Posted by Larry Manfredi on June 15, 2002 at 10:27:44:
Jill Rosenfield's Purple Martin roost from last year is producing
again. This is a HUGE ROOST with very large numbers of Martins, it
would be hard to estimate the numbers but Jill's figures from last year
seem about right, at least 2000 birds!! This really is an incredible
sight and well worth seeing if you are in the area. The sky was dark
with storm clouds, the birds swirling in every direction alighting on
trees and then taking off again. This was a scene out of Alfred
Hitchcock's movie "The Birds", they were everywhere!! The worst thing
is that most people at the mall hardly looked up to see them, how sad.
Be sure to go out of your way to see this spectacle, it is really well
worth seeing. Another sighting this morning was a Black-whiskered Vireo
singing from my front yard in Homestead. This is really weird because
there is not much habitat in my yard. I do have some native trees
planted though which must have attracted it. It is most likely a post
breeding dispersal bird, probably a young one. The song was not yet up
to par.
Directions to the Purple Martin roost:
>From the Turnpike take Kendall drive east about 2 or 3 miles, look for
the Dadeland Mall on your left. Look for the Burdines department store,
it is located about mid way in the mall, east of the Cheescake Factory.
Park here, you can't miss the birds, be here near dusk.
>From the 826 expressway exit at Kendall Drive east, the mall is not far
on your left, follow the rest of the directions above.
Larry Manfredi
Homestead, Fl.
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com