[texbirds] Austin Purple Martin Roost - Saturday Night

From: Shelia Hargis <shelia.hargis@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 16:21:58 -0500
Laurie Foss and I visited the Highland Mall Purple Martin roost last night.
We knew that Austin Community College had purchased the building and are
planning to remodel/renovate it. But we were surprised to find a tall chain
link fence up just west of the trees that the martins were roosting in last
year and a couple of large metal containers underneath the trees on the
east side. Neither the fence nor the containers seemed to bother the birds
as you'll see below. Here's how the night progressed:
7:30p: About 50 birds circling overhead when we arrived. There was one dead
bird in the parking lot. The birds appeared to be about 99% female/immature.
8:00p: Approximately 150 birds
8:10p: ~150 birds
8:15p: ~300
8:29p: ~350
8:33p: ~1000
8:37p: ~1500. At this time, Laurie noticed some birds perching in a tree
near the intersection of Highland Mall Blvd & Airport Blvd, across Highland
Mall Blvd from the Jack-In-The-Box.
8:40p: ~2000
8:42p: ~2500
8:43p: ~3000
8:45p: ~5000. No birds were roosting in the trees along the driveway into
the mall parking lot (the trees they were roosting in last year).
8:47p: Some birds started to perch in the trees along the driveway.
8:48p: ~7000. Many birds started perching in the trees along the driveway
but still many were circling overhead. Approximately 95% of the birds were
female/immature.
8:55p: Lots of birds were perched in the trees along the driveway but still
lots circling overhead. There seemed to be more adult males in the upper
branches than in the lower ones.
9:00p: ~10,000. Many birds in the trees but many still flying overhead even
though it was pretty dark by this time. There was lots of movement within
the trees with birds flying from one perch to another. And lots of
vocalizing! No movement was seen in the tree near the Jack-In-The-Box. (We
heard these birds as we drove away, so they were still there.)
9:05p: Most birds were perched in the trees with some birds flying close to
the trees.
9:07p: Some birds were still flying around very near the branches. It
appeared these birds were trying to find a perch. The birds already perched
were shoulder-to-shoulder on the branches. Still lots of vocalizing.
9:12p: Very little movement at this time. Still pretty noisy but not as
loud as before.

The estimates of numbers are very rough estimates, more a relative
comparison from one time to another. It was very exciting to watch the
numbers grow - exponentially toward the end. This show never gets old to
me. It's the only time I go to the mall!

Travis Audubon is hosting Purple Martin "parties" every Friday and Saturday
night in July, starting around 7:45p. Laurie and I will be playing host for
most of the nights. Come join us one night or every night. You'll be amazed!

Shelia Hargis
Austin


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[texbirds] Austin Purple Martin Roost - Saturday Night

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