The Empty Park - East Traditional Geocache
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Etra Lake park has almost everything. Millions of dollars have been well spent here to save this land from becoming another development of people houses. There is a large lake well stocked with fish. There are picnic areas and a kids playground. There are paved bike trails and dirt trails with exercize stations. There are large fields to throw, kick or hit a ball. There is even a bat house. Best of all, from April through September one can often see many Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows and an occasional Chimney Swift because this park is a perfect environment for them.
Even with all that, Etra Lake park is an EMPTY PARK because there are no Purple Martin birdhouses. While beginner, backyard grade PM houses can be set up for about $100., A rugged PM house and pole for a public park location can cost $500. and up. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have recently been spent here for reforrestration but where is the money to set up a Purple Martin birdhouse or two?
PROGNE SUBIS is the scientific name for America's most wanted songbird, the Purple Martin. They are the largest member of the Swallow family of birds. They weigh 2 ounces and have 12-14 inch wingspans. They spend the winter in South America, migrate 3500 miles to the eastern USA and Canada arriving here in April and May to nest, raise their young, party in August and then gather in roosts at wetlands to fatten up for the September migration. They eat only flying insects. Only the above second year (ASY) males develop the all over, irridescent purple color.
Since their introduction in 1850 and 1875, the very agressive, non-native European housesparrow and European Starlings have taken over most of the natural (Woodpecker holes in trees, etc.) nesting cavities. Because of this, the number of native American cavity nesting birds (Wrens, Bluebirds, Swallows etc.) has been reduced by about 90%. Purple Martins have become entirely dependent on special birdhouses set up by human Landlords for their survival. The huge flocks of black birds seen in late fall and winter are NOT Purple Martins, rather they are the evil European Starlings.
There is a wealth of information available from the non profit Purple Martin Conservation Association, at their FAQ's and the landlord Forum at purplemartin.org
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh pna cnex lbhe trbzbovyr evtug arkg gb gur pnpur!