Date: 8/10/26 12:04 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Enjoying Purple Martins: AUGUST 10 IS National Purple Martin Conservation Day
2026 marks the 20th year since the passing of Kevin Li, King County Environmental Scientist. As many of you know, through his efforts beginning in 1996, Kevin Li is acknowledged as the individual who essentially brought Purple Martins back to the Puget Sound area after their marked decline over the preceding decades. Many dedicated folks in the region have followed his example, working closely with WDFW to maintain housing at existing sites as well as installing new Purple Martin housing at newer locations.
Today is National Purple Martin Conservation Day! Encouraged by the Purple Martin Conservation Association (https://www.purplemartin.org), U.S. legislators in 2024 passed a resolution that each year on August 10th, we would celebrate Purple Martins, and recognize the vital conservation work done on their behalf. Right now is prime time for enjoying the sound of purple as young birds fledge and the colonies in our region start setting their compasses for Brazil.
Sites range from the long-standing collections of gourds that hang along Shilshole Bay and the Duwamish Waterway/Kellogg Island in Seattle, to smaller groups of gourds and wooden homes at sites such as Lake Sammamish, Union Bay Natural Area, Green Lake and the Myrtle Edwards / Centennial Park fishing pier as well as gourds on the Expedia Group property near Terminal 91 and others. Check in with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon and Whidbey Island Audubon Societies if you are in these areas. Be there early (best vocalization is their Dawn Song) and you might be lucky enough to enjoy the sound of purple at some of these locations!
