Purple Martin scouts began arriving in the Houston area in mid-January. Now is the time to clean out existing martin houses or install new houses. Photo Credit: Kathy Adams Clark. Restricted use.

Purple martins discovered the free lodgings and began to imprint new generations of birds on man-made birdhouses. "In the 1800s, Audubon described seeing many purple martin houses.

Harrison resident Ken Kostka has worked for years to revitalize the region’s colony of purple martins — the species of bird that vanished from Western Pennsylvania after Tropical Storm Agnes ...

For generations, the sight of purple martin houses dotting American backyards has been a cherished symbol of spring’s return. These elaborate multi-unit bird dwellings, often resembling ...