Here are my two cents. My initial reaction was negative but after thinking about it, I calmed down.
Although destroying trees is a tragedy, it might be best for the martins. I always fear that someone will kill martins at a roost if they choose a location that causes a problem. Some nut with fireworks or a shotgun could do a lot of damage to a large roost. The martins at this roost will not be harmed. They will find a new place that hopefully doesn't impact people that don't understand these birds. I think martins move the location of a roost on their own every few years anyway.
I have had four different colony locations. That means that 3 times I removed my housing and the returning birds had to find a new home. It did not harm the birds and I'm sure they found a new place to nest. This is similar to moving the roost (on a much smaller scale). Bottom line, forcing the roost to move will not hurt any of our martins.
Intentionally Destroying the Nashville Roost
G Saner wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:47 pmHere are my two cents. My initial reaction was negative but after thinking about it, I calmed down.
Although destroying trees is a tragedy, it might be best for the martins. I always fear that someone will kill martins at a roost if they choose a location that causes a problem. Some nut with fireworks or a shotgun could do a lot of damage to a large roost. The martins at this roost will not be harmed. They will find a new place that hopefully doesn't impact people that don't understand these birds. I think martins move the location of a roost on their own every few years anyway.
I have had four different colony locations. That means that 3 times I removed my housing and the returning birds had to find a new home. It did not harm the birds and I'm sure they found a new place to nest. This is similar to moving the roost (on a much smaller scale). Bottom line, forcing the roost to move will not hurt any of our martins.
I agree 100%
I think those Martins will adjust just fine.
2019- 6 Pair, 30 Fledged
2020- 8 Pair, 32 Fledged
2021- 10 Pair, 39 Fledged
HOSP count 130, Starlings 2
2022- 31 Pair, 146 Fledged
HOSP count to date 17, Starlings 1
2023- 28 Pair, 124 Fledged
HOSP count 47, Starlings 1
2024- 40 Pair, 192 Fledged
HOSP count 37
2025-42 Pair, 202 Fledged
HOSP count 46
2020- 8 Pair, 32 Fledged
2021- 10 Pair, 39 Fledged
HOSP count 130, Starlings 2
2022- 31 Pair, 146 Fledged
HOSP count to date 17, Starlings 1
2023- 28 Pair, 124 Fledged
HOSP count 47, Starlings 1
2024- 40 Pair, 192 Fledged
HOSP count 37
2025-42 Pair, 202 Fledged
HOSP count 46
Wow. That's really goofy.
I can understand, even sympathize with, the symphony's plight. Their business is music, and in a way, the martins are just destructive pests. They're not naturalists. They're not bird lovers. They're not tourism promoters. They're musicians. And from their perspective, tons of martin poop is not good for business. I'm sure destroying the roost, for them, is a matter of solving a "problem" and not having a better solution.
Some municipalities, though, are able to take advantage of the presence of large migratory roosts as tourist attractions. Here in the outer banks every late summer a huge roost forms at the Manns Harbor bridge. It's pretty spectacular, and it draws thousands of tourists. And the local community is learning how to capitalize on it. (And one of the lucky results is a large increase in summer housing for PMs in the area.) So really, it's a bit of a shame that Nashville doesn't seem to be thinking about making this event into a tourist attraction.
I can understand, even sympathize with, the symphony's plight. Their business is music, and in a way, the martins are just destructive pests. They're not naturalists. They're not bird lovers. They're not tourism promoters. They're musicians. And from their perspective, tons of martin poop is not good for business. I'm sure destroying the roost, for them, is a matter of solving a "problem" and not having a better solution.
Some municipalities, though, are able to take advantage of the presence of large migratory roosts as tourist attractions. Here in the outer banks every late summer a huge roost forms at the Manns Harbor bridge. It's pretty spectacular, and it draws thousands of tourists. And the local community is learning how to capitalize on it. (And one of the lucky results is a large increase in summer housing for PMs in the area.) So really, it's a bit of a shame that Nashville doesn't seem to be thinking about making this event into a tourist attraction.
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Jones4381
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
2025 54 Pair -178
Assuming this roost moves to a new location, how far and how often do roost move based on historical data collected?
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
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G Saner
- Posts: 257
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:37 pm
- Location: TX/Kerrville
- Martin Colony History: Fort Worth, TX (1967-1976), The Colony, TX (1981-1985), Carrollton, TX (1986-2013), Kerrville, TX (2015-present).
Two SuperGourd poles (12 gourds on each) at River Point Assisted Living Center.
I don't know the exact figures you ask about. When I lived in North Texas, there was a roost in Lewisville that moved around but only a mile or less. Not sure how many years they stayed at each place. In Austin, Texas, there is a famous roost that has moved many miles and a few times that I know of. My martins might be among the martins in the Austin roost. It is promoted as a tourist attraction by the Audubon group. I wonder which martin decides when and where to move it.
If you go to see a roost, try and park your car a few blocks away and wear a hat. With numbers that large, I can see why the droppings are considered a nuisance.
If you go to see a roost, try and park your car a few blocks away and wear a hat. With numbers that large, I can see why the droppings are considered a nuisance.
G Saner