Spreading Purple Love: ROOST REPORT 7/23/2009

I love the drive to Manns Harbor from points west along HWY 64, right at around 7 pm. Martins glide across the sky in eastward flight making thier way to their roost and gather at places such as Alligator River Marina, filling the trees and swarming along the small house which sits at the mouth of the canal on the river. I have seen them gathering at this particular "staging area" for many years. Very inspiring, and beautiful, to drive along with the birds to reach our common destination at the bridge.

I met with about 25-30 really lovely people for our weekly Purple Martin Madness educational program. We had a great time discussing the birds and sharing enthusiasm for the roost. The birds started arriving even as we were in discussion, right at about 8:15 they were beginning to swarm, so we left the kiosk area and headed to the bridge landing where we shared the view with about 6 fisherpeople. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying the show, including the people fishing who clearly shared the martin-love. We all stood pointing and smiling with lots of oohs and aahs, while 100,000 martins showed us thier amazing display of dipping and diving in graceful gathering and descending on the bridge right as darkness was falling in at about 8:30 PM. The sky was in beautiful shades of purple and orange and lightning sparked through heavy rain clouds in the distance. The birds chose to roost near the shore, so for those of us who waited til darkness nearly closed in, martins swirled and danced in right front of our eyes.

It seemed most motorists slowed down, and we even saw some cars clearly stopped on the bridge in the areas of great swarms coming in, probably to avoid hitting birds, but also possibly to enjoy the spectacle. The many birdwatchers present were equally disheartened by the few vehicles who blazed through the roosting birds without slowing at all.

I drove over the bridge after everyone left hoping to make a report that no martins had been killed.

I counted 13 dead.

All it takes is one vehicle to kill that many birds.

Please avoid driving over the bridge while the speed-reduction lights are flashing, and if you must drive through the roosting area, please slow down. Each and every bird at this roost is there because somebody put up a martin house for the birds to nest in. Each and every bird at this roost was loved by a person who cared enough to provide for them and they look forward to thier return each year.

It may seem like too much trouble at the time, but it really doesn't take too much time to slow down, enjoy the presence and wonder of the birds, and save a few small lives.

Thank you to all the Purple Martin Madness participants from last night (and all CCPMS members, cruisers, supporters). Your smiling faces, enthusiasm, caring hearts and love of these tiny, wonderous birds keep this organization going and make it all worthwhile.

Best,
Alisa~