Purple Martins Find New Home At Comox Pier

Comox Rotary, in partnership with the Town of Comox, has installed six Purple Martin nesting boxes at the end of the Comox Pier.

The initiative is designed to support the recovery of the endangered species in the region.

Purple Martins are the largest swallow species in North America and are Blue listed in British Columbia. Historically, the birds nested in tree cavities created by woodpeckers in coastal woodlands.

However, the destruction of that 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 then, efforts have helped restore populations through nest-box programs.

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.

“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 play a vital role in controlling insect populations, feeding on a variety of flying insects, such as dragonflies, moths, and horseflies.

For more information, visit Town of Comox.