As of June 24, the high count of purple martins at the nest box structures is 34 individuals. Chicks have started peeking out of the entrances, waiting for their parents to swoop in with food. It’s an incredible moment in the season and a perfect time for the community to come out, enjoy the estuary, and watch these charismatic birds in action.
The Squamish Estuary is currently the only known active purple martin colony in Squamish, but these birds may be using other areas throughout the community for feeding, nesting, roosting, or exploring potential breeding locations.
That’s where you can help!
If you’ve seen purple martins anywhere in Squamish or Sea-To-Sky area, we’d love to hear from you! Whether it was a pair flying over a neighbourhood, birds feeding over a field, gathering near water, or investigating nesting sites, your observations could provide valuable information about how purple martins are using habitats beyond the estuary.
Understanding where purple martins are spending their time helps us:
- Identify important feeding and breeding habitats
- Learn whether birds are exploring new nesting locations
- Better understand local movement patterns
- Support future purple martins recovery and conservation efforts in Squamish
Please share your sightings, including the location and date if possible, to ddube@naturesquamish.ca.
Every sighting helps us build a clearer picture of purple martins activity in Squamish and contributes to the recovery of this remarkable aerial insectivore.
Thank you for helping support purple martins conservation!