The Purple martin (Progne subis) is a passerine bird that belongs to the Hirundinidae swallow family. It is known as the Purple Martin, but it is not purple in color. As light refracts off their iridescent sheen, they seem to be anywhere from brilliant blue to navy blue or even deep purple. Under certain lighting, they may seem green.
Feeding behavior
They belong to the insectivores group of birds. Hawking is their feeding behavior. So, what is hawking? Hawking is a feeding method through which birds catch their prey (insects) during flight. Flying insects are a favorite food source for the birds, who are skilled hunters. It is quite rare for them to consume insects on the ground.
Martins have been seen flying and feeding above bodies of water, open fields, and marshes, as well as above the canopy of a forest. In the marketing, it is said that a martin can ingest around 2000 insects per day, implying that martins are very effective biological control agents against mosquitoes. An analogous discussion occurred many years ago over the employment of bats as mosquito control agents, and it has resurfaced. Depending on the species, they may fly anywhere from a few inches to 500 or more feet in altitude, although the most of the time they are approximately 100 or 200 feet in the air over the ground.
Feed of purple martin
They feed on different types of feed but the most accepted feed is mosquitoes, mealworms, and crickets. They also feed on cooked egg
Other feed sources are:
- Leaf hoppers
- Butter flies
- Dragon flies
- Horse flies
- Moths
- Beetles
- Winged ants
- Grasshoppers
- May flies
- Termites
- Cicadas
- Flies
When they feed?
When are they fed? It depends upon when they are active. They are active after dawn and before dusk. Their parents bring food for them.
Crickets
What they will prefer to eat depends upon their active period. For active feeding, the suitable feed is crickets. They just look like house crickets. These are normal prey for purple martins.
How to avail the crickets?
If you are providing stationary feeding, then you can buy live crickets and kill them, otherwise, they will escape. You can kill them by placing them in the freezer. Place crickets in the freezer to kill them. Provide these crickets to the martins in defrosted form. For storing purposes, use freezer bags.
Mealworms
Mealworms are another source of feed for purple martins. These are also available on the market in live form. The same process as with crickets can be applied to kill them and store them. Mealworms are also purchased live and can be stored in the refrigerator. These are well-suited for platform feeding and may be served in shallow containers. However, they should not be placed on flat trays since they will crawl away and escape.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are the main source of food for the purple martin. They are picked up by Martin during their flight. Generally, mosquitoes that feed in open locations during the day are nocturnal or crepuscular species that have been disturbed from their resting sites by the host animal, while diurnal species seldom fly in open regions. Presently, most mosquito control efforts are directed against floodwater mosquitoes, those species that appear periodically in huge numbers after heavy rains or tidal flooding. Biological control of several insect pests has been receiving more attention. In recent years, A large literature on fishes that eat mosquito larvae already exists.
Cooked Eggs
When martins have accepted the insects, the introduction of cooked eggs can be made. These are easily accessible and reasonably priced. These are less expensive than insects. These eggs also promote the eggshell supply to the martin. If you give the martins eggs, they’ll have a plentiful supply of eggshells. Eggs take longer to prepare than mealworms or crickets. To prepare ED Donath of 1L, take six eggs, break them and mix them very well. Add 1/4 cup of water. For 45 minutes, cook them on high mode. Now remove it and stir it. Again, for 45 minutes, place this mixture into the microwave oven. Continue repeating this until they turn into a fluffy shape. Don’t add water if martins are nesting, because it will produce a nest sensation that is difficult for the martin’s parents. Now you can break the prepared eggs into 1/8″ to 3/16″ pieces. Before serving, cool them. Cooked eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Uneaten food should be replaced on a daily basis, or it will be spoiled.
Here are some main types of feed, their duration for preparation, how to feed them, and their quantity.
| Food | Eggs | Mealworms | Crickets |
| How to store | Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 36 hours in cooked form | They can mature as well as reproduce a room temperature. No to need for storing but if they are moving out you can store, | Store in refrigerator when required, defrost them. |
| Duration for preparing | A few minutes (5-10) are required to cook them and then freezing | No time is required | No time is required |
| how to feed | They can be fed by the active method also by the stationary method | Both are suitable either stationary or active | For active feeding both form live or dead can be dead For Stationary feeding defrost, frozen form and then provide them. |
| Quantity | for 1 day feed of 10 martins 6 large eggs are enough | For a single martin, its requirement is 20 giant mealworms having a weight of 17.4g (per bird). | About 32 crickets of 17.4g are required for a single bird Approximately 32 (17.4 grams) per bird per day |
Feeding method
There are two methods of feeding
Supplementary feeding method and the Stationary feeding method. The supplementary feeding method is to provide feed by throwing it into the air. As they are only able to feed on flying insects, the simplest method of feeding is to provide feed in the nest on a tray, but first, it’s necessary to learn how to identify fried eggs, mealworms, and crickets. This method is used when there are adverse environmental conditions.
To educate the martin about supplementary feeding, tossing food items into the air is the best way. Tossing can be done by using your hands or any other home device like a spoon, etc. The martin will become active as soon as the feed is tossed. It should be kept in mind that you toss the feed when the martin is out of the nest and perching or porching. Don’t toss the feed in bulk. Give some time to Martin to catch feed particles one after another. If it is not catching the feed, it means Martin is not feeling hungry.
The feeding method that is most effective is the stationary feeding method. But it depends how much Martin has learned to catch the tossed feed. For him, it is difficult to identify the feed items that are provided to him on a tray or into their nest. It is necessary that Martin should learn first. It is reported that many landlords have success in feeding the martin into their nests.
Martins may have a difficult time recognizing items offered on trays or inside houses or gourds as food unless they have already learned that these items are food through active (tossed) feeding. However, some landlords have reported success with in-house feeding, so it is worth a try. For active feeding, it takes time to practice catching the tossing feed.
Some landlords prefer stationary feed during the harsh weather. They provide the feed in the feeder while tossing. It is too much more difficult to move Martin from active feeding to stationary feeding. It is reported that in research, training the martins to utilize a bed and breakfast feeder was accomplished by throwing food immediately over the feeder, which was filled with dead crickets and mealworms, according to PMCA staff. Because the martins rapidly realized that the trays were stuffed with insects, they started landing on them and eating the insects.
