Wonder if there is any way to ask the State or City of Nashville to avoid mowing that area until mid-September (at least for next year)? Anyone know who should be contacted? Bill Holt Chattanooga, TN Hamilton County On Mon, Aug 29, 2011 at 2:00 PM, Cynthia Routledge <routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > wrote: > Nashville, TN > Davidson County > > As you may recall, last year many of us enjoyed viewing the grand Purple > Martin roost discovered within throwing distance of Titan Stadium in > downtown Nashville. The roost formed again this year and was estimated to > have over 100,000 birds! > > Steve and I ventured out to see it last Thursday night, 8/25. Scores and > scores of Purple Martins filled the sunset sky and then dropped into roost > for the night. The sight and sound was truly amazing. > > Sadly sometime between us leaving at dark on Thursday and the arrival of > another group of birders on Saturday evening, 8/27, the roosting area was > mowed and most of the vegetation was removed. The Martins did arrive that > night but their behavior was far from normal and their numbers had > decreased. > > A few local birders will be venturing out there tonight, 8/29, to see just > how many Martins remain in the area or if they can detect the birds roosting > elsewhere. > > We are glad we got out there Thursday night. I am sad for those who did > not make it out this year to see the roost. My hope is that the flock has > moved further South to yet another roosting location on their long journey. > And that when it's roosting time again they return to Nashville in perhaps > even greater numbers so we can once again enjoy this incredible natural > show. > > <") > ( \ > / |` Cyndi Routledge > "When one tugs at a single thing in Nature, > he finds it attached to the rest of the world." > ~John Muir > > > > > > -- --------------------------- Bill Holt Chattanooga, TN Hamilton County