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.

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 ...

Receive Daily Headlines FREE Sign up today! Purple martin houses are usually complexes that range from four to 24 apartments, although I have seen some that are 48 to 96 apartments.