Honouring Jim Boyd's Purple Martin Houses

​Del McKinnon sharing his remembrances of Jim Boyd

​Del Mckinnon (right) with Debbie Maki

Honouring Jim Boyd's Purple Martin Houses 
We were pleased to celebrate the return of the late Jim Boyd's Purple Martin houses on Canada Day, July 1. He donated three of his boxes to Ellis Bird Farm in 2014 after being given a terminal cancer diagnosis. 

The boxes, which were starting to deteriorate, were taken down last fall by Rob Aellen of Elnora. He and his wife, Lousie, spent the entire winter refurbishing and repairing them. Rob returned to the site in May to install the new houses along with new poles and hardware. 

The costs associated with this project were covered by a generous donation from Jim's daughter, Debbie Maki. She and her family were on hand on Canada Day to see the new boxes and to reminisce about Jim's passion for Purple Martins. 
Our thanks to Del McKinnon, who oversaw this project and was on hand to share his thoughts about his friendship with Jim, and to Rob and Louise Aellen, who worked tirelessly on this project.