Iowa Purple Martin Organization

Iowa Purple Martin Organization Iowa Purple Martin Organization promotes and protects the purple martin species in Iowa and surround.

This purple martin colony can be visited upon request at [email protected]

04/25/2026

2026 ASY / SY Arrival Reports
Lockridge, IA 2026-03-06 Tim Millard
Ottumwa, IA 2026-03-08 Steve Johnson
Creston, IA 2026-03-11 Curtis Bolinger
Burlington, IA 2026-03-15 John Carter
Nevada, IA 2026-03-19 Dave Duit
Washington, IA 2026-03-17 Jill Hartzler
Ames, IA 2026-03-19 Ada Hayden Heritage Park
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-03-20 Dave B.
Blakesburg, IA 2026-03-21 Jeff Keep
Washington, IA 2026-03-21 Adam Todd
Knoxville, IA 2026-03-21 Doug Ripperger
Lorimor, IA 2026-03-21 Name Withheld
Kalona, IA 2026-03-21 Ken Miller
New Sharon, IA 2026-03-22 Lynn Herschberger
West Point, IA 2026-03-22 Michael Sporkman
Avoca, IA 2026-03-24 Cheryl Butcher
Kalona, IA 2026-03-25 Toby Miller
Dubuque, IA 2026-03-25 Todd Peil
Riverside, IA 2026-03-26 Verlaine Schlueter Ockenfels
Keystone, IA 2026-03-26 David Steil
Eldridge, IA 2026-03-26 Steve Gibson
Ottumwa, IA 2026-03-26 George Rumph
Peru, IA 2026-03-29 Connie Manny
Dubuque, IA 2026-03-30 Ry Meyer
Marengo, IA 2026-03-30 James Schmuecker
Bennett, IA 2026-03-30 Frederick Koopmann
Pella, IA 2026-03-30 Paul Vande Kieft
West Des Moines, IA 2026-03-29 Tim Gedler
Huxley, IA 2026-03-30 Keisha Cretsinger
Arispe, IA 2026-04-01 Loni Vanderpluym
Middle, IA2026-04-01 Dan Ray
Amana, IA 2026-04-02 Russell Eimers
Mount Pleasant, IA 2026-04-02 Robert Anderson
Eldora, IA 2026-04-03 Tonya Critz Hauser
Holland, IA 2026-04-03 Name Withheld
Creston, IA 2026-04-04 Roger Main
Ames, IA 2026-04-05 Alan Bergman
Everly, IA 2026-04-06 Tom & Kathy Goeken
Albia, IA 2026-04-08 Nicki Pumphrey
Dallas Center, IA 2026-04-08 Deloiter
West Des Moines, IA 2026-04-08 Tim Gedler - Home Site
Osceola, IA 2026-04-09 Rick McDowell
Elk Horn, IA 2026-04-09 Danish Museum
Elk Horn, IA 2026-04-09 Warren Watson
Kalona, IA 2026-04-09 Conrad Hertzler
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-04-09 Dixie Tepner Craft
Nevada, IA 2026-04-09 Cougler
Waterloo, IA 2026-04-10 Becky Trunnell
Dallas Center, IA 2026-04-10 Keith Winey
Avoca, IA 2026-04-11 Kim Peters
Sioux City, IA 2026-04-11 Chad Robson
Moville, IA 2026-04-11 John Neely
Marion, IA 2026-04-11 Brandon Combs
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-04-11 Cindy Hrvol
Altoona, IA 2026-04-11 Phil Seibert
Grundy Center, IA 2026-04-11 Jerry Cassiday
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-04-11 David Graham
Lake City, IA 2026-04-11 James Steufert
Grundy Center, IA 2026-04-11 Paul & Martha Sealman
Portsmouth, IA 2026-04-11 Karen Oloff
Orleans, IA 2026-04-12 Roger Rieck
Huxley, IA 2026-04-12 Keisha Kading
Madrid, IA 2026-04-12 Chelsie Renae Adams
Bellevue, IA 2026-04-12 John Pitlo
Ames, IA 2026-04-12 Pamela Hawhee
Rock Rapids, IA 2026-04-12 Justin Blauwet
Cedar Rapids, IA 2026-04-12 Randy Dvorak
Cedar Rapids, IA 2026-04-12 William Rhoads
Elgin, IA 2026-04-12 Gretchen Boleyn
Sidney, IA 2026-04-12 Brad Johnson
Storm Lake, IA 2026-04-12 SG
Toddville, IA 2026-04-12 Jeff Miller
Glidden, IA 2026-04-12 WildcatRT
Elgin, IA 2026-04-12 Bob & Helen Medberry
Granger, IA 2026-04-12 Jester Park Golf Course
Atlantic, IA 2026-04-12 Tyler Knuth
Harpers Ferry, IA 2026-04-12 Ben Corell
DeWitt, IA 2026-04-12 Marjorie Goddard
Orleans, IA 2026-04-12 Roger Rieck
Adel, IA 2026-04-12 Jeff Grey
Craig, IA 202604-12 Ed Clark
Adel, IA 2026-04-13 Joani Feiner
Elgin, IA 2026-04-13 David Adams
Arispe, IA 2026-04-13 Loni Vanderpluym
Arcadia, IA 2026-04-13 Lee Shiney
New Hartford, IA 2026-04-13 Richard Fisher
Guttenberg, IA 2026-04-13 Guttenberg Aquarium
Vanessa Gray 2026-04-13 Waukee / Adel border
Lake Mills, IA 2026-04-14 Tyler Olson
Mapleton, IA 2026-04-14 Carol Pritchard
Woodward, IA 2026-04-14 Robert Begey
Milford, IA 2026-04-14 Steve Hroswell
Manson, IA 2026-04-16 James Mormann
Alton, IA 2026-04-16 Sheryl Slegers
Everly, IA 2026-04-16 Gertie Chapman
Britt, IA 2026-04-17 Lynn Davis
Fairfield, IA 2026-04-22 Dale Ingwersen
Robins, Iowa scouts arrive 4/24/26 Brad Roos

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04/23/2026

2026 ASY / SY Arrival Reports
Lockridge, IA 2026-03-06 Tim Millard
Ottumwa, IA 2026-03-08 Steve Johnson
Creston, IA 2026-03-11 Curtis Bolinger
Burlington, IA 2026-03-15 John Carter
Nevada, IA 2026-03-19 Dave Duit
Washington, IA 2026-03-17 Jill Hartzler
Ames, IA 2026-03-19 Ada Hayden Heritage Park
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-03-20 Dave B.
Blakesburg, IA 2026-03-21 Jeff Keep
Washington, IA 2026-03-21 Adam Todd
Knoxville, IA 2026-03-21 Doug Ripperger
Lorimor, IA 2026-03-21 Name Withheld
Kalona, IA 2026-03-21 Ken Miller
New Sharon, IA 2026-03-22 Lynn Herschberger
West Point, IA 2026-03-22 Michael Sporkman
Avoca, IA 2026-03-24 Cheryl Butcher
Kalona, IA 2026-03-25 Toby Miller
Dubuque, IA 2026-03-25 Todd Peil
Riverside, IA 2026-03-26 Verlaine Schlueter Ockenfels
Keystone, IA 2026-03-26 David Steil
Eldridge, IA 2026-03-26 Steve Gibson
Ottumwa, IA 2026-03-26 George Rumph
Peru, IA 2026-03-29 Connie Manny
Dubuque, IA 2026-03-30 Ry Meyer
Marengo, IA 2026-03-30 James Schmuecker
Bennett, IA 2026-03-30 Frederick Koopmann
Pella, IA 2026-03-30 Paul Vande Kieft
West Des Moines, IA 2026-03-29 Tim Gedler
Huxley, IA 2026-03-30 Keisha Cretsinger
Arispe, IA 2026-04-01 Loni Vanderpluym
Middle, IA2026-04-01 Dan Ray
Amana, IA 2026-04-02 Russell Eimers
Mount Pleasant, IA 2026-04-02 Robert Anderson
Eldora, IA 2026-04-03 Tonya Critz Hauser
Holland, IA 2026-04-03 Name Withheld
Creston, IA 2026-04-04 Roger Main
Ames, IA 2026-04-05 Alan Bergman
Everly, IA 2026-04-06 Tom & Kathy Goeken
Albia, IA 2026-04-08 Nicki Pumphrey
Dallas Center, IA 2026-04-08 Deloiter
West Des Moines, IA 2026-04-08 Tim Gedler - Home Site
Osceola, IA 2026-04-09 Rick McDowell
Elk Horn, IA 2026-04-09 Danish Museum
Elk Horn, IA 2026-04-09 Warren Watson
Kalona, IA 2026-04-09 Conrad Hertzler
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-04-09 Dixie Tepner Craft
Nevada, IA 2026-04-09 Cougler
Waterloo, IA 2026-04-10 Becky Trunnell
Dallas Center, IA 2026-04-10 Keith Winey
Avoca, IA 2026-04-11 Kim Peters
Sioux City, IA 2026-04-11 Chad Robson
Moville, IA 2026-04-11 John Neely
Marion, IA 2026-04-11 Brandon Combs
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-04-11 Cindy Hrvol
Altoona, IA 2026-04-11 Phil Seibert
Grundy Center, IA 2026-04-11 Jerry Cassiday
Council Bluffs, IA 2026-04-11 David Graham
Lake City, IA 2026-04-11 James Steufert
Grundy Center, IA 2026-04-11 Paul & Martha Sealman
Portsmouth, IA 2026-04-11 Karen Oloff
Orleans, IA 2026-04-12 Roger Rieck
Huxley, IA 2026-04-12 Keisha Kading
Madrid, IA 2026-04-12 Chelsie Renae Adams
Bellevue, IA 2026-04-12 John Pitlo
Ames, IA 2026-04-12 Pamela Hawhee
Rock Rapids, IA 2026-04-12 Justin Blauwet
Cedar Rapids, IA 2026-04-12 Randy Dvorak
Cedar Rapids, IA 2026-04-12 William Rhoads
Elgin, IA 2026-04-12 Gretchen Boleyn
Sidney, IA 2026-04-12 Brad Johnson
Storm Lake, IA 2026-04-12 SG
Toddville, IA 2026-04-12 Jeff Miller
Glidden, IA 2026-04-12 WildcatRT
Elgin, IA 2026-04-12 Bob & Helen Medberry
Granger, IA 2026-04-12 Jester Park Golf Course
Atlantic, IA 2026-04-12 Tyler Knuth
Harpers Ferry, IA 2026-04-12 Ben Corell
DeWitt, IA 2026-04-12 Marjorie Goddard
Orleans, IA 2026-04-12 Roger Rieck
Adel, IA 2026-04-12 Jeff Grey
Craig, IA 202604-12 Ed Clark
Adel, IA 2026-04-13 Joani Feiner
Elgin, IA 2026-04-13 David Adams
Arispe, IA 2026-04-13 Loni Vanderpluym
Arcadia, IA 2026-04-13 Lee Shiney
New Hartford, IA 2026-04-13 Richard Fisher
Guttenberg, IA 2026-04-13 Guttenberg Aquarium
Vanessa Gray 2026-04-13 Waukee / Adel border
Lake Mills, IA 2026-04-14 Tyler Olson
Mapleton, IA 2026-04-14 Carol Pritchard
Woodward, IA 2026-04-14 Robert Begey
Milford, IA 2026-04-14 Steve Hroswell
Manson, IA 2026-04-16 James Mormann
Alton, IA 2026-04-16 Sheryl Slegers
Everly, IA 2026-04-16 Gertie Chapman
Britt, IA 2026-04-17 Lynn Davis
Fairfield, IA 2026-04-22 Dale Ingwersen

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04/04/2026

BIG MILESTONE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. We have exceeded 200 members. Thank you is not enough. The organization grew from an idea years ago. That idea had slow beginnings with a small number of like minded Iowa purple martin enthusiasts at an outdoor park shelter in Madrid, Iowa. That spark grew to the wonderful group we are today. We have met new friends, made connections, assisted one another through this page, in person and events. Like a martin colony, we made our own Iowa colony grow. Together, you have all made this organization a nationally recognized organization. We are an affilaited organization of the PMCA, which holds high standards for affiliation. We are also recognized as a leading bird organization by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These accolades don't come easy; but I can proudly express my gratitude to each and every one of our members for our accomplishments. My hope is that we will grow by hundreds more in the future. Continue to spread the word to others. I thank you and more importantly, the purple martins of Iowa thank you.

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03/13/2026

The 18th Annual Purple Martin Workshop/Seminar will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Cam Clothing Center just north of Kalona, IA. Iowa Clothing Center located at 1005 Nutmeg Ave, Kalona, IA beginning at 9:00 A.M. The afternoon martin presenters will include Mark Bowman and Don Lund. Mark is a retired professor and now active bird ba**er. He will be speaking on ;The Purple Martin, a Very Large, High-flying Swallow; looking not just at our North American martins, but also the other New World Martin species that share the Western Hemisphere - their plumage, diet, and life-cycle and how it impacts fostering them.
Don Lund is a life-time Martin enthusiast, recently retired from the University of Iowa. He will focus on his ongoing research into some surprising aspects of this species: Purple Martin Behavior - What items do martins bring back to their nests?
Morning presentations will include updates on Chimney swift conservation and trees.
Admission for the day is $3.00 and, as always, a lunch will be served at noon. The day will conclude with an auction and the presentation of door prizes.
For more information, or to reserve booth space, please contact:
Evan Gingerich, or Jim Walters. If you need their numbers please private message me, as Facebook does not allow personal contact information.

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03/06/2026

THE MARTIN ARE IN IOWA as of 03/06/26. See post below of 2026 ASY / SY Arrival Reports by Tim Millard in Lockridge, Iowa.

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02/24/2026

Thank you to all of our 200 followers. Much appreciated.

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01/19/2026

The 18th Annual Purple Martin Workshop/Seminar will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Cam Clothing Center just north of Kalona, IA, beginning at 9:00 A.M. The afternoon martin presenters will include Mark Bowman and Don Lund. Mark is a retired professor and now active bird ba**er. He will be speaking on ;The Purple Martin, a Very Large, High-flying Swallow; looking not just at our North American martins, but also the other New World Martin species that share the Western Hemisphere - their plumage, diet, and life-cycle and how it impacts fostering them.
Don Lund is a life-time Martin enthusiast, recently retired from the University of Iowa. He will focus on his ongoing research into some surprising aspects of this species: Purple Martin Behavior - What items do martins bring back to their nests?
Morning presentations will include updates on Chimney swift conservation and trees.
Admission for the day is $3.00 and, as always, a lunch will be served at noon. The day will conclude with an auction and the presentation of door prizes.
For more information, or to reserve booth space, please contact:
Evan Gingerich, or Jim Walters. If you need their numbers please private message me, as Facebook does not allow personal contact information.

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01/17/2026

If you just purchased Excluder gourds, please read:

It has come to our attention that the problem with Excluder gourds is happening to some new production batches yet again this year. In those cases, the entrances are undersized. We wrote up an extensive post about this problem a couple of years ago. I am including the link to the old post here, with all the details. In this newest case, the PMCA and the manufacturer have already been notified. Check your Excluder gourds.

Those with Excluder (brand) gourds, please read this PSA:
If you are trying to attract martins to your site, or have hung up these gourds and don’t see any martins using them at an established site, please know that there have been scattered reports of martins being unable to enter these gourds due to the entrance being slightly undersized from the factory. Excluder gourds come with a variety of entrance types: Crescent, Excluder II, and WDC (modified Excluder). The PMCA sells them but does not manufacture them. They have informed the manufacturer of the error with some batches of these gourds, but as far as we know, there has not been a widespread announcement about this issue, so we are letting you know.
For those that do not know what kind of gourd they may have, I've included a picture of an Excluder gourd below for reference, as well as a chart with various SREH types.
Crescents:They should measure 1-3/16” in the middle.

You can make a no-go gauge to check their height, or if you have an old 35 mm film canister, these are also good gauges to see if the entrance is tall enough. (See no-go gauge picture below)
Excluder II and WDC (Modified Excluder): Entrances for the Excluder II can go larger than 1-3/16” to "near" 1-7/32”, due to the pips at the bottom, but they will also work at 1-3/16”. It's my understanding that the patent on the Excluder II called for it to be 1.210. So, 1-7/32” in decimals is 1.218, making the patent recommendation just a hair smaller. The WDC (Modified Excluder) is probably the same in the middle as the Excluder II; we will let you know if we find out differently, since it’s a patented entrance, like the Excluder II.
In summary, if a SREH entrance is smaller than 1-3/16” (1.1875), martins will begin to struggle to enter. If an entrance with pips (this includes the Excluder II and WDC/Modified Excluder) is larger than 1-7/32”, starlings will begin to be able to enter. Note that the Excluder 1 (original excluder, not included as an option for Excluder gourds) is still 1-3/16” in the middle, like the crescent.
Excluder gourds are still a good gourd for martins, but some have this serious flaw that needs to be fixed.
Credit for the information in this post also goes to John Miller, Brad Biddle, and Bill Wenger.

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11/28/2025

Announcement: Passing of James Richard Miller. James Miller of Wellman, Iowa passed away at the age of 71 at his home on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025. James was a long time member of our organization as well as other birding clubs such as the Iowa City Bird Club. James was well known for his great personality and smile. Anyone who knew James considered him as a near friend. We will miss James and we send our prayers to the Miller family.

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07/02/2025

My colonies egg and baby count from latest nest check. 282 babies, 48 eggs, 25 empty compartments, 86 full occupied compartments. Only two nests with few mites; treated for mites all is peachy now.

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PMCA nest cam and colony cam too link:
06/09/2025

PMCA nest cam and colony cam too link:

The Purple Martin Conservation Association is the largest conservation organization devoted to Purple Martins, with over thirty years leading research projects that study and protect the species. This channel was created to share our knowledge and love of these unique birds. Travel with us through t...

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10 Maple Avenue #135
Nevada, IA

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