[va-richmond-general] 26,300 Purple Martins, Richmond, VA

From: Susan Ridd <susaneridd@xxxxxxxxx>
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, RAS Listserv <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 22:03:55 -0400

*Thursday, August 04, 2011*: It was a clear cool night with a slight breeze.
Tonight, Jan Frye and Nick Flanders counted 26,300 Purple Martins flying
into the Pear trees on 17th Street in Shockoe Bottom. For the record, Jan
Frye was the counter of Sunday night’s number (27, 500 birds).



Victoria Cooper, who has been measuring the sound of the Purple Martins
since last year, measured an 80 (A and C) at 8:41 pm tonight. Last year’s
high was 65 (A and C). The numbers rise exponentially (for those of us who
are not mathematicians or electrical engineers). We are attempting to count
birds by using sound.



One gentleman got a photograph of the Peregrine Falcon capturing a Purple
Martin in mid-air. We will try to put that on the website,
www.gonetothebirds.org when time permits.


Thanks go to the Steering Committee for picking the correct date! Adele
Maclean, Lou Verner, Wyn Price, Jan Frye, Adolph White, and Karin Cundiff
picked Aug. 6th in late January of this year.


Thanks go to the City of Richmond, Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association,
Purple Martin Conservation Association, National Audubon Society, Virginia
Society of Ornithology, and DeLuca Gelato for sponsoring this event. (Note
if you want a small cup of free gelato, get a blue ticket in the Farmers’
Market! After 1000 cups, a nominal price will be charged.)



Come early and eat supper in Shockoe Bottom. Check out the restaurants using
Google.

-Sue Ridd

Volunteer Coordinator

Gone to the Birds 2011 Festival

[va-richmond-general] 26,300 Purple Martins, Richmond, VA

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