In a collaborative effort to support wildlife conservation, Comox Rotary, in partnership with the Town of Comox, has successfully installed six Purple Martin nesting boxes at the end of the Comox pier. This initiative, designed to support the recovery of the Purple Martins in the region, marks another step of municipalities on Vancouver Island trying to support the recovery and preservation of this endangered species.
Purple Martins (Progne subis arboricola) are the largest swallow species in North America and are Blue-listed in British Columbia. Historically, these birds nested in tree cavities created by woodpeckers in coastal woodlands. However, the destruction of this natural habitat due to timber harvest, urban development, and agricultural expansion, along with the loss of old, untreated pilings, led to a sharp decline in the population. By the 1980s, fewer than 10 breeding pairs of Western Purple Martins remained in the province.
Since the 1980s, efforts led by organizations such as the Georgia Basin Ecological Assessment and Restoration Society have helped restore populations through nest-box programs. Thanks to these ongoing conservation initiatives, the population has increased to approximately 1,300 breeding pairs across the Georgia Basin and Lower Mainland, supported by 120 active colonies.
The newly installed nesting boxes at Comox pier are strategically placed to attract returning Purple Martins during their breeding season (late spring to early summer). The project is part of a broader effort to provide artificial nesting sites for these birds, which are increasingly reliant on human-made structures for their survival. Local volunteers, with guidance from experts, contributed their time and skills to construct and install the boxes, to ensure that projects like this one are set up properly.
“We are thrilled with how smoothly the installation went, thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers and the expertise of Town,” said John Zuk, Comox Rotarian and member of their environmental committee. “We invite the community to visit the pier and the Purple Martin sanctuary; we hope that these new nesting boxes will provide a welcoming environment for them and contribute to their ongoing recovery.”
Purple Martins are important to the local ecosystem. They play a vital role in controlling insect populations, feeding on a variety of flying insects, such as dragonflies, moths, and horseflies.
For more information on the Purple Martins and their conservation, visit:
- Purple Martin Page – Canadian Wildlife Federation
- Purple Martin Species at Risk Information – BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
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Media Contact:
John Zuk, Comox Rotary
info@comoxrotary.ca
and
Robbie Nall, Parks Manager
rnall@comox.ca
250-339-2421
