Sightings May 31 Purple Martin twilight chorus

This morning I was awake at 5:20, and stepped outside to hear one of my favorite avian features of this time of year:  the early (very early) morning Purple Martin chorus.  The birds take to flight while it is still dark, and fill the air with their notes.

Just enough glow was beginning to show in the east that I could see the outlines of some clouds.  No other birds were vocalizing yet, just the martins.  I can't say how many there were- perhaps just a few very vocal individuals, or perhaps many more, but they produced a constant chortling overhead, concealed by the darkness. 

In about a month, the size of their nocturnal roost under the Causeway should be peaking.  For now, many are still in their boxes all over the city.