksuk of Ely. He did his part to make sure the Martins had a place to live.

The retired carpenter said he has built more than 300 homes and they are scattered across Manitoba. He said he has always been interested in purple martins and building them a home after retirement has been a great hobby for him.

“They're strangely curious. They usually come back to the same nest every year and it's good to keep an eye on them. They're quite resilient,” Oleksuk said.

He had great success in building the houses, and said that the birds immediately called him home.

“It always seems to interest them. Anyone who has ever bought a house, if they call me back, they said they had birds the first year.

The nearly 90-year-old hasn't built a house in about 10 years, but he still spots his work on any trip around the province.

“If you look at (the houses), they will be long.”

When talking about these birds, Barnes and Buskas agree that people should do everything possible to ensure that these birds thrive.

“I love investing in the environment,” Barnes said. “The purple martin is a special bird.”