In the middle of Omaha, a bird-watching spectacular takes flight

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Birder

http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/in-the-middle-of-omaha-a-bird-watching-spectacular-takes/article_f3b57754-bcae-561b-b97a-9e5839829c94.html



KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD
Purple Martins swarm over the trees near 44th and Farnam on their annual migration through the Midwest on Aug. 31, 2009.


POSTED: MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015 12:30 AM | UPDATED: 12:36 AM, MON AUG 17, 2015.
By Nancy Gaarder / World-Herald staff writer

Babs and Loren Padelford have traveled to South and Central America as well as England to go bird-watching.

So it might be surprising to know that an inconspicuous corner in central Omaha is on the Bellevue couple’s top 10 list.

Each evening in late summer, a row of ash trees along 44th Street at the Nebraska Medical Center draws tens of thousands of purple martins and a lesser number of grackles and starlings. For the birds, it’s apparently a perfect spot to bed down for the night.

Roosts such as these are scattered across the country, each drawing birds from miles around. What makes them a spectacle is how the birds swirl and swarm en masse before settling down. On Saturday evening, the Padelfords were among several dozen spectators, including the Omaha Youth Birding Group.

FULL story at link.



JAMES R. BURNETT/THE WORLD-HERALD

A young purple martin at the roost. Purple martins, grackles and starlings flock to roosts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

[Skittles]

1. how do they not run in to each other?

I am curious how they do that

[cwydro]

2. Lol, have you ever seen a NYC sidewalk?

I've wondered the same!

[KatyMan]

3. There's a 'roost' like that near us

Not surprisingly near a supermarket that has trees lining the street. There are truly thousands of blackbirds, grackles, English starlings and doves that hang out there around dusk. The parking lot, trees and rooftops are covered in birds. It's a pretty awesome site!

I love wild birds, so thanks for the link Omaha Steve!

[CTyankee]

4. this phenomenon happens in the piazza of the Santa Maria Novella church in Florence Italy.

I stopped dead in my tracks watching the aerial ballet while walking back to my hotel. I learned later that that piazza is the warmest spot in Florence and this bird ballet happens twice a day. It was spectacular.