Wednesday, August 5th – NTOS Evening Field Trip: Purple Martin Watch Party (Downtown Nashville) Location and time TBA. Please check our FB page or InstaGram page as time gets closer for those details.
Join NTOS as we team up with the Warner Park Bird Research Program for an evening of one of Middle Tennessee’s most impressive wildlife spectacles: a Purple Martin roost watch in downtown Nashville!
Each summer, thousands of Purple Martins gather at communal roost sites before beginning their migration south. Watching large flocks of these aerial insect-eaters swirl into a roost at dusk is an unforgettable experience and provides a unique opportunity to learn about their fascinating life history and migration ecology.
Because Purple Martin roost locations can vary from year to year, the exact meeting location and start time will be announced once this season’s roost has been identified and confirmed. Participants should plan for an evening event in downtown Nashville. This field trip will also take place on Wednesday evening rather than the traditional Saturday in order to avoid downtown Nashville crowds.
All are welcome to attend, whether you are an experienced birder or simply curious about one of nature’s most spectacular gatherings.
Bring binoculars, a lawn chair if desired, water, and weather-appropriate clothing. Please be mindful that, with this number of birds, a “purple rain” of bird droppings is a high risk so dress accordingly :)
Additional details, including meeting location and event timing, will be shared closer to the event date.
We hope you’ll join us for this exciting summer gathering and witness one of Tennessee’s most remarkable birding events!