Conserving Purple Martins and Studying Natal Dispersal

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, The Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College, and Northampton County Parks and Recreation have worked hard to bring Purple Martins back to the Lehigh Valley over the past few years in places like Lake Minsi. With these colonies now boasting large numbers of breeding martins, the question arises: where will the newly hatched Purple Martin chicks nest? Some will return to the colony where they were born, if there are empty nesting gourds. Many of these birds, once they return to the Lehigh Valley for their first breeding season, will have to find somewhere else to nest. Where will these martins go?

This phenomenon is called natal dispersal. It is the permanent relocation of a Purple Martin during the breeding season, and it is an important part of how the birds find new nesting colonies. Natal dispersal remains a mystery for martin enthusiasts and researchers alike, and we’re trying to answer this question.

In conjunction with the University of Delaware and the Purple Martin Conservation Association, we are studying how far and frequently Purple Martins disperse from their breeding site. This information will be critical in the establishment of new colonies.

Purple Martin chicks are being color banded in the Lehigh Valley to track this natal dispersal. Each martin chick gets a color band that ties it to the colony where it hatched. Then, we can “resight” this bird in the field the next year, and see how far the bird has dispersed, based on where that bird is re-found. More banding from our collaborators is starting in southeastern and northwestern Pennsylvania. All of the martins across the state are color banded with a unique combination of colors, so we’ll know exactly where each banded bird we find originated.

Because Purple Martins can disperse so widely, we need your help looking for dispersed birds! Whether you have Purple Martins nesting on your property or in a local park, you can participate in this research project by looking for small, colored bands on the legs of Purple Martins. If you see a color banded bird at your colony, please let us know! First, record what color band or bands you see, the relative position of each band, and which leg the bands were on. If you have a camera, take some pictures! The easiest way to submit your sightings is with this web form: https://bit.ly/PA_Martin_Study. If you have pictures of a color banded bird at your colony, you can send them to Will Krohn, the graduate student at the University of Delaware helping conduct this research, at wkrohn@udel.edu. If you can’t complete the online form, you can also call Will at 484-702-1276.

Read more about recent LVAS Purple Martin towers.

Support our conservation efforts in the Lehigh Valley by becoming a member of our chapter, volunteering with us &/or donating.

Glue Traps Kill Birds! Use Circle Traps to Control Spotted Lanternflies More Effectively.

Goldfinch trapped on a sticky trap wrapped around a tree trunk, under the chicken wire that failed to protect bycatch from the trap intended for Spotted Lanternflies (SLFs) - photo from Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation

Even with wire and mesh coverings, glue traps (sticky bands) intended for Spotted Lanternflies (SLFs) remain dangerous, and unintended bycatch, like the Goldfinch in this photo, still occurs.

Wildlife Rehabilitators receive victims trapped on protected glue tape/ sticky band traps. Insects are still captured and birds will crawl in for a meal. Also, mesh can fall off or be pulled off by a squirrel on the trunk.

Need more convincing? View the Glue Victims Gallery.

Fortunately, scientists have learned that Circle Traps are more effective at trapping SLFs than sticky tape.

And you can buy circle traps or read Penn State Extension’s directions on how to make Spotted Lanternfly Circle Traps.

Spread the word about the dangers of glue traps and the benefits of circle traps using our social media kit.

Engage with Lehigh Valley Audubon Society to Help Preserve Birds and Habitat!
Become a member, volunteer &/or donor.

Engage in 2nd Season of 5 Year PA Bird Atlas 3

The Pennsylvania Bird Atlas needs volunteers and is hiring Seasonal Research Technicians

We hope that some of you helped to gather data for Season 1 of the 3rd Pennsylvania Bird Atlas (PBA3) and that more of you will help with the 2nd Season of this 5-year-long survey that will end February 2029.

Pennsylvania birders of all ages and skill levels began working together in early 2024 to map the breeding and status of bird species in the state. Read An Atlaser’s Guide to Season Two to plan your participation this year.

This project is supported by the PA Game Commission (PGC), headquartered at Hawk Mountain, and facilitated by Cornell Lab’s eBird online tools. The PGC initiated this project to update the information they need to prioritize conservation actions and to protect the birds of Pennsylvania.

Read the PA Bird Atlas 3 Volunteer Handbook to learn more about how to participate.

Findings will guide conservation for years to come.

In addition to volunteers, Pennsylvania Bird Atlas is hiring a team of seasonal point count technicians to conduct surveys throughout Pennsylvania during the summer of 2025.

Read all the job details and how to apply here.

April 18, 2025 is the Deadline to Apply to be a Paid Seasonal Research Technician for Pennsylvania Bird Atlas, but applications will be reviewed upon receipt.

Employment Dates: May 19 – mid July 2025

Preference will be given to applicants with previous point count experience and eBird experience. Prior birding experience need not be through a paid position, but ability to identify birds of Pennsylvania by sight and sound required.

CALL TO ACTION!

As bird lovers, we understand that a healthy environment is essential to the well-being of not just birds, but of all species, including humans. Unfortunately, recent federal actions will have direct negative impacts on birds and the lands we share with them. These include regulatory rollbacks that will be destructive to public lands by allowing more pollution and harmful extractive activities, mass firings of federal employees who have critical roles in maintaining the health of our public lands, withholding of grant funds to clean up or protect the environment, and discontinuation of programs to limit the effects of climate change.

The health of nature transcends politics, affecting every single one of us. And the U.S. has long had a strong bipartisan consensus in support of conservation.

We encourage everyone reading this message to step up now to defend the birds you love and the environment that sustains us.

How?

As a start, call your member of Congress (in the Lehigh Valley, that’s Ryan Mackenzie, (202) 225-6411) and your two Senators (in PA, that’s John Fetterman, (202) 224-4254 and Dave McCormick, 202-224-6324). Ask them (or their voicemail ) to preserve – not cut! – funding for programs that protect the environment, support clean energy, and maintain our National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges and other key bird habitats.

THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A BUDGET RESOLUTION THIS WEEK (Feb. 24-28), SO CALLS TO RYAN MACKENZIE SHOULD BE MADE ASAP!

You might also consider:
• Signing up for Audubon’s Action Network, at https://www.audubon.org/takeaction
• Visiting the advocacy page of the League of Conservation Voters, at https://www.lcv.org/get-involved/#take-action-online
• Calling your lawmakers on a regular basis. Other topics might include: asking that personnel fired from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service be reinstated; opposing the undermining of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act; and opposing expanded drilling and mining on public lands, including species-rich habitats such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Lastly, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society is considering creating a Rapid-Response team – bird/nature lovers interested in being contacted about time-sensitive environmental and bird-conservation-related issues, with suggested scripts for contacting lawmakers.

If you would be interested in participating – or have any questions or suggestions -- please send an email to conservation@lvaudubon.org.

If you’re not a member of our Community Chapter of Audubon, please join and/or volunteer to help with our ongoing Lehigh Valley preservation, advocacy, and education efforts.

The Impacts of Road Salt on Birds and Other Wildlife

Jennifer Latzgo, Pennsylvania Master Watershed Steward and Member of Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards

Originally Published in October - December 2023 Quarterly Newsletter of The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society

It won’t be long before winter weather is upon us again, and the salt trucks are rumbling along Lehigh Valley roads. Road salting and brining are very effective at preventing accidents, but unfortunately, the application of sodium chloride and other similar chemicals can have a significant environmental impact which affects birds and other wildlife.

As more and more land is built up into warehouses, factories, and housing developments, the amount of roads, parking lots and other impervious surfaces increases too. This results in greater amounts of salt being applied by both local road crews and private contractors. Added to that, over the past 20 years, there has been an increasing expectation of completely clear roads and zero accidents due to icy conditions. This has led to fears of litigation, which have resulted in greater and greater amounts of road salt being applied. This increase has been exponential; rising from about 5,000 tons in the 1940’s to about 25 million metric tons today.

Graph courtesy of Stroud Water Research Center and Carey Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Data from USGS.

Once it is applied to roads and parking lots, this road salt enters the environment in various ways . Subsequent rain events will produce salty runoff which can flow across the land directly into streams, ponds, lakes, and wetlands, or it can seep down through the soil into the ground water. Even though the period of applying salt is just a few months of the year, this salt stays in the environment year-round. A recent study by the Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards showed elevated salt levels in local streams flowing at base level in August. This was done at a time when there had been no recent rainfall and the streams were being primarily fed by groundwater. Other studies from around the country show that the level of salt in streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, and drinking water is increasing.

For our birds, the application of road salt can be dangerous in various ways. Birds have kidneys that are less efficient than mammalian kidneys at removing sodium, and if they take in too much, they need to increase their water intake. This means that directly ingesting salt particles can be lethal . Sadly, dead birds have been observed on roadsides after salt has been applied in winter. Other birds have also been seen exhibiting strange behavior such as fearlessness or appearing to be weak, sick, or slow . These are all signs of having ingested too much salt.

Why are birds attracted to road salt?

Studies have found that they are looking for grit to digest their food, and the salt particles are the same size as grit. If birds do not have access to water, which may well be the case in wintertime, they can experience toxicological effects and die after ingesting as little as one particle of salt. Additionally, being attracted to roadside areas, and possibly having reduced fear on top of that, means that they are at high risk of being hit and killed by vehicles.

The other risk for birds is that increased salt levels interfere with the food webs that they depend on. If you go to any healthy creek and look among the rocks, you will find it teeming with all kinds of tiny creatures including insects, larvae, worms, and crayfish. Scientists call these animals macroinvertebrates, and their quantity and diversity are used as a very accurate indicator of stream health. Studies show that macroinvertebrates are negatively affected by increases in salt levels which cause stress and stunted development at low levels and mortality at high levels.

Other life in streams, lakes, and wetlands is also negatively impacted by salt . This includes zooplankton that live in ponds, lakes, and wetlands. They are important because they consume phytoplankton which can be the cause of algae blooms. Amphibians such as wood frogs and salamanders are vulnerable because they absorb salt through their skin. Also, wood frog tadpoles hatch in early spring when the salt levels are highest and can result in deformities as well as increased mortality.

So, as you can see, we have a big problem which is only going to get much worse if steps are not immediately taken.

What can you do?

First of all, be aware of the quantity of salt that you apply to your driveway and sidewalks in wintertime. You can reduce the amount you need by shoveling regularly. When you apply the salt, use about 12 ounces for a 20 foot driveway or 10 sidewalk paving squares. Always sweep up any leftover salt.

If you live in a controlled development that uses a private contractor, pay attention to how much road salt is being used, and if it appears to be excessive, bring it to the attention of your homeowners’ association.

Using liquid salt brine can result in as much as 70% less salt being used. Some municipalities such as the City of Allentown have switched to brining in recent years. If your municipality is still using salt crystals, encourage them to change to brine. There are also other measures that municipalities can take such as covering salt piles and using application regulators on their equipment. If you are interested in knowing more, check out the information at this link: https://www.iwla.org/water/stream-monitoring/salt-watch/road-salt-best-practices

Sources

Environmental Hazards of Road Salt https://extension.psu.edu/environmental-hazards-of-road-salt#:~:text=This%20exponential%20increase%2

A Fresh Look at Road Salt: Aquatic Toxicity and Water-Quality Impacts on Local, Regional, and National Scales https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es101333u

River chloride trends in snow-affected urban watersheds: increasing concentrations outpace urban growth rate and are common among all seasons https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969714017148?via%3Dihub

Road Salts and Birds: An Assessment of the Risk with Particular Emphasis on Winter Finch Mortality https://www.jstor.org/stable/3785019#:~:text=The%20high%20attraction%20of%20salted,wildlife%20mmanag

Effects of road de-icing salt (NaCl) on larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16159689/

Purple Martins at Minsi Lake

Jim Wilson, Recreation & Conservation Specialist, Northampton County Parks

Originally Published in July - September 2024 Quarterly Newsletter of The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society

There were no Purple Martins nesting at Minsi Lake before 2020.

Purple Martin project at Minsi Lake

Since Northampton County Parks Martin Habitat Partnership initiative with LVAS was begun in 2020 with Mike McCartney, Scott Burnett, and Tim Kita, the success of this species at Minsi Lake has been phenomenal. Thanks to LVAS volunteers, a large and growing Purple Martin colony can now be seen at Minsi.

Over the past five years, five 18-unit condo towers have been installed. Occupancy this nesting season in those condos (36 of which are new this season) is over 90% with nesting pairs in 80 of the 90 condo units. At Minsi Lake, it really is a build it and they will come situation. The lake provides an ideal habitat for these birds of greatest conservation need—a shallow, warm water lake teeming with dragonflies and other food sources.

There is lakeside space at Minsi for eight more 18-unit Purple Martin nesting towers.

Northampton County Parks and Recreation will fund three more towers at the Lake for next year’s nesting season, and Friends of Minsi Lake will have funding for the remaining five towers.

The expanded Purple Martin project at Minsi Lake means more volunteers will be needed to maintain and monitor the nesting condos over time. The Northampton County Parks and Recreation and LVAS partnership now manages 108 condos in six nesting towers—five at Minsi Lake Park and one at Louise Moore Park. Next year, they’ll be tasked with 144 units, which the small team of dedicated volunteers have agreed to do. If the Purple Martins indicate there’s continued need for nesting cavities at Minsi, up to five more towers will be provided the following year—for a total of 13 Purple Martin condo towers and 234 units to maintain and monitor from March through September.

Maintenance involves removing the PVC nesting gourds from their towers after each season, hosing them out and storing them at a nearby Parks and Rec facility. The gourds are then brought back to the lake in late winter. Pine straw is placed in each condo and the condos are attached to the towers in numeric order for recording nesting data in each unit throughout the spring and summer.

Monitoring during the nesting season requires one or two volunteers to visually check each of the 18 condos hanging from the towers by lowering and raising the racks. Observations are then recorded on a datasheet that is eventually shared with several national databases to track Purple Martins and the community and citizen conservation science needed to sustain them here in the East.

After hatching, only federally licensed bird banders can physically handle and weigh, measure and band the Purple Martin chicks when they are several weeks old. Volunteers are still needed to shuttle chicks in baskets back and forth from their nests to the banding station set up next to the towers.

Northampton County Parks and Recreation needs LVAS continued support to help with installation labor, monitoring, maintenance, winter storage, and, of course, all the banding and data collection done each nesting season. If anyone is interested in volunteering their time to this project in 2025 and subsequent years, please send an email to James Wilson, Recreation & Conservation Specialist for Northampton County Parks, at jwilson@norcop.gov.