Date: 7/11/25 7:17 pm From: Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird...> Subject: Re: [labird] Purple Martin roosts on the causeway
Well, no joy. Only a couple hundred birds flying over and I could not see
the roost from Sunset Point at all.
On Thu, Jul 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM Peter H Yaukey <PYaukey...> wrote:
>
> Jane-
>
> I haven't been out, but have been monitoring it by radar (at rap.ucar.edu-
> not as nice an image as Zach Fradella's, which I imagine is using Fox's own
> radar). Yesterday morning's departure is pasted below.
>
> The echo is in the same position as previous years, offshore the north
> end, where it is normally beyond sight from land. So I think at Sunset Pt
> you will only see birds milling before they go out- perhaps lots, but
> nowhere near the total numbers that roost. Did Zach say anything implying
> that the three arrows indicated visible movement streams going to the
> roost? Roost entry in the evening has never been visible on the NOAA
> radar, only morning departures. This has the potential to be an exciting
> new information source.
>
> My interested was picqued a few weeks ago when the echo started out being
> on the southern half of the bridge, perhaps even at the old roost site a
> the south end- but it shifted back north to its current location before
> anyone could visit to check.
>
> The long echo strung out along the bridge is consistent with one birder's
> report 1-2 weeks ago that they saw martins along the full length of the
> bridge when they started crossing N to S about 20 min before sunset. So
> that was presumably before they form the large swirling cloud to enter the
> roost.
>
> I have never figured out the optimal time to depart the north shore to see
> the evening entry cloud fully formed. If you figure it out, please post!
> When the southern roost was active and visible at leisure from shore, the
> cloud would always be in failing twilight, well after sunset.
>
> Ten years ago (or so), I kayaked out at night (pretty dumb- boats zipping
> by me in the dark- do not try this at home!) and estimated 250,000 martins,
> the roost starting about 2-3 miles from the north shore.
>
> Peter Yaukey
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of Jane Patterson
> via groups.io <seejanebird...>
> *Sent:* Thursday, July 10, 2025 1:47 PM
> *To:* LABIRD list <labird...>
> *Subject:* [labird] Purple Martin roosts on the causeway
>
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>
> Hello LaBirders!
>
> Has anyone ventured out to see what the purple Martin roosts look like on
> the Causeway this year, either north shore or south shore?
>
> I know they’ve been several miles from shore the last few years and
> wondered if that still holding true.
>
> This image was shared by Zack Fradella, meteorologist with Fox 8 in NO last
> week.
>
> I plan to go to sunset park in Mandeville tonight to see what can see.
>
> —Jane Patterson
>
>
>
>
>
>
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