I used to have some doubts about the validity of Earl Larrison's 1945
report of a Purple Martin pre-migration roost at Green Lake, Seattle
comprised of 12,000 individuals. Now that Purple Martins are coming
back strong in the Puget Sound region, I am inclined to think that
his report was no mistake. I am hearing Purple Martins in many areas
of Thurston County, away from the water. Apparently, many have moved
away from nesting areas and are feeding, staging, socializing, whatever.

I counted 57 Purple Martins perched on wires east of Marathon Park on
Capitol Lake in Olympia this morning. Sharing the wires was a host of
the usual other swallows.

Kelly McAllister