In a sure sign that spring is not far behind, the first Purple Martins of the year have been spotted in Virginia, according to a release from the Purple Martin Conservation Association.
The birds were seen on Feb. 15 in South Boston by a Purple Martin enthusiast—one of many throughout the eastern and central United States who track and report on the birds’ annual migration on behalf of the association. The migration of these unique birds can be reported and tracked through a community science project called the Scout-Arrival Study.
“The first Purple Martin arrivals of the season are always an exciting event,” said Joe Siegrist, president of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. “Tracking the migration is not only fun, it also provides us with valuable information … to make sure we’re doing everything possible to sustain the population of these amazing birds.”
North America’s largest species of swallow, Purple Martins winter in the rainforests of Brazil before making up to a 7,000...