Last evening my wife and I went to view our first roost. We met our guide around 7:00 p.m. and boated to the island in the middle of beautiful Lake Ouchita in central Arkansas. Unlike some of the posts about other roosts where the martins came in at once there was a steady trickle of birds coming from the time we got there until it was too dark to see. I really wanted to see that "black tornado" but it just didn't happen that way at this roost.
To say the least we were quite impressed! It was amazing to see that many martins at one time. I really have no way of knowing how many birds were there but it was a bunch!!
We tried to take pictures but the waves on the water may have messed things up. We'll know in a couple of days when the film gets developed and will post if possible.
If anyone is interested, E-mail or call for pertinent information about going to see the roost.
Bird Island Roost
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Guest
- Attachments
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- South end at sunset
- BI 08.jpg (16.23 KiB) Viewed 1792 times
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- North end of island
- BI 07.jpg (14.25 KiB) Viewed 1780 times
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- Middle of island
- BI 06.jpg (23.33 KiB) Viewed 1790 times
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- Gravel bar, south end
- BI 05.jpg (29.25 KiB) Viewed 1777 times
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- Cypress tree loaded up
- BI 04.jpg (30.37 KiB) Viewed 1778 times
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- Around seven p.m.
- BI 03.jpg (19.24 KiB) Viewed 1786 times
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- Cypress tree
- BI 02.jpg (39.09 KiB) Viewed 1799 times
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- South end of Bird Island
- BI 01.jpg (28.52 KiB) Viewed 1820 times
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Guest
Nice pics!
I would sure like to visit a roost. On the PMCA radar shots it appears one is near me. Maybe I'll get a chance to visit.
I had 100 -200 martins fly over my house last night. Started about 1 1/2 hours before dark. They were in groups of 2 -10 with the occasional single bird. I didn't think they were still around here but I was wrong. Seen a group of about 40 this afternoon around 4:00.
I would sure like to visit a roost. On the PMCA radar shots it appears one is near me. Maybe I'll get a chance to visit.
I had 100 -200 martins fly over my house last night. Started about 1 1/2 hours before dark. They were in groups of 2 -10 with the occasional single bird. I didn't think they were still around here but I was wrong. Seen a group of about 40 this afternoon around 4:00.
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Guest
Darryl
I haven't seen a martin around here in about three weeks. I miss having visitors stop by.
I haven't seen a martin around here in about three weeks. I miss having visitors stop by.
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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.
Wow, that roost is amazing!
Hi Harold & Peg. Bird Island Roost is wonderful, because it exhibits ground roosting, too. There must be an awful lot of birds there.
Thanks for the pictures - they are great!
Hi Harold & Peg. Bird Island Roost is wonderful, because it exhibits ground roosting, too. There must be an awful lot of birds there.
Thanks for the pictures - they are great!
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne