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| Three juvenile Purple martins poke their heads out of the nesting box while an adult male keeps watch Port of Olympia Olympia, WA July 24, 2015 |
Breeding season is beginning to wind down on Budd Inlet in downtown Olympia. Many of the juvenile Purple martins have fledged in the last week. The air is rich with birds flying and foraging for insects.
At least one box has 3 unfledged juveniles. They take turns poking their heads through the opening of the nest box. As soon as they spy an adult heading their way, their mouths gape open in anticipation.
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| Female adult Purple martin flies in with a dragonfly to feed a waiting juvenile |
With luck, their parent brings a large, freshly caught dragonfly. The insect is consumed within one second of its arrival at the nesting box. Adults arrive every few minutes with more food for their ravenous youngsters.
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| Male adult Purple martins approach the nest box while juvenile begs to be fed |
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| Male adult Purple martin flies towards the nest box while two juveniles wait for food |