The Secret Life of Purple Martins: 2020 Nestcam Recap

Watch as a nest of Purple Martins at the Purple Martin Conservation Association headquarters in Erie, PA progresses from eggs to fledglings.
Our 2020 nestcam family enjoyed a successful breeding season, but not without a lot of pressure from unpaired juvenile males intruding in the nest, pecking the babies, and overall trying to cause a nest failure so they might have a chance to mate with the female. Luckily we avoided any close calls or deaths from predators this year. Such is life for the Purple Martin, a struggle to survive in the face of habitat loss, predators, and competition.
The parents, four year old female Manha and her mate Paya hatched and raised six healthy nestlings that will soon be on their way to overwinter in Brazil. We hope to see them return in 2021!
Learn more about Purple Martins and why they need our help at www.purplemartin.org
Music, in order heard:
English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
No. 9 Esther's Waltz by Esther Abrami
Horror House by Aaron Kenny
No. 4 Piano Journey by Esther Abrami
First Time Experience by Nate Blaze
This stream made possible thanks to a grant from the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation.

[@marialicht5432]

I care for a colony of Purple Martins in Portage Lakes. This video brought tears of joy to my eyes! We fledged 315 birds from our site, and I was in love with every single one of them. I miss them, so this was very special to watch!

[@nicholasshade1366]

I love your comment.💛

[@Jen-ge6rl]

The little hat on Manha fluffy head, that was so cute, miss them, it was beautiful living this journey with them, Manha was such a lovely Mom.🎀🐦

[@Abuelo9]

Yes indeed!

[@Jen-ge6rl]

@@Abuelo9 I miss her, wish I had her as a pet lol 🤍🎀

[@neo1143]

I miss Manha too. She is wonderful. I hope we will see her next year.

[@Jen-ge6rl]

@@neo1143 Yes she was such a protective loving mom, Im like how can animals be so in tuned with taking care of their children like that, I know by instinct but its just so wonderful to see their behavior. Hope to see her again next season. Hope they are safe and doing okay.💛

[@Jen-ge6rl]

Im here missing them once again, hope they are doing well, all 8, God bless them!🤍♥️🐦😐

[@snarkmark]

Mama Martin brings a gigant butterfly. *Me, watching in horror:* No!! Didn't you see the dragonfly incident?! 😯 *Mama bird:* Chill, I got this..

[@Jen-ge6rl]

So today I saw a bird similar like these. Missing these precious cuties. Its been a month since I watched them. Fall is at the corner so I imagine they are at the roosting area waiting for migration. Luckily some birds stay and dont migrate so thats awesome. I wish them a safe "traveling" experience and hope watching them next summer.😘💗🐦🍂

[@naiyalexic]

I love and want to protect these sweet creatures.

[@nicholasshade1366]

I love the Purple Martin. ❤️💟 Thanks for the upload. I work at a restaurant near Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma, and we have bird houses the purple martins live in.💜✝️ I sometimes throw them bread when I’m feeding our fish in the pond. The Purple Martins fly over the water and drink it, while flying. I think that’s SUPER COOL. 😎 💛June 21

[@87ormore]

Wonderful summary of another great PM year. Congratulations and thank you for all your great work!

[@Abuelo9]

Awesome. Thank you PMC and Sue and Sarah

[@deborahol]

Thank you PMC. Good luck to babies, Manha & Paya 😘.

[@ccappa2001]

Just watched for the 2nd time. The livestream kept hanging up on us. But the popcorn was delish! Thank you PMC & all the Mods (Sarah, my morning friend) for another informative and thrilling year! Godspeed and bless you all with your endeavors. Lord willing, we'll see you next spring and usher in summertime together as we watch another PM family. In the meantime, be safe & enjoy creation in your part of the world!!

[@onceagain7586]

Thanks again, PMC. Looking forward to next summer.

[@juliepownall1063]

Thank you PMC another interesting lovely livestream of the purple Martins have a safe happy life mom and dad and babies

[@terrimartens3976]

Thank you PMC, Sue you are the best!! Thanks to all the helpers!! Another successful year!! DONATE!!

[@kathryns.8602]

I hate that I missed this season but thank yo very much for this wonderful recap and for all that you do for these beautiful birds!! These parents were especially gorgeous and they never fail to make me smile and yes, sometimes cry. ;) Blessings and peace until next season PMC!! Congrats!! xo

[@Jen-ge6rl]

I know they were such cute and dedicated parents, it just melts my heart♥️

[@sharshar6522]

I totally missed this year due to moving. I only saw the nest at the very beginning of the livestream. I'm glad to have the recap to look at.

[@itsdragoninawagon]

manha's little leaf hat was super adorable

[@robm6267]

ikr

[@dees.8713]

This was such a wonderful teaching aid for our middle schooler. Thank you!!!

[@somacruz7759]

2:47 Intruder: Cool :) A place to hang out. Paya: I'm about to end this bird's whole career.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

What a wonderful video. We are on our 11th season with our colony. Thank you for posting this! :)

[@jun-iq4eh]

Thank you PMC. I was watching a live from Japan💕

[@kingclascher4307]

wut

[@baitbeast5185]

Loved it❤️ I will miss it😥😭

[@averagejoereports2908]

I saw a purple Martin last year... I was so curious what it was until I saw this video! They are beautiful birds.. and very ruthless I can see! Very nice. I will be building birdhouses soon, hopefully I will see a few.

[@iam1hobbit]

I love everything about this.

[@jaroslavkilian3929]

merci, c'était magique

[@analiabazet9875]

Hermoso nido, con hojas de Robles y todo!❤🐦

[@terrywilliams7825]

Thanks for sharing your information

[@lyasouza4474]

Parabéns pelo lindo trabalho de conservação dessas aves.👏👏👏👍🐦

[@filmstudiojapan]

Great Video!

[@kevinsnyder8448]

Great video folks

[@connynielson8686]

bless them

[@queenofhouse9424]

beautiful

[@erikios7292]

3:28 oh sure, like they can really swallow that butterfly *baby swallows it like freaking Yoshi* O.O

[@kevinsnyder8448]

I hope I can get this done in time

[@satishrathod6265]

Nice ❤️

[@RasikaMahabal]

very very cute.

[@steuk6510]

I hope there make it and come back next year and have baby's off there own

[@biggiesmol]

Free from the threat of raccoons and cats, these man made nests are a real treat.

[@11ccom]

Good time laps.

[@McJLady23]

5:09 that time you realize your on camera 😃😂

[@steuk6510]

I love the tiny baby's

[@lovelymadness92]

How long are they going without parents coming by??

[@shenyafiandu3594]

Hy

[@neo1143]

What are the names of Manha's chicks?

[@RexAndrew1]

Great video! What camera did you use and how did you set it up? I’d like to video record one of my gourds this summer. Thanks again.

[@PurpleMartinConservation]

We've used modified Reolink brand security cameras in the past that we rig to the access cap of the gourd. We will be testing out a different brand this year, and we've seen other hosts have success using other brands of wireless home security cameras. Let us know if you have any other questions!

[@RexAndrew1]

@@PurpleMartinConservation Thanks. I’ll keep researching. My problem is that my Marin house is 130 ft away and across a road. Prob too far for my home WiFi to reach. I might try a WiFi extender.

[@Lordismystrength.222]

0:01-0:07 I want to see the whole clip how can I????

[@pengolovesyou1364]

5:11 Smile!!!😀😀

[@ih82r8]

My stomach just tied itself in a knot hearing that baby scream while an intruder chomped down on him!!!

[@YuubiTimberwolf]

How the second intruder was just chilling there, kinda lazy on the job

[@sad_ellie_pr]

Hi PMC and martins and chatters! I'm an old time chatter on here and wanna ask please if this is an new pair with new babies? Thx for answering 😊

[@PurpleMartinConservation]

we haven't started our stream for 2023 yet. but it's coming soon

[@sad_ellie_pr]

@@PurpleMartinConservation oh that's great to hear and tysm for your kind response! Hope all goes well for the stream! 😊

[@lura6086]

THAT'S GOOD 💙❤🌞

[@shenyafiandu3594]

Hy

[@Jen-ge6rl]

I have a question PMC that first bird in the first seconds was Manha and a Intruder?? Didnt see that part.😐

[@PurpleMartinConservation]

it was a House Sparrow and Manha

[@woongjohn]

@Jenny Aca, that was the beginning when Manha tried to get the nest. You can see the date: June 1st

[@Jen-ge6rl]

@@PurpleMartinConservation I was late then, never saw those first moments, thanks alot for replying, would've love to see that fight!

[@Jen-ge6rl]

@@woongjohn thanks , when did the stream start then? I was here in June.

[@woongjohn]

@@Jen-ge6rl it started at May 30 or May 31

[@katana5562]

If you put your amazon donation adress back in the discription people would be happy to help I think? Or aren’t you allowed to put it here? I‘m from Europe but can‘t use this method sadly since Amazon has some irrational policy that prevents people from Europe to donate to the US. Makes no sense at all!! 😞

[@e.rosehuttner2681]

Why were the non-parental birds going into the nest?

[@cardboard.]

Lunch

[@theyeeter5171]

Eagle eats Birds

[@theyeeter5171]

Killing

[@ricomon35]

Read the notes.

[@cliffbot638]

So many mouths to feed.

[@analiabazet9875]

Que delicias esos bebés, amada naturaleza!❤

[@nicholasshade1366]

I agree.💛

[@woongjohn]

I am the first!

[@rhoarster]

I know its life. But really hate seeing anything die, but so happy to see it wasnt worse

[@kicauocehan]

What is a bird in the wild in captivity?

[@zacharybice5539]

what? these are wild birds, just living in constructed bird houses

[@kevinsnyder8448]

Fledglings

[@Amitsharma-qo1ee]

👌 👌 👌 ok

[@noodinmiskokomon3832]

So much drama in being a Purple Martin

[@woongjohn]

Just like human!

[@Jen-ge6rl]

At least this "drama" is worth watching. Unlike your life drama.

[@noodinmiskokomon3832]

@@Jen-ge6rl I know! Some of those other reality shows just aren’t as appealing.

[@Navy_realawesomness]

5:10

[@Navy_realawesomness]

6:06

[@celticlull]

The baby that was attacked!

[@Monix139]

😔

[@Monix139]

Luckily he is fine. ☺️