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Re: Large Roost - Central South Carolina (fwd)



Josh,

Noel's NEXRAD images are indeed from the huge Purple Martin roost at Lunch
Island in Lake Murray a few miles northwest of Columbia, SC. This roost has
been well studied, mostly by radar. Local tour operators, including Dreher
Island State Park, run evening boat tours to watch perhaps 800,000 martins
return to the roost. In the morning the birds disperse to feed, but not many
folks are out on the lake before dawn to experience this sight. The evening
gathering is quite an experience.

Robin Carter
Columbia, SC
rcarter@sc.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joshua Stuart Rose" <jsr6@duke.edu>
To: <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Cc: "Noel Wamer" <nwamer@attbi.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2002 1:21 PM
Subject: Large Roost - Central South Carolina (fwd)


> Hi Carolinabirders,
>
> I'm forwarding a message from Noel Wamer, a birder from FL who noticed a
> radar image of a MOUNSTROUS bird roost near Columbia SC! Amazing! Given
> the location, my guess would be that this is the famed Purple Martin roost
> from Lake Murray; anyone have any better ideas? Or better yet, been to
> this location and seen the roost?
>
> None of the humans spoke a word during the Durham Friends (Quaker) meeting
> today, so instead all the speaking came from a House Wren and a Wood
> Thrush. Then, while biking home up Campus Drive, flushed what I think was
> an immature Red-shouldered Hawk from a roadside lawn in the woods.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Josh
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 08:10:19 -0400
> From: Noel Wamer <nwamer@attbi.com>
> Subject: Large Roost - Central South Carolina
>
> Carolinabirders,
>
> The images from the Charleston radar on the morning of 06/30/02 clearly
> showed the departure pattern from large bird roost located northwest of
> Columbia.  I have produced an animated image file showing this pattern.
It
> can be viewed at:
> http://www.badbirdz.com/clx063002.htm
>
> Any on-ground observations of the size and species composition of this
> roost will be appreciated.  There is a mail link on the web site.
>
> Noel Wamer
> Jacksonville, FL
>