Purple Martins Return to Walt Disney World for Nesting Season
Each spring, Walt Disney World welcomes the return of a very special group of visitors. These aren’t your regular guests; these are purple martins.
The tiny birds travel over 3,000 miles from the Brazilian Amazon to nest at Disney, a tradition since 1998.
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This is just one great example of Disney’s wildlife conservation efforts.
Creating the Perfect Home
If you have visited EPCOT and the Disney resorts, you may have spotted the distinctive white “colony sites” and do not know what they are.
These specially designed birdhouses provide a safe and comfortable place for purple martins to lay their eggs and raise their young.
Disney
Disney’s conservation team dedicates hundreds of hours each year to prepare these nesting sites. Both parents play an active role during nesting season, caring for hatchlings and keeping the birdhouses clean.
Thanks to these efforts, many purple martins return to the same Disney homes year after year.
Cast Members Support
Disney cast members also help with important research by banding the birds with unique leg bands. This allows conservationists to track returning birds and monitor their nesting behavior.
These actions all lead up to the annual Purple Martin Palooza celebration, where new hatchlings are banded before their journey back to the Amazon.
Disney
This initiative is part of Disney Planet Possible, which supports global wildlife conservation and inspires guests to protect nature’s magic.
The loss of stopover habitats, where migratory bird species can find food and clean water, threatens bird populations worldwide. It is essential for these birds that Walt Disney World remains a long-term nesting colony, especially for purple martins.
Disney
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Article Source/ Feature Photo: Disney Parks Blog
