Thursday, August 04, 2011: It was a clear cool night with a slight breeze. Tonight, Jan Frye and Nick Flanders counted 26,300 Purple Martins flying into the Pear trees on 17th Street in Shockoe Bottom. For the record, Jan Frye was the counter of Sunday night’s number (27, 500 birds).
Victoria Cooper, who has been measuring the sound of the Purple Martins since last year, measured an 80 (A and C) at 8:41 pm tonight. Last year’s high was 65 (A and C). The numbers rise exponentially (for those of us who are not mathematicians or electrical engineers). We are attempting to count birds by using sound.
One gentleman got a photograph of the Peregrine Falcon capturing a Purple Martin in mid-air!
Thanks go to the Steering Committee for picking the correct date! Adele Maclean, Lou Verner, Wyn Price, Jan Frye, Adolph White, and Karin Cundiff picked Aug. 6th in late January of this year.
Thanks go to the City of Richmond, Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association, Purple Martin Conservation Association, National Audubon Society, Virginia Society of Ornithology, and DeLuca Gelato for sponsoring this event. (Note if you want a small cup of free gelato, get a blue ticket in the Farmers’ Market! After 1000 cups, a nominal price will be charged.)
Come early and eat supper in Shockoe Bottom. Check out the restaurants using Google.
-Sue Ridd
Volunteer Coordinator
Gone to the Birds 2011 Festival
