The Annual Roosting of the Purple Martins
Years ago I wrote an article for the North Beach Sun newspaper on the annual roosting of purple martins under the Umstead Bridge. This morning I was reminded of those amazing birds and their temporary home on the Outer Banks by an article in the North Carolina section of The Virginian-Pilot. It's July, which means it is time once again for the martins to roost in extraordinary numbers (100,000 birds!) under the Umstead Bridge that connects Manns Harbor to Roanoke Island. They'll stay only until the end of August or early September, when the martins will leave for South America 2,600 miles away.
To see the purple martins in all of their glory, you'll want to visit the roost site at either sunrise, when they leave the bridge, or sunset, when they return. The Coastal Carolina Purple Martin Society is hosting FREE martin-watching sessions at the fishing pier at the western end of the bridge. The sessions are every Thursday in July at 7:30PM and August 4 and August 11 at 7:15PM. There are also sunset cruises hosted by the Purple Martin Society that cost $30 and are held twice a week through August 6. Call 252-473-5577 for more information on the cruises.
Please be careful when crossing the Umstead Bridge during roosting season, especially at sunrise and sunset. For more information, visit purplemartinroost.com.
To see the purple martins in all of their glory, you'll want to visit the roost site at either sunrise, when they leave the bridge, or sunset, when they return. The Coastal Carolina Purple Martin Society is hosting FREE martin-watching sessions at the fishing pier at the western end of the bridge. The sessions are every Thursday in July at 7:30PM and August 4 and August 11 at 7:15PM. There are also sunset cruises hosted by the Purple Martin Society that cost $30 and are held twice a week through August 6. Call 252-473-5577 for more information on the cruises.
Please be careful when crossing the Umstead Bridge during roosting season, especially at sunrise and sunset. For more information, visit purplemartinroost.com.
Posted by Cathy at 7/17/2011 
Categories: wildlife, Kid-Friendly, nature, Activities, Things to do, FREE!, inexpensive
Tags: Free things to do on the Outer Banks Outer Banks Nature
Categories: wildlife, Kid-Friendly, nature, Activities, Things to do, FREE!, inexpensive
Tags: Free things to do on the Outer Banks Outer Banks Nature
Comments