report a scout or not?

[bk]

While I look at just about every bird that passes by still, I was getting pretty used to them all being a "nope". So this morning I saw a lone bird pretty high up and not acting much like a starling. I couldn't make out the tail, but it did head off towards the lake at the foot of the hill. I watched and watched for it to turn around and come back but had pretty much pegged it as nope, not a Martin. So while my eyes were focused a qtr. mile away, this sassy boy came out of the sun and pulled up not 15 feet from my face giving me an unmistakeable look at an ASY male. He was just as sleek and fleshy confident as anything I've ever seen. He swooped in and around our two houses and off back to the lake. Its as if he broke off his feeding to bid me good morning, then back to the hunt. I've got this strange feeling that he is the same guy that established our colony last year. Hopefully he likes his refurbished home.
I had built a twelve holer last year with no easy access. It was an enormous thing on an sk telescope pole. Too top heavy. I cut it way down this year and am offering 4 crescent holes in a custom house. The only thing the same is the roof and the pole. There is also a T14 10 feet away with wdc's and a couple excluders. Hopefully he will make a home here.
My question is, when to make a scout report? after he's stayed awhile?

thanks,

bill rowlett tx

[Guest]

Bill - I would definately say make a scout report. You saw an ASY male right in front of you.


Good luck this season.


lanell

[John Miller]

Can't wait to experience the same. Report it now. It's the earliest confirmed sighting that's probably useful information about arrival dates.

[Pat Kramer]

The Scout-arrival Study aims to collect the first sightings, transient or resident, of Purple Martins. We do not distinguish between residents and transient birds, the are all Purple Martin 'scouts' to us. Please complete the online scout form at your convenience.

http://purplemartin.org/scoutreport/scoutform.php

Thank you,