News

Purple Martin Nesting Box Installed on Campus

Kent School has recently partnered with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) to help support the recovery of the purple martin, a magnificent migratory songbird.  Several colonies of this dynamic bird established on Skiff Mountain are currently monitored by the CT DEEP and tracking of those birds indicate that they travel down to the Housatonic River to feed on insects before returning to their mountain top nests.  The optimal location of our valley campus inspired CT DEEP scientists to reach out to Kent School to establish a potential new colony here.  As you might expect, our Biology and Environmental Science teachers jumped at the chance to get involved.

When the optimal location was established as the meadow near Macedonia Brook with the Cumming House to the east and Appalachian Trail to the west, the base for the apartment complex was installed in November.  Hoisting the actual nesting complex occurred on April first.  This specific date was chosen to match the arrival of the first migratory purple martins returning from South America.  Weekly checks on the birds are done by students and faculty to ensure the martins and their new home are in good shape.  Hopefully our hospitality will be rewarded this summer with some insect-eating new residents making Kent School their summer home.

For more information on the purple martin, please click here.