What is Dawnsong and How Does it Attract Purple Martins?

The Purple Martin call  or song is called the “Dawn Song.” It is a recording of a male Purple Martin singing his song and made for attracting purple martins to a safe roosting site. It is usually played at dawn just below the birdhouse. By using the Dawn Song for attracting purple martins to a safe roosting site, and not for its created purpose of attracting purple martins to a possible nesting  site, I have, perhaps met with opposition from a few expert birding enthusiasts.  However, my experience with this technique has proven to bring large flocks of purple martins to the 17th Street roosting site in Richmond, Va.However, precautions must be used  in playing the dawnsong near the roosting time because it could interfere with the warning signal that the purple martins give each other when  a predator is about  to attack the flock.  Therefore, it should be played  for only 5 to 8 seconds intervals.  Then, the player of this tape can hear the chirping of the purple martins change to a whistling wind sound signaling that a predator is nearby and is ready to attack their flock.  Obviously, the dawnsong can be used as a twofold purpose.  — Adolph White