The Wisconsin Purple Martin Association and Bird City Oconto will be holding the 15th annual Martinfest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 at Oconto City Park, 5202 County Road N, Oconto.
This free family event will feature a presentation about, live capture and banding of purple martins living in the martin houses at the park. The banding of the birds is done to help track them to learn about their migratory behavior and the habitats that they use.
Both purple martins and bluebirds depend on artificial man-made nesting boxes/houses to successfully rear young. Vendors will be present to provide information on purple martins and bluebirds, along with how to construct and place housing for them. If bluebirds are using one of the park’s nest boxes, participants will get to peek inside to observe their eggs or young.
Other events include a silent auction, a storybook walk sponsored by the Farnsworth Public Library, a fossil display by Earthaven Museum (bring your rocks for identification), an educational booth on beekeeping which will also have honey for sale provided by the Brown County Beekeepers’ Association, a raptor (birds of prey) presentation with live birds by the Raptor Education Group Inc., a reptile education booth by Archie’s Angels with live reptiles, and several children’s activities.
Food will be available as well from the Oconto Park and Recreation Department as a fundraiser to support Bird City Oconto and to purchase playground equipment.
For more information, visit http://www.wisconsinpurplemartins.org/events.html.
Purple martins get spotlight at Oconto event
