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At St. Luke’s Hospital’s Anderson Campus, a homecoming for a once-abundant bird

Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once abundant in the Lehigh Valley but their population declined in recent years. St. Luke's is helping bring them back.

A purple martin perches on one of a series of...

A purple martin perches on one of a series of birdhouses Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Jocelyn Valentin, an intern from Penn State, and Tom Fiorini,...

Jocelyn Valentin, an intern from Penn State, and Tom Fiorini, director of landscape services for St. Luke’s University Health Network, talk Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, about the purple martin bird nests built outside St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. Farmers would erect nesting sites to attract the birds, which eat damaging insects. But a decline in farming led to fewer purple martins in the area. The hospital erected these birdhouses last year. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

A purple martin perches on one of a series of...

A purple martin perches on one of a series of birdhouses Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. Farmers would erect nesting sites to attract the birds, which eat damaging insects. But a decline in farming led to fewer purple martins in the area. The hospital erected these birdhouses last year. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Flowers like these growing outside St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus on Thursday,...

Flowers like these growing outside St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Bethlehem Township attract bugs, and bugs attract purple martins. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. Farmers would erect nesting sites to attract the birds, which eat damaging insects. But a decline in farming led to fewer purple martins in the area. The hospital erected these birdhouses last year. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Birdhouses built to attract purple martins stand outside St. Luke’s-Anderson...

Birdhouses built to attract purple martins stand outside St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. Farmers would erect nesting sites to attract the birds, which eat damaging insects. But a decline in farming led to fewer purple martins in the area. The hospital erected these birdhouses last year. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

A purple martin perches on one of a series of...

A purple martin perches on one of a series of birdhouses Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. Farmers would erect nesting sites to attract the birds, which eat damaging insects. But a decline in farming led to fewer purple martins in the area. The hospital erected these birdhouses last year. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

A purple martin perches on one of a series of...

A purple martin perches on one of a series of birdhouses Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. Farmers would erect nesting sites to attract the birds, which eat damaging insects. But a decline in farming led to fewer purple martins in the area. The hospital erected these birdhouses last year. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

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A purple martin perches on one of a series of birdhouses Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Purple martins, a type of swallow, were once commonplace in the Lehigh Valley. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

A sign for Bady’s Grove catering service and seafood store is seen Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Bushkill Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Plans withdrawn for Bulgarian cultural center at Bady’s Grove in Wind Gap

Developer Nat Hyman plans to redevelop the former book bindery building with this mural he commissioned in Allentown into 20 apartments. (GABRIELLE RHOADS/The Morning Call)

Historic Allentown building that was once the site of a Revolutionary War POW camp to get apartments

Muhlenberg College Exterior. (Kristen Harrison/The Morning Call)

How much of an economic impact do colleges and universities have on the Lehigh Valley? New study reveals numbers

People enjoy food, sounds and the sights Thursday, July 31, 2025, during Musikfest’s preview night in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS

Latest Headlines

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Man charged in shooting at Bethlehem restaurant that injured 2
Man charged in shooting at Bethlehem restaurant that injured 2
Chick-fil-A submits plans for a new Lehigh Valley restaurant. Here’s where
Chick-fil-A submits plans for a new Lehigh Valley restaurant. Here’s where
Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 10 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 10 | PHOTOS
Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 2 dead, 10 injured
Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 2 dead, 10 injured
First West Nile virus case in Lehigh Valley this year reported. What you need to know
First West Nile virus case in Lehigh Valley this year reported. What you need to know
As Lehigh Valley students head back to school, here are the construction projects that await them
As Lehigh Valley students head back to school, here are the construction projects that await them
For first time in history, Lehigh Little League baseball team caps off memorable run with East Region championship
For first time in history, Lehigh Little League baseball team caps off memorable run with East Region championship
The 9,000-year-old pastime that is still alive and well in the Lehigh Valley
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Musikfest 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 9 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 9 | PHOTOS
Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson gets hurt during Linc practice
Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson gets hurt during Linc practice

Local News

East Penn in Lyons has been named among best employers for women in 2025. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE)

East Penn Manufacturing ranked among best employers for women

The Berks manufacturer was named to Forbes 2025 listing

Sports

Coach Joel Rupp talks to his players Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, during an Allen High School football practice in Allentown. Allen football is trying to build off its late-season win over Dieruff last season which gave the Canaries 3 wins, which was much better than their 0-10 season in 2023. Third-year coach Joel Rupp is hoping for more improvement. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Allen football preview: Canaries coach Joel Rapp ‘extremely optimistic’ entering his third season

After going 0-10 in 2023, Allen football started 2-0 and closed the regular season with a big win over Dieruff in 2024 and seeks more success in 2025.

Things to Do

Opera singer Grace Lerew will perform with the Allentown Band on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, and Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Allentown. (Photo courtesy Sarah Kappes)

‘Something for everyone’: Upcoming Allentown performances feature trained opera singer, civilian concert band

The Allentown Band will perform opera and Broadway favorites at two shows this week, featuring Parkland graduate and opera singer Grace Lerew.

Musikfest 2025 – Best of the Headliners | PHOTOS

The best of the headliner acts at Musikfest.
Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 9 | PHOTOS
The Black Keys headline final day of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Third Eye Blind performs at Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Friday, Aug. 8 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Thursday, Aug. 7 | PHOTOS

Opinion

Town Square Cartoons

Browse political cartoons for the week of Aug. 11

View Town Square/Opinion cartoons for the week of Aug. 11, 2025.

Crime and Public Safety

Pennsylvania State Police. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

New York men bilked Lehigh Valley resident out of $51,000 in computer scam, police charge

Police charged two New York men with felony theft by deception for defrauding a Northampton...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

Best Breville waffle maker

Our team of experts has selected the best Breville waffle maker out of hundreds of...

Business

FILE – The YouTube app is displayed on an iPad in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

YouTube to begin testing a new AI-powered age verification system in the U.S.

If the system flags a logged-in viewer as being under 18, YouTube will impose the...

Pennsylvania News

Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich speaks to representatives of 23 Area Agencies on Aging on June 30, 2025, in Harrisburg. (Kevin Rist / Commonwealth Media Services)

State delays new contract with extra accountability measures for Pa. elder abuse agencies

The Department of Aging pointed to a new system to monitor whether counties are conducting...

National News

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, speaks during a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

US inflation held steady last month as tariff hit offset by cheaper gas, food

The figures suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are offsetting some impacts of...

Allentown

The IronPigs’ 2026 season at Coca-Cola Park begins on March 27, against the Toledo Mud Hens. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

IronPigs open 2026 season at Coca-Cola Park

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs begin their 2026 season at Coca-Cola Park, on March 27 against...

Bethlehem Area

“Faces in the crowd on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, at Musikfest in Bethlehem. (Photo by Jonathan Broady, Special to The Morning Call)”

Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 10 | PHOTOS

People enjoy the sights and sounds of the final day of Musikfest 2025 on Sunday...