Last night Tom Martin and I went to the roost on Archer St., just north of downtown, and there had to have been well over 100,000 martins there. We got there around 8:20 PM, and there were already thousands of martins in the air, sitting on wires along Archer and Brady (the next street to the north), and some were already in the trees. I don't know if it was from the weight of the birds or not, but a section of a Bradford pear tree snapped and fell, and a small cloud of martins flew off from that tree. At one point, there were thousands of martins flying overhead from a height of 20 ft. up to so high they were tiny specks in the sky. There are so many martins flying in so many directions, you almost have to keep rotating around to try to soak up the amazing sight. As at all the other roost locations we have found, there were also several thousand starlings roosting with the martins.
As it got really dark shortly after 9 PM, most of the martins had packed into trees in two blocks of the five block roost area. One of these blocks was between Main & Boston on the east end, and the other was between Boulder & Cheyenne to the west. Much of the area on the north side of Archer consists of parking lots, so you can get a good view of the martins from a number of vantage points.
On the way to the Archer roost I drove near the island roost, and there were a lot of martins on the wires above the island. So it appears they are using both locations, but the numbers are much greater at the Archer location.
I checked the weather radar this morning, and the dispersal from the downtown roost showed up. It looked like most of the birds were going northwest, which would be towards several lakes, and a lot were headed
southeast. It also looked like there was dispersal from a roost in the northwest part of the Oklahoma City metro area. Maybe someone there could check for a roost location.
Huge Numbers at the Downtown Tulsa Roost
Dick, was out in NW part of town this evening and looked for any PM roost. Sorry to report didn't even see a martin. Was out there at prime roosting time also.
I did see several blackbird (starlings, blackbirds, gackels) roosts though. I could of missed them but I dought it. IMO they all head your way after the babies have fledged. I rarely see or hear PMs after the 15 of July on my side of town. Maybe someone from Edmond or NW OKC will report some information. Rc.
I did see several blackbird (starlings, blackbirds, gackels) roosts though. I could of missed them but I dought it. IMO they all head your way after the babies have fledged. I rarely see or hear PMs after the 15 of July on my side of town. Maybe someone from Edmond or NW OKC will report some information. Rc.
-
Dick Sherry
- Posts: 774
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:30 pm
- Location: Tulsa, OK
RC, thanks for checking that area. There are so many at the downtown roost here that maybe they are from as far away as Okahoma City. We went down to the roost again on Friday evening, and there were so many it is impossible to guess how many there are. There may be 200,000 or more.
For a moment, we saw a definite albino. It was a flash of white in a group of martins that was shifting from one roost tree to another. We are also seeing evidence that some predator is catching and eating some of the birds. All that is left is the wings, so it may be an owl.
If you get a chance to come see this roost, I think you would enjoy it.
For a moment, we saw a definite albino. It was a flash of white in a group of martins that was shifting from one roost tree to another. We are also seeing evidence that some predator is catching and eating some of the birds. All that is left is the wings, so it may be an owl.
If you get a chance to come see this roost, I think you would enjoy it.
-
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.
Hi Dick and RC.
The Tulsa Roost sounds spectacular. Do y'all realize that it has not been reported to the PMCA? The only dot in Oklahoma is for last year's Muskogee Roost.
I wonder if the Muskogee Roost is active this year?
The Tulsa Roost sounds spectacular. Do y'all realize that it has not been reported to the PMCA? The only dot in Oklahoma is for last year's Muskogee Roost.
I wonder if the Muskogee Roost is active this year?
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
-
Dick Sherry
- Posts: 774
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:30 pm
- Location: Tulsa, OK
Laverne, I haven't put in anything on the roost this year because last year they kept shifting locations every few weeks. We have been expecting them to probably shift this year as well, which they have done to an extent. There are still some martins using the island in the Arkansas River, but the majority are using the trees along Archer. Since I am not a real good correspondent, I have counted on people who check the Forum to see the updates on the roost, and maybe come see it if they get the chance.
We went to see the Muskogee roost last year, and there were quite a few martins, but it was a fraction of the numbers at the Tulsa roost. I haven't heard if they are there again this year, and don't think I will get down there myself.
We went to see the Muskogee roost last year, and there were quite a few martins, but it was a fraction of the numbers at the Tulsa roost. I haven't heard if they are there again this year, and don't think I will get down there myself.