Dale Hollow Roost!

[Thurman Seber~TN]

I made a visit to the Dale Hollow Roost tonight. It has really started to get right now. There were many thousands of birds present tonight, with thousands more showing up daily, according to the attendant.
The area is so beautiful it is breathtaking, even without the martins. The Dale Hollow roost is located at Lily Dale resort and camping area. It is north of Livingston, Tennessee, and back at the end of a long, winding, country drive.
There is one thing very different from the Decatur roost, however. The Lily Dale roost is more spread out. It is spread over perhaps a twenty acre area, but all plainly visible from a central location. There is a parking area in the campground and it is a short walk out to the area where the martins are, perhaps two hundred yards or so.
It would be a great place to camp and watch martins by the tens of thousands. The camp area looks to be fully equipped for rv hookups and is fairly large.
Eating could be more of a problem for visitors. It would probably be a good idea to eat in the town of Livingston before the drive over to the lake. Willow Grove resort is nearby and they may have an eating place there, in fact I think they do. These next two weeks should be fantastic.
It is an hour and a half from my house, but we will work with any who wish to see it. Just let us know and we will try to work something out.

[Thurman Seber~TN]

Here is a link that should show the Dale Hollow Lake area. Lily Dale is at the end of Highyway 294 at the place marked by the big red 5. http://www.dalehollow-lake.net/html/map_.htm
Dale hollow lake lies along the Tennessee/ Kentucky border in North Central Tennessee. Lily Dale must be approached from the south side because the lake surrounds it in all other directions.
Since part of Dale Hollow lies in Kentucky, people on the North side of the lake might approach the roost by boat and save many miles of driving.
Here is another view of Lily Dale with info about camping and camp rules. The roost is centered on the island and peninsula to the right.
http://www.reserveamerica.com/jsp/commo ... index.html

[Laverne]

Hi Thurman.

Looks and sounds like such a lovely location for a Premigratory Roost. A far cry from the concrete, oil smears, litter, and dirt found at a shopping mall parking lot.

I wish I could get over there to see it. One day, I hope to do a little traveling in our great country. I think that's the first thing I will do - visit all the Purple Martin Premigratory Roosts I can find!

[Thurman Seber~TN]

Laverne:
I hope you can see it. It sure is a sight to behold.

[Thurman Seber~TN]

Words fail me in trying to describe the Dale Hollow roost this year. It is absolutely unbelievable unless you see it for yourself.
Laura and I were joined tonight by Marty and Betty Gaither, Gene and Eveylon Russell, Chris Young and Taylor Leach. We also were very pleasantly surprised to find Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hawkins there waiting for us. They are Forum folks from Memphis but don't post very much. They had been reading about the roost and came to the campground.
To make the evening even better, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, who work with the Corps Of Engineers there in the area, joined us in the watch. They really seemed to get into the martins and I believe we have new martin folks. Jimmy said he had been around martins all his life.
I will have pictures later, it is getting late tonight. Out tentative plans are to go back either Monday evening or Tuesday evening of the coming week. You have got to see this place, it is unreal.