Do they go 150 miles everynight to roost?

[Guest]

I have three adults and three babies still returning around 7:30 every evening. I am approx. 150 miles from the roost in NC, do they go down there to sleep, they get here around 7:30 and by 8:20 are gone again. They go in the gourds, sometimes two at a time while they are here. The young seem to be doing fine, hunting and feeding, flying. I am not sure they are the same birds but I think so. Sunday it rained all day here and one young one turned up during the day and hung at the house for about 1 1/2 hours, I first thought something was wrong but as I watched he finallyl flew and seemed fine. Are they just new at all things they must learn, are they afraid or maybe they are just building their strengths? I have only had families for two years so far and don't know all of their habits; I'm glad this forum is here to help. Thank you for everything.

Jayne

[Laverne]

Hi Jayne.

I went over to Project MartinRoost and clicked on the State of Virginia and they have a suspected roost at Virginia Beach! You just have to go to that map and look at it. You may have a local roost much closer than you think!!

[Guest]

Hi Laverne,

Thank you for responding, you are right; recently there have been Doppler reports indicating an unknown or suspected roost near False Cape near the beach. On the PMCA website it states that they need documentation that Martins come at dusk and stay the night, then leave again in the morning. There is no specific location of the roost, they show a map of the Doppler reading but they mentioned it may be anywhere within 15 miles in all directions. My husband and I were both trying to figure out where the best place possible could contain the roost. The area is deserted beach, no piers or bridges that I know of. I understand someone would have to locate where they think it may possibly be, then monitor it all night or stay at night until they see the Martins sleeping there and return early the next morning to make sure they have spent the night.

I do think it is possible my Martins are going to this mysterious spot, I wish I could be the one to locate it but as of now it is impossible for us to spend all the time necessary to ensure the site. Will the birds that stay at that roost eventually go to the Umstead Bridge or will they leave from the Virginia Beach site.

Last night I only had three return, they circled high and only came down monentarily to hop in and out of the gourds, they were only here a very few minutes. It is tougher this way because I say my goodbyes and then they tease me again with a "small showing", this way I never know which night is the last until we meet again at the NC roost. It is heartbreaking.

Thank you for answering the questions I have posted this year and I will talk to you next year again.

Good luck next year.

Jayne

[Laverne]

Hi Jayne.

I went back over to the MartinRoost/Virginia listings and checked the MapQuest Map of the location of the roost. The information is from 2004, but this roost was listed as "significant". This could mean they saw it for several weeks, or it was very large, or both. All I see out there is a barrier island. No roads - nothing. It is possible you could not get there except by boat or dune buggy. Do you have access to a boat? That might be a nice Saturday evening outing... Do you know somebody with a good telescope? Perhaps you could view them that way, from a distance.

You stated:

I understand someone would have to locate where they think it may possibly be, then monitor it all night or stay at night until they see the Martins sleeping there and return early the next morning to make sure they have spent the night.

Please understand that you would not have to stay there all night. If the PMs come in at dusk and are on the ground or in the trees at dark - they will stay there unless something scares them. I don't know of anybody going back over to the Sharpstown Roost in the morning to confirm that the birds stayed all night. If you can figure out how to get to the barrier island, you would only need to observe from sundown 'til dark. If you don't see any major Purple Martin activity during that time frame, there probably won't be any. There's another possibility bothering me - these could be migrating shore birds instead of PMs. That would be an awful lot of trouble to go through just to be disappointed.

Perhaps you should turn your attention to the "suspected" roost at Newport News. There again, it appears to be on the beach in the boonies, but off the James River. Check it out and see what you think. I don't know the area. But, I would expect Purple Martins near a river sooner than on a barrier island strip of sand. I could be wrong - those East Coast Purple Martins may enjoy the beach!!

Whatever you choose to do - you will definitely enjoy the Umstead Bridge Roost. Have fun! ...and yes, we will be talking with you again in future seasons...

[Laverne]

I forgot to reply to your other question.

We don't know if the PMs at any given roost will move to any other given roost - only the PMs know that. Without bird banding and people with scopes spending countless hours scanning thousands of birds for the few with the bands - we can't tell them apart!!

That's pretty sad. When you watch your birds at home - you can identify them; but, when you throw them in with thousands of other PMs - they get lost and they all look alike.

They'll be back next spring, Jayne. Read about them while they're gone - use this time to educate yourself - and listen to the Daytime Chatter CD and look at your photos. They'll be here before you know it!

[Guest]

Hi there Jayne and Laverne.
I figure since we live in Va Beach I might as well jump in here. My Wife and I camped this past weekend close to the border of Va Beach and Knotts Island North Carolina. (in the rain needless to say!!) On Saturday, we went to Knotts Island and rode around seeing the sights, took in a community yard sale and some peach picking and a visit to the Martin Winery for some taste testing and a purchase of their finest. We did however see a road leading into the Mackie Island Wildlife refuge and keep in mind this is only at the other end of Back Bay which is is part of False Cape State Park where the reported doppler sighting were in 2004. We were just looking for a place to ride our bikes and my Wife spotted a whole bunch of Purple Martins roosting in trees, old pines with dead limbs at that. We looked around and saw many PM's but left when the rains came again. This may be where the sighting actually took place and it is in an excellent place for a roost and the proof could be all the birds we witnessed sitting in trees. I will say also that this was midday when we sighted them. Unfortunately the park closes at dark and any thoughts of us riding a boat there is not an option since we both work!!
Jim

[Laverne]

Hi there Jim. Thank you for that report. What you describe sounds like a staging site to a nearby roost. So, Jayne, there really must be a Purple Martin Premigratory Roost on False Cape.

Did you see the photos Harold & Peg posted of Bird Island? They took one shot of PMs roosting on the ground.

I am learning so much!! I love this.

Thanks to all of you for helping fill the void in my world since my colony left. This sure helps!!

Edit: Jim, I believe I would have to take a vacation day - or, call in sick - or what about this weekend? Work, work, work - it's time to go see a roost! I'm teasing - I know some people can't do what I do - they have "real" jobs!