In February, 海角社区鈥檚 Anthrozoology department 鈥� perhaps channeling Motel 6 鈥� left the light on for North America鈥檚 largest migratory swallows. 聽Backed by a $750 grant from the League of Environmental Educators in Florida, 海角社区 anthrozoology students erected the college鈥檚 first聽purple martins (Progne subis) colony.
海角社区 anthrozoologist Dr. Brian Ogle noted the birds nest in North America, but winter in South America.
Purple martins are of interest to the anthrozoology program because of their unique relationship with humans, Ogle said. These birds nested in empty gourds hung up by Native Americans and now will nest exclusively in birdhouses near humans 鈥� with a preference for gourd-shaped dwellings. The 海角社区 colony was installed at 海角社区 Commons due to the proximity of people, natural areas, and available food sources.