Shorter University students builds habitat for purple martins

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

The Shorter University community is hoping the hill will become a new nesting place for purple martins.

Purple martins, North America’s largest swallow, spend six months out of the year wintering in South America, and then make their way north to areas including Floyd County as spring approaches.

Qiang Lu, a physics teacher at Shorter, views the birds’ arrival as an opportunity for students to learn more about the species while also combating pests including mosquitoes and flies.

He and several students recently constructed a rack of 13 nesting gourds tailored specifically for purple martins with the hope that the birds will make Shorter their home for the next six months.

The nesting gourds that have been installed in Cooper Courtyard are the perfect dwelling for purple martins, Lu said. The gourds offer a safe haven from predators including owls and snakes and provide them with a cool place to live during warmer temperatures and a warm place to live during cooler temperatures.

“Using gourds to house purple martins originated with Native Americans. The birds depend on humans to provide housing for them, and the gourds are one of the best ways to do that,” Lu said. “Our timing in this project has been critical because they come in mid-February every year. Hopefully we will attract some young purple martins this year, and they will continue to return year after year.”

The gourds, many of which were donated by Professor of Chemistry Dr. Chris Jones, were soaked in copper sulfate to prevent mold growth. Lu and several Shorter students then cut the doors into a specific shape so that only purple martins can enter.

Nikki Baldwin, a senior pre-med student double majoring in biology and chemistry, helped Lu assemble the structure holding the gourds. She said she is looking forward to the possibility that purple martins will take up residence on The Hill.

“I hope the purple martins find the gourds suitable for their homes, and also I hope they return every year to Shorter,” said Baldwin, who is president of Tri Beta Biological Honor Society.

There is no guarantee that the birds will take up residence at Shorter this year.

Source: Rome News

The post Shorter University students builds habitat for purple martins appeared first on My Web Pal.

from My Web Pal http://ift.tt/1Ahps7j

via http://ift.tt/16tBHl4