Discovering Purple Martins in Sierra Azul Preserve- OpenRoad 2023

Before these large swallows were discovered in Midpen's Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve during Mount Umunhum's restoration, many biologists believed these birds had disappeared entirely from Santa Clara County. The western purple martin (Progne subis arboricola) has iridescent purple feathers and a call that sounds like the Star Wars character R2-D2.