Help Continue Kevin Li’s Purple Martin Legacy

Kevin Li’s passion for Purple martins helped bring them back to nest in the Seattle area starting about 20 years ago. When you hear their distinct, sweet sound, you have Kevin to thank! Since his passing in 2006, several of his friends have taken over the maintenance and expansion of the colonies he started. Currently there are Purple martin colonies that are at/near capacity in the lower Duwamish River, Shilshole, and Terminal 91 in Elliott Bay. The volunteers who work to continue this legacy are thrilled to do it! But we could use a little help…

The creosote pilings at Terminal 91 are being removed this summer during a Port of Seattle remediation project. The T-91 (aka Myrtle Edwards) gourds have supported an ever-growing colony over the past few years. We are working with the Port of Seattle to find one or more alternative locations in the vicinity for the gourds. Ideally this will happen in time for martin arrival in 2024. The alternative locations will require “racks” (metal poles) and robust plastic gourds (resist vandalism better than the natural gourds).

The pilings at Shilshole are falling down over time. Every year there are fewer to support gourds. We are working with the Port of Seattle and others to try and find a location nearby to transition the martins and will also require racks and gourds. Currently there are more martins than there is housing—both a blessing and a curse!

Since Kevin passed, his friends have (happily) bought new gourds and supplies every year ($600-$800) out-of-pocket. But we could really use assistance with the cost of buying new racks and gourds to provide housing at the new locations as well as at the existing colonies. And if anyone would physically like to help us continue Kevin’s purple passion, please get in touch—we always need help as it’s a BIG effort each year to get housing in ship-shape condition and ready for the martins. But totally worth it!

Here is a link to a nice article about Kevin. https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/kevin-li-1956-2006-he-brought-purple-martin-1194804.php

Thank you for your support!

Jean, Carl, Kim, and Chris