Dan Airola today reports the first sighting of a Purple Martin in the Sacramento area, and his is the only record of the bird in eBird. Coincidentally, Maggie Smith of Arroyo Grande also spotted a Purple Martin down in her neck of the woods, as well. Both of those birds likely came from as far away as Brazil– more than 5,000 miles. The Purple Martin, the largest of the swallows on our continent, is one of America’s favorite birds. But while the Purple Martin is common and widespread in the east, it is relatively rare and sparsely distributed in California. Historical declines and the small population size led the California Department of Fish and Game to designate the Purple Martin a Species of Special Concern. The bird’s unique relationship with people is illustrated by the fact that in the east, the bird nests almost exclusively in man-made boxes. In California, however, Purple Martins nest mainly in natural cavities in trees (the notable exception being the population in theSacramentoarea, which uses holes in highway overpasses.). In reference to our earlier post about Tejon Ranch, that property is home to a lively population of Purple Martins. (photo by Peter LaTourrette)