"EMPTY CHATEAUS" ...... PURPLE MARTINS...... CONTINUED

The photo above. taken by Kazuki and Fritz, displays the typical Martin hotel in almost any urban area in North America.  The hotel is empty, dilapidated, and has never been used by Purple Martins, only by the two agressive and unwanted pests, starlings and house sparrows.



The Purple Martin has often been celebrated in colonial artwork and revered by the many different tribes of American Indians.  However, as I have written before, the Purple Martin, is no longer a common resident of cities and suburbs, and is missing from most of its former range, where it is still slowly vanishing from where ever it still breeds.


...... What the American Indians knew, and what we should have learned by now ......

Long before the European settlers came to America, the native Indians were already living in complete harmonywith their natural world here.  They were also practicing conservation, ages before it had that title and meaning.  The native Indians had the knowledge, that one Purple Martin alone, could eat hundreds of disease carrying mosquitoes, black flies and gnats in one single day, all without ever disturbing or eating their vegetable, fruit or grain crops.  They also knew, that these beautiful, dashing swallows were territorial, and would drive any predetors, such as hawks or destructive crows away from their homestead, also protecting the Indians crops and small animals.  This is also invaluable for any modern day farmers as well, who have crow raided crops, or poultry and small livestock.
The Indians would cleverly grow special large gourds, to then harvest and dry out.  They would then make an entrance hole in each one for the Martins to enter and build nests inside.  The string of gourds were then put high up on wooden poles, very close to their dwellings and crops for insect control.  The Indians had no need or will to develop dangerous pesticides and chemicals to "solve" their own self induced problems, and pollute their environment.  They worked with the natural world and nature, to keep everything in balance.
And so, on this note, we need to take charge and responsibility, concerning the now serious and grave matters that threaten our environment today, that is being destroyed by us right now, it is everybodys responsibilty.  We are in true danger, of losing some of yhe most legendary and beloved birds, (as well as countless or species of native flora and fauna), in our country and around the world, it is all connected.