Photo © Cheryl Allen

On Martins And Mussels

Fans of mystery novels (and birds) will appreciate this news article about “the curious case of the Purple Martins and the pearl buttons.” When a Purple Martin landlord in Iowa cleaned out his nesting gourds, he found a cache of iridescent pearl buttons which haven’t been manufactured since the 1940s. 

Why were they there? He sleuthed out the answer with the help of historians, neighboring farmers, and NestWatch. Journalist Cheryl Allen brings this mysterious story to life in an informative and entertaining tale that starts in the year 1891. Don’t miss it!