One counter estimated 25,300 birds going into 12 of the 20 Bradford Pears at
the roost. Peregrines were active with at least one PUMA taken in 2
observed attempts. The first wave of birds tends to be in the thousands and
is not to be missed. Arriving by 7:45 allows time to see the beautiful
flight activity as the numbers increase, plus the raptor activity is always
fascinating. Here is the link for maps and GPS:
http://www.richmondgov.com/FarmersMarket/ . You will know you are in the
right place when you see a up to a couple of hundred people looking at the
thousands of birds overhead. Parking on the street is free and in the lots
it's $5. Do not be dismayed if the sky seems empty at first. Every time I
arrive very early I think they have moved south. They gather very quickly
before they begin going in at 8:10 or 8:11. Tonight they finished by 8:22.
I don't hear the decibel count every night, but I believe it is usually in
the mid to high 70s right now.
A tidbit I picked up from the PMCA page on Facebook: The Tulsa Jail (in OK)
has Bradford Pears in a courtyard that their PUMA roost likes to use. The
jail is nice to birders, and the birds moved there from a friendly hotel and
a very hostile convention center. I guess the pear trees have thick cover
for the birds with all those leaves? They certainly like them! I think
this is a public link, but if not you can LIKE the PMCA page and see it.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=oa.10150284721799096
<http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=oa.10150284721799096&type=1>
&type=1
Have a great day!
Jan
Richmond
