Cape Coral’s purple martins: What you should know about these peculiar part-time residents

Purple martins have once again landed in Cape Coral, flying here from as far away as Brazil where it is currently winter time and a little too chilly for the largest member of the swallow family.

The Cape is world famous for its burrowing owl population, but the purple martin has to be right up there on the “must see wildlife” list for residents and tourists.

With more than 30 years of experience watching and studying the purple martins, Cheryl Anderson has a strong grip on the birds’ behaviors and is the person to ask pressing questions such as: