The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking observers to contact the agency if they spot any of the color-banded nestling purple martins at colonies near Willmar, Brainerd, Mille Lacs Lake, St. Cloud and Rice.

The purpose of the banding is to study the dispersal and survival of the young martins after they fledge, their fidelity to their natal colonies, their long-term survival, and their lifetime productivity.

All banded martins have a silver-colored aluminum band on their left leg and a red color- band with white alphanumeric letters on their right leg. The color bands have a vertical “MN” followed by a letter (this year “A”) followed by three or four digits from 001 to 1000.

“The color bands should be easy to read with a good pair of binoculars if the martin is sitting,” said Mike North, the DNR’s lead bander for the project.

“Even if the observer can’t read any or all of the band, we still want to hear where they saw the birds,” added Pam Perry, DNR Nongame wildlife lake specialist.

Next year the color-banded martins could show up in colonies up to 60 miles from their natal colonies. But most will find colonies within 30 miles from where they hatched, according to Kelly Applegate, biologist with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. One martin that fledged from the Willmar colony in July last year showed up near Lake Osakis in mid-August.

Birders who observe color-banded martins should notify Mike North at (320) 255-4279, ext. 235 or by e-mail at michael.north@dnr.state.mn.us.