I was just wondering since I see alot of talk of pre-established PreMigratory roosts, does anyone in my area know of any in the Virginia Beach (Tidewater Area)? I know ours will be there in a few days as our 3 babies will fledge any day now.
Jim
Anyone know of a PreMigratory roost in the Va Beach area?
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Sandy - NC
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:40 pm
- Location: Rocky Mount, NC
Your birds will probably go to the William B. Umstead Bridge in Manns Harbor at Manteo NC. There will be a festival held there on Aug. 6.
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Guest
Jim,
I also live in VA BCH, I don't feel my babies will fledge any day, however, the day is coming too soon. Each year I have a few more than the year before. It is a sad time when all leave. I hope you have good luck with your babies fledging and a good next year.
Jayne
I also live in VA BCH, I don't feel my babies will fledge any day, however, the day is coming too soon. Each year I have a few more than the year before. It is a sad time when all leave. I hope you have good luck with your babies fledging and a good next year.
Jayne
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Guest
Thank you Sandy. I thought that might be the case, hoping they might have one locally.
Jim
Jim
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Guest
Hi Jayne,
We live in Kempsville. This is our 1st pair. I see a bunch of them each morning on the way to work in a house close by home at a Golf driving range.
Good luck on yours.
Jim
We live in Kempsville. This is our 1st pair. I see a bunch of them each morning on the way to work in a house close by home at a Golf driving range.
Good luck on yours.
Jim
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hey Jim.
There is another roost in New Jersey. I don't know where you are located in Virginia - but, if you click on PMCA Home, then Research, then Premigratory Roosts - you will find a map with green dots showing the roosts reported.
Unfortunately, everybody doesn't report their local roosts and so we don't know where they all are.
If either of these roosts are close enough for you to get to one of them, it is definitely worth it. The downside of getting to a roost is their timeline. They occur so late - that if you had to drive very far, it could put you getting home pretty late. Maybe you could rent a hotel room close to a roost and make an overnight trip of it. Both of those roosts are close to the shore - surely there are other attractions to help make a weekend overnighter worth it.
Hope you go - have fun!!!
edit - P.S. --- one more point to keep in mind... the PM season in your area may not be at the height of premigratory roost time. I found this info (at the above referenced PMCA website location)...
There is another roost in New Jersey. I don't know where you are located in Virginia - but, if you click on PMCA Home, then Research, then Premigratory Roosts - you will find a map with green dots showing the roosts reported.
Unfortunately, everybody doesn't report their local roosts and so we don't know where they all are.
If either of these roosts are close enough for you to get to one of them, it is definitely worth it. The downside of getting to a roost is their timeline. They occur so late - that if you had to drive very far, it could put you getting home pretty late. Maybe you could rent a hotel room close to a roost and make an overnight trip of it. Both of those roosts are close to the shore - surely there are other attractions to help make a weekend overnighter worth it.
Hope you go - have fun!!!
edit - P.S. --- one more point to keep in mind... the PM season in your area may not be at the height of premigratory roost time. I found this info (at the above referenced PMCA website location)...
History of Roost: While it was first reported about 10 years ago, martins probably used this site for many years. Once it became known, birding enthusiasts began congegating at this location to view this magnificant event. 2002 marked the first Purple Martin Festival sponsored by the Cumberland County Department of Planning and Development [(856) 453-2177]. The event is held approximately the third Saturday each August to coincide with the peak numbers during the roosting period. During the festival, viewing is provided from boat or from the bridge.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Guest
Thank you Laverne for the info.
We are not really close to New Jersey, it is about a 5 hour drive. I was hoping they might congreagate in our local area.
Yesterday, we had no less than 50 PM flying around over our property. I took some home movies of them circling, later about 30 were diving close to the PM House like they were checking it out, kinda cirling and the two resident martins were swawking at them to try to scare them off.
Jim
We are not really close to New Jersey, it is about a 5 hour drive. I was hoping they might congreagate in our local area.
Yesterday, we had no less than 50 PM flying around over our property. I took some home movies of them circling, later about 30 were diving close to the PM House like they were checking it out, kinda cirling and the two resident martins were swawking at them to try to scare them off.
Jim
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Guest
Jim,
I am also in Kempsville on Lake Christopher. We have many Martin houses here, the hunting is good, I guess. Mine seem to gather and swoop late evening (around 7:30 - 8:00); I always figured they were coming closer to home around that time.
We have a lot of excitment whenever we mow the lawn, they hate that. I'm not sure if the noise scares them or just the fact that we are close by. We put an umbrella out on the deck on the 4th of July and they were extremely unhappy about that. We lowered it immediately and they calmed down.
We plan on going to the festival this year on the 6th of August, it is about a 1 1/2 hour ride. You can make a day of it by visiting other sites along the way or enjoying the beaches. I hope you find the time to make it; I can't wait. I never got to go last year and I was terribly disappointed. Good luck, I hope you make it down there.
Jayne
I am also in Kempsville on Lake Christopher. We have many Martin houses here, the hunting is good, I guess. Mine seem to gather and swoop late evening (around 7:30 - 8:00); I always figured they were coming closer to home around that time.
We have a lot of excitment whenever we mow the lawn, they hate that. I'm not sure if the noise scares them or just the fact that we are close by. We put an umbrella out on the deck on the 4th of July and they were extremely unhappy about that. We lowered it immediately and they calmed down.
We plan on going to the festival this year on the 6th of August, it is about a 1 1/2 hour ride. You can make a day of it by visiting other sites along the way or enjoying the beaches. I hope you find the time to make it; I can't wait. I never got to go last year and I was terribly disappointed. Good luck, I hope you make it down there.
Jayne