VIDALIA — It’s earlier than ever, but last Monday Vidalian James Stigall received his yearly reminder that winter will not last forever.

That’s because on Jan. 12 Stigall sighted the first purple martin scout of the year.

“That’s the earliest I’ve ever seen them,” he said. “Last year I saw the first ones on Jan. 28.”

Purple martins — migratory birds who were given their name because of their distinct coloring — are the largest members of the swallow family.

They migrate from Brazil, where they spend their non-breeding season, and travel to North America every year to nest in both martin houses and hollowed gourds.

In the west, the martins will nest in old woodpecker holes and even cacti, but in the eastern United States they almost only nest in man-made homes.

Martins eat flying insects such as stinkbugs, flying ants and moths, but contrary to popular belief do not eat an abundance of mosquitoes, according to the Purple Martin Conservation Association.

There was only one scout — in this case, a bird that arrives early in the season because it is already familiar with where housing can be found — at Stigall’s house last Monday, but he didn’t want to miss his chance.

“I didn’t have my (martin) box up and so when I saw him out there I grabbed a box I could put up really quick,” Stigall said. “He looked at it, stayed a while and flew off.”

Since then, Stigall has started putting up his boxes so the scouts will know he welcomes them.

“I put them up so that when they get here they know they have a place to stay,” Stigall said.