The Martins Have Landed
It was an incredible sight to behold. Thousands of Purple Martin birds gathering and circling in the summer sky, then plummeting in wave after wave from their rallying point above Shockoe Bottom like Sidewinder missiles, all of them crowding into about seven trees along 17th St.
My brother in law, sister and girlfriend went down to the Bottom to check it out. At first, I thought we were skeptical because we got there at 7:30 and all we saw was blue sky. There was the occasional bird, but Steve had said that was when they start to gather.
We watched from the parking lot next to the old Loving's Produce (and met a River City Rapids reader who had shown up because of Wednesday's post) and saw a few packs of birds here and there, but as it got to be 7:45 and only various packs of birds, I thought we might be suckered into an Amway presentation (kidding).
Then, as it inched towards eight o'clock, we saw more and more packs appearing together from above Richmond Cold Storage, over Church Hill, and towards the river. Hundreds appeared in packs, then would disperse just as quickly. Then, just after eight, thousands started to form up in bigger packs.
Then, just as the sun went down about 8:10, the bombing runs began. They circled just east of the market and started wave after wave after wave after wave trying to find a branch for the night amongst the trees lining the parking lot. They streaked into the trees and once settled, the next wave would come screaming down.
The 15 second video is an example of what went on for about five minutes. One person walking by the sidewalk thought it was Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds! The best place to watch them as they start their run is on the sidewalk of 17th St. next to Tec Head and Weiman's Bakery.
Then they hung around in the trees chatting it up before calling it a night. Don't fear standing on the sidewalk as they scream toward the trees, but stay away once the thousands of birds are setting up for the evening. There are just too many of them and the odds are not in your favor if you are underneath.
I would highly recommend a visit this weekend or soon before they pack ship and head to Brazil. Its a rare and very cool sight to behold.
UPDATE: Triathalon Mom went down there Thursday to check it out, too.
~
My brother in law, sister and girlfriend went down to the Bottom to check it out. At first, I thought we were skeptical because we got there at 7:30 and all we saw was blue sky. There was the occasional bird, but Steve had said that was when they start to gather.
We watched from the parking lot next to the old Loving's Produce (and met a River City Rapids reader who had shown up because of Wednesday's post) and saw a few packs of birds here and there, but as it got to be 7:45 and only various packs of birds, I thought we might be suckered into an Amway presentation (kidding).
Then, as it inched towards eight o'clock, we saw more and more packs appearing together from above Richmond Cold Storage, over Church Hill, and towards the river. Hundreds appeared in packs, then would disperse just as quickly. Then, just after eight, thousands started to form up in bigger packs.
Then, just as the sun went down about 8:10, the bombing runs began. They circled just east of the market and started wave after wave after wave after wave trying to find a branch for the night amongst the trees lining the parking lot. They streaked into the trees and once settled, the next wave would come screaming down.
The 15 second video is an example of what went on for about five minutes. One person walking by the sidewalk thought it was Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds! The best place to watch them as they start their run is on the sidewalk of 17th St. next to Tec Head and Weiman's Bakery.
Then they hung around in the trees chatting it up before calling it a night. Don't fear standing on the sidewalk as they scream toward the trees, but stay away once the thousands of birds are setting up for the evening. There are just too many of them and the odds are not in your favor if you are underneath.
I would highly recommend a visit this weekend or soon before they pack ship and head to Brazil. Its a rare and very cool sight to behold.
UPDATE: Triathalon Mom went down there Thursday to check it out, too.
~
posted by Jon Baliles | 9:44 AM
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