What Do Purple Birds & The Farmers' Market Have In Common?
The Purple Martins have landed at the Farmers' Market and you need to be sure to head down to Shockoe Bottom to see an incredible feat of nature as the cresendo is building.
I was turned on to these birds last year and witnessed this one of a kind event with pure amazement. I recounted the incredible scene and shot some amazing video of 10,000 birds descending with incredible speed in wave after wave as they all managed to squeeze into the dozen or so trees along 17th St. next to the Farmers' Market.
Today, Rex Springston at the T-D has a great article and an accompanying video that tells the tale. People are already starting to show up to watch at dusk as the flock, now at about 4,000, goes nuts at sunset and dive bombs into the trees.
The City has planned a "Gone to the Birds Festival" at the Farmers' Market Sat., July 26 when the roost should be at its peak, with free (purple) rasberry sherbet and the restaurants around the Market will be offering bird-themed specials like Purple Martinis.
If you can't make it on the 26th, be sure to get down there one evening before early August when the flock heads on to Brazil. It's a great way to spend an hour or two and enjoy the Bottom and see a unique urban event that is found in few - if any - other places.
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PS - Don't forget that Cafe Gutenburg has 1/2 price wine by the glass on Wednesdays.
~~
PSS - I forgot to mention this cool bit from the article: "A red-tailed hawk picked off two martins and ate one atop a utility pole in front of the martin-watchers. "That's right in our face," said Wilson, smiling."
~~~
I was turned on to these birds last year and witnessed this one of a kind event with pure amazement. I recounted the incredible scene and shot some amazing video of 10,000 birds descending with incredible speed in wave after wave as they all managed to squeeze into the dozen or so trees along 17th St. next to the Farmers' Market.
Today, Rex Springston at the T-D has a great article and an accompanying video that tells the tale. People are already starting to show up to watch at dusk as the flock, now at about 4,000, goes nuts at sunset and dive bombs into the trees.
The City has planned a "Gone to the Birds Festival" at the Farmers' Market Sat., July 26 when the roost should be at its peak, with free (purple) rasberry sherbet and the restaurants around the Market will be offering bird-themed specials like Purple Martinis.
If you can't make it on the 26th, be sure to get down there one evening before early August when the flock heads on to Brazil. It's a great way to spend an hour or two and enjoy the Bottom and see a unique urban event that is found in few - if any - other places.
~
PS - Don't forget that Cafe Gutenburg has 1/2 price wine by the glass on Wednesdays.
~~
PSS - I forgot to mention this cool bit from the article: "A red-tailed hawk picked off two martins and ate one atop a utility pole in front of the martin-watchers. "That's right in our face," said Wilson, smiling."
~~~
posted by Jon Baliles | 9:12 AM
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