The Purple Martin (Corrie Herring Hooks Series) - Hardcover

Doughty, Robin R.; Fergus, Rob

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 029271615X ISBN 13: 9780292716155

Publisher: University of Texas Press, 2002

Synopsis

One of the surest harbingers of spring is the return of Purple Martins to the houses that people put up across the United States to attract these companionable birds. The bustle of courting, rearing nestlings, and fledging young martins fills the summer months, until approaching autumn lures the martins to their winter range in South America. Then human landlords refurbish their martin houses and wait for another round of this much-anticipated yearly cycle. Robin Doughty and Rob Fergus here present a concise natural history of the bird and its centuries-long companionship with people. They discuss the martin's scientific classification and names, its migration and range, and its family life. They relate stories of how Native Americans and European colonists attracted Purple Martins and how Americans throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries helped martins survive the loss of natural nesting sites by providing houses for them. The authors also describe how whole communities have become centres for martin promotion and detail the many organisations and resources in print and on the Internet through which martin fans can communicate with each other and learn more about attracting and housing the birds.

About this title

Review

"This book is a convenient, one-stop source for scads of martin information and will make informative and pleasing reading for all of [the public] who are attracted to martins, including martin 'landlords.'" William J. Graber III, past vice president, American Birding Association, and past president, Texas Ornithological Society and The Nature Conservancy of Texas

About the Author

Robin Doughty, a native of England, has taught in the Department of Geography at the University of Texas at Austin since 1971. His interest in the history of Texas and its wildlife has resulted in many books. Rob Fergus, a native of Oregon, holds graduate degrees in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin. Rob presently lives in New Jersey where he is active in teaching and diverse bird-related monitoring, research, and conservation activities. Robin and Rob coauthored the first edition of The Purple Martin which was published by the University of Texas Press in 2002.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 029271615X
• ISBN 13: 9780292716155
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 103