VENTflash #126 August 19, 2011
Posted by Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 64 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Ari...Dear Friends,
I have recently returned from a short vacation to Costa Rica, one of the premier birding and natural history destinations in the American Tropics. I was delighted to see a range of marvelous tropical birds including such favorites as Crested Guan, Blue-crowned and Tody motmots, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, and Buff-rumped Warbler, among many others. Like a lot of birders and naturalists, I have a great fondness for the Tropics, and I always return from them invigorated and filled with lasting memories.
The great ornithologist Frank Chapman expressed best how many of us feel about the Tropics when he wrote the following lines in his book, My Tropical Air Castle:
"For my own northern woods and fields I have an affection born of long and close association; but they lack the romance, the mystery, the enchantment, the inexhaustible possibilities of tropical forests.
"One forms a lasting and intimate friendship with nature in the north, but falls hopelessly in love with her in the south. But even while she lures she repels and perhaps herein lies her endless fascination. One is never quite sure of her. Her most winsome aspect may be deceptive; or it may be a dream of rare delight."
Charles Darwin was also very fond of the Tropics. In his journal during his voyage on the Beagle (1831–1836), he wrote:
"The delight one experiences in such times bewilders the mind, – if the eye attempts to follow the flight of a gaudy butterfly, it is arrested by some strange tree or fruit, if watching an insect one forgets it in the stranger flower it is crawling over. The mind is a chaos of delight."
These are sentiments that I share with both of those great naturalists. I was a teenager when I first visited the Tropics, and I have traveled to tropical regions almost every year since. As Americans, we are very fortunate to have tropical areas in such close proximity that they can be easily reached via a short flight from the United States. For example, on this recent trip, I departed Austin early one morning, and by midday was enjoying lunch in a lovely lodge!
My first trip to Costa Rica was in l973. At that time, the ecotourism industry had yet to develop. There were no lodges and only a few protected parks. Over the past 40 years, hundreds of lodges have been built and many natural areas have been set aside. VENT has operated tours in Costa Rica since 1978; in 2012 we will offer three Costa Rica tours:
Short Costa Rica: Toucans to Quetzals, February 25-March 4, 2012 with David Wolf and Mimi Wolf; $3,385 in double occupancy from San Jose.
Best of Costa Rica, March 20-April 1, 2012 with David Wolf and Mimi Wolf; $4,965 in double occupancy from San Jose.
Summer Costa Rica: A Relaxed and Easy Tour, July 7-20, 2012 with Jeri Langham and David Ascanio; fee to be announced in double occupancy from San Jose.
I highly recommend any of these fine trips.
In this issue:
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS CRUISE: LAST CLASSIC ITINERARY
THE ALLURE OF THE TROPICS: FALL PANAMA TOURS AT A DISCOUNT
2011: 25 YEARS OF VENT SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAY TOURS
NEWS FROM THE VENT FAMILY
SPITSBERGEN CRUISE: LAND OF THE ICE BEARS
TOUR LEADER UPDATE: GARY LANGHAM
AUTUMN TOURS WITH A FEW REMAINING SPACES
CLOSING THOUGHTS
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS CRUISE: LAST CLASSIC ITINERARY
This past year we received news that the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador has instituted some important changes to the rules of commercial visitation to the Galapagos Islands. The purpose of these changes, we are told, is to alleviate the pressures on ecologically sensitive sites that have resulted from ever increasing tourism to the islands. What this means for tour operators, such as the cruise companies that service the islands, is that no vessel is allowed to visit any particular site within the islands more than once in a given period of time. In other words, whereas our traditional Galapagos itineraries included about seven nights in the islands, future itineraries that offer a comparable experience are now spread over ten nights. The idea is that longer itineraries will prevent any one vessel from returning to a previously visited site before a sufficient amount of time has elapsed. The new rules become effective on February 1, 2012.
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Isabela II — Photo: Ramiro Salazar |
VENT's next Galapagos Islands Cruise will operate November 28-December 7, 2011, aboard the Isabela II. This trip represents the last opportunity for anyone who wishes to visit the Galapagos using a "classic" itinerary, meaning an itinerary that includes almost all the major islands in about a week aboard ship. This is not to suggest that future itineraries will not present high quality travel experiences, but they will be unavoidably longer and more costly.
A voyage in the Galapagos Islands is unlike any other. If you desire a comprehensive look at this extraordinary destination in an efficient amount of time, I strongly urge you to consider this November trip. Following an itinerary that promises visits to the most important islands—Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Genovesa, Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Santiago—we will be in position to see the wildlife for which these islands are so famous, including Galapagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, Waved Albatrosses, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Darwin's finches, Galapagos fur seals, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and much more.
The Isabela II is among the highest quality vessels available for a Galapagos Islands cruise. Spacious outside cabins feature private bathrooms and air-conditioning; the yacht's three decks offer plenty of public space including a bar, library, lounge, dining room, and sun deck.
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Waved Albatross Pair — Photo: Greg Lasley |
I have made many trips to the Galapagos Islands and consider it among my favorite places.
Galapagos Islands Cruise, November 28-December 7, 2011 with Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom; cabins available starting at $5,750 in double occupancy from Quito (ends in Guayaquil).
Those who would like to enhance their experiences in Ecuador should consider joining our short pre-trip to the Tandayapa Valley on Ecuador's northwestern Andean slopes. This is Ecuador's premier birding region, where we'll experience spectacular hummingbird and antpitta shows, in addition to a range of remarkable cloud forest species including Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Prong-billed Barbet, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and a host of tanagers and other forest birds.
Tandayapa Pre-trip, November 26-28, 2011 with Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom; $795 in double occupancy from Quito.
THE ALLURE OF THE TROPICS: FALL PANAMA TOURS AT A DISCOUNT
I have been hooked on tropical birding ever since my first trip to Mexico in l954. One of the many things I love about the Tropics is the wondrous diversity they contain. Wherever you are, there is always something interesting and beautiful to look at, and often more than one thing at a time. On many occasions I have been focused on studying a wonderful bird when someone nearby spots another equally marvelous bird, or a troop of monkeys suddenly appears.
On previous occasions, I have written about my affection for Panama. That country's outstanding eco-tourism infrastructure and high quality birding makes it among my favorite tropical destinations. This October we will operate two wonderful tours in Panama's Canal Zone, Fall at Panama's Canopy Tower and Panama: Introduction to Tropical Birding, both of which provide a superb means for experiencing the joys of the Tropics. The original fees for these tours have been reduced by $500 per person, which makes this offer extremely attractive. Please note, however, that we must release all space we holding for both tours by August 31 and that after that date we can no longer guarantee space on either.
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Migrating hawks & vultures over the Canopy Tower — Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Fall at Panama's Canopy Tower, October 15-22, 2011 with Barry Zimmer and a local leader; original fee was $2,795 in double occupancy from Panama City; register before August 31 and pay $2,295.
I have co-led this tour with Barry several times. It is a marvelous trip that promises a wealth of tropical birds AND the chance to experience one of the great spectacles of nature: the mass migration of hawks and vultures over the Panama Canal. Migration is one of the phenomenons that make birds and birding so exciting, especially raptor migration, since so many other types of birds migrate at night. Hawks and vultures migrate during the day using powerful updrafts of warm air. Standing atop the Canopy Tower and looking up into a kettle of a thousand or more hawks and vultures is an unforgettable experience.
There is much more to this trip than raptor migration, however. Colorful trogons and motmots, parrots, a variety of hummingbirds, mixed species flocks, and the chance to see some fascinating mammals including sloths and monkeys are all aspects of this tour. If you have been with Barry Zimmer, you know what a terrific leader he is. If you have not yet traveled with him, you are in for a real treat. Please note that this is a comfortably paced tour with all nights spent at the Canopy Tower, a unique lodge overlooking the Panama Canal.
An optional extension to El Valle's Canopy Lodge, October 22-27, 2011 ($1,595 in double occupancy) provides a perfect higher elevation complement to a stay at the Canopy Tower.
Panama: Introduction to Tropical Birding, October 26-November 1, 2011 with Steve Hilty and David Ascanio; original fee was $2,595 in double occupancy from Panama City; register before August 31 and pay $2,095.
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Golden-collared Manakin — Photo: Kevin Zimmer |
I am very pleased to offer this new trip since it provides a superb opportunity to learn about tropical birds from two outstanding tropical ornithologists: Steve Hilty and David Ascanio. Steve and David both have spent years birding the Tropics and they each possess a wealth of knowledge about the bird life and other aspects of the region's natural history. They are great teachers—enthusiastic, patient, and fun to be with. Steve and David have co-led many trips and work extremely well together.
All nights will be spent at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, a lovely facility on the shores of the Chagres River just above its confluence with the Panama Canal. On some days we will not leave the grounds of the hotel since the birding opportunities there are so terrific, while on other days we will venture to nearby birding areas.
This tour is a perfect choice for anyone who has never visited the Tropics, as well as for those who have birded the Tropics but who want to learn more about its birds. We will have ample opportunity to study birds, but the program also emphasizes learning field marks, understanding bird families and taxonomic relationships, and discussion of life cycles and breeding biology.
If you want to extend your time in Panama by birding other areas, we can suggest options and make arrangements for you.
2011: 25 YEARS OF VENT SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS
An aspect of my life and my company of which I am immensely proud is the creation and long-term success of the VENT youth birding camp program. Back in 1986, I came up with the idea for a youth camp program as a means for giving young people who possessed a passion for birds, nature, and the outdoors, the ability to share their common interest in the natural world with members of their peer group. As a young birder and budding naturalist growing up in the Houston area, I wasn't able to share my own love of nature with anyone my age, and through these camps I was determined to provide the birding community with what I never had.
Our first camp, Camp Chiricahua, was held in Southeast Arizona in the summer of ‘86. I was anxious in the months before the camp started because nothing like it had previously been tried, and I was unsure of how many participants we would actually draw. As it turned out, that first camp was attended by "only" nine kids, but the results were promising. In the years that followed, Camp Chiricahua became firmly established within the fabric of North American birding. As the program grew, we eventually operated camps in other locations including Washington, Texas, California, Mexico, and Belize.
Remarkably, the summer of 2011 represents the 25th anniversary of VENT youth birding and nature camps. By now, over 400 young people have attended one or more of our camps. Many former campers have gone on to Cornell University and other institutions to pursue careers in biology or conservation. Some of our "graduates" are now professional tour leaders including some who work for VENT.
When I observe how much these camps mean to these young people and how they affect their lives, there is no doubt in my mind that creating the camp program is the best thing I have ever done.
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Camp Tejano, 2012— Photo: Barry Lyon |
This summer we operated Camp Tejano in Texas, in addition to our flagship program, Camp Chiricahua. Between the two events, a total of 29 young people attended VENT youth camps this summer! Even though both camps filled, I am perhaps most proud of the fact that this summer we hosted our first participants from Central America: Camille Sloan from Panama and Andres Ugalde and Dylan Vindas from Costa Rica.
Both camps were very successful despite the effects of drought, heat, and the threat of fires that have menaced the Southwest all summer. Near the end of Camp Tejano, in West Texas, my old friend Kelly Bryan set up a hummingbird banding operation so the campers could watch his team catch and band these smallest of birds. After Kelly affixed a band to a hummingbird, he placed it in the palm of a camper's hand so he or she could take part in the bird's release. Camille was standing across the banding table from Kelly, which allowed me to tell him that Camille was the first camper we had ever had from Panama. He asked her if she was having a good time, and in reply she said, "This is the best day of my life."
The supervisors of Camp Chiricahua, Rob Day and David Jasper, were equally enthusiastic about the success of that camp. Despite a destructive forest fire in the Chiricahua Mountains that resulted in some venue changes, the campers saw almost all the birds they wanted to see, in addition to a host of butterflies, dragonflies, and reptiles. An added benefit to this year's camp was the opportunity for the kids to camp on Mount Lemon, which is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains just outside Tucson. Although not as well-known as other "sky island" mountain ranges of southern Arizona, the Catalinas support most of the birds of the Chiricahuas and make for a very rich alternative site to visit.
We will again operate two camps next summer:
Camp Cascades, July 29-August 8, 2012 with Victor Emanuel and Barry Lyon; fee to be announced in double occupancy from Seattle, Washington.
Camp Chiricahua, July 30-August 10, 2012 with Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis; fee to be announced in double occupancy from Tucson, Arizona.
If you know a young person between the ages of 14 and18 with an interest in birds or natural history, we would appreciate your letting them know about this opportunity.
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAY TOURS
For many, the Christmas and New Year period is a preferred time to be away from home. At this season, the notion of a "tranquilo" tropical getaway from cold winter weather, crowds, and frenetic holiday shopping is especially appealing. This winter, VENT will operate a fine slate of holiday tours to several tropical destinations including Oaxaca, Panama, and Belize. Each of these trips promises lovely accommodations, excellent birding, and warm weather.
Mexico: Oaxaca Christmas, December 20-29, 2011 with Héctor Gómez de Silva and Mónica Pérez-Villafaña; $3,745 in double occupancy from Oaxaca City.
This multifaceted tour combines superior birding and cultural attractions in diverse southwestern Mexico. Highlights include endemic birds and exploration of the attractive Oaxaca Valley, renowned for its splendid scenery, colorful festivities, colonial architecture, pre-Columbian ruins, vibrant indigenous culture, and world-class cuisine.
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El Valle's Canopy Lodge — Photo: Raul Arias de Para |
Panama: Christmas at El Valle's Canopy Lodge, December 22-27, 2011 with Tony Nunnery and a local leader; $1,775 in double occupancy from Panama City.
One of the most beautiful lodges in Central America, the Canopy Lodge is a delightful place to experience a bird-filled Christmas, with lots of feathered "presents" for all!
New Year at Panama's Canopy Tower, December 27, 2011-January 3, 2012 with Tony Nunnery and a local leader; $2,975 in double occupancy from Panama City.
Panama's premier ecotourism lodge showcases marvelous birding, unique accommodations, and the Panama Canal.
Belize: Chan Chich New Year, December 28, 2011-January 3, 2012 with Bob Sundstrom and Brian Gibbons; $3,740 in double occupancy from Belize City. Sold Out! Waitlist available.
Our New Year tour to Belize features a stay at Chan Chich Lodge, a location famous for its beautiful lodge and immediate proximity to a vast tract of wildlife-filled jungle.
Venezuela: New Year in the Llanos, December 27-January 4, 2012 with Jeri Langham; $3,495 in double occupancy from Caracas.
Enjoy great biodiversity where many threatened bird species are easy to see tropical dry forest and grasslands, with amazing concentrations of waterbirds. Good chance for Neotropical mammals. Visit two ends of the famed llanos of Venezuela, Hato Araguaney and Hato El Cedral, for a wonderful blend of waterbird spectacles and woodland and grassland birding. Highlights will include Jabirú, seven species of ibis, Scarlet Macaw, Horned Screamer, the increasingly rare Yellow-knobbed Curassow, bizarre Hoatzins, five kingfisher species, and the spectacular Agami Heron.
NEWS FROM THE VENT FAMILY
With a sense of gratitude and nostalgia, I am informing our travelers that our longtime vice president, Shirley Anderson, has departed our company after 21 years of service.
Shirley joined VENT in 1989. Already experienced in the travel industry, she brought a high level of expertise and professionalism to the VENT team, a factor that contributed significantly to the company's reaching new heights. Our program of natural history cruises, birds and history cruises, and train odysseys resulted from a combination of Shirley's cruise industry experience and my desire to diversify our offerings.
Many of you who have traveled with VENT to places like Antarctica, the Bering Sea, the Southwest Pacific, the Galapagos Islands, the Seychelles, and Scotland, to name a few places, had communicated with Shirley as the primary operator of those departures.
Upon leaving VENT, Shirley has since relocated to Los Angeles where she is pursuing other opportunities. I will take this opportunity to thank her for the loyalty and dedication she gave to Victor Emanuel Nature Tours during her career with us and to wish her well in her new endeavors.
I also wanted you to know that our program of natural history cruises and other large departures is now under the leadership of Greg Lopez. Greg has been with VENT for 20 years and is a highly skilled and personable tour operations manager. I know you will enjoy working with him on future VENT tours and cruises. Patrick Swaggerty will assist Greg in the operation of his tours and cruises.
SPITSBERGEN CRUISE: LAND OF THE ICE BEARS
I am excited to announce that VENT is returning to Norway next summer for a voyage to Spitsbergen: Land of the Ice Bears, July 6-16, 2012. For this special departure, we will partner with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic, two of the most respected names in expedition travel, on a birding and natural history cruise designed to produce sightings of the Arctic's most alluring wildlife and scenery including polar bears, walrus, Ivory Gulls, calving glaciers, and expansive sea ice. We will travel aboard the National Geographic Explorer, one of the finest expedition vessels available, on which VENT has reserved an allotment of 40 spaces.
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National Geographic Explorer— Photo: Sven-Olof Lindblad |
We are offering an early registration incentive for anyone who signs up for this departure before September 30, 2011. The incentive includes either a free extra hotel night in Oslo for anyone who wishes to come early or stay after the cruise, OR the option of receiving a $500 per person discount for those who take the Norway Pre-trip. This offer expires on September 30, at which time VENT must return its unsold cabins. If you have never heard of Spitsbergen, or wonder what makes this trip so special, I encourage you to view footage from a past "Land of the Ice Bears" expedition, footage that was created, produced, and uploaded to YouTube by Lindblad Expeditions.
Spitsbergen may be the best place in the world to see the magnificent polar bear, and the timing of our cruise is such that we anticipate multiple encounters with this remarkable animal. Our last expedition, in 2010, recorded an astonishing 25 great white bears! Other wildlife possibilities include walrus (hundreds seen at close range in 2010) and Ivory Gull (about 15 seen), as well as nesting Pink-footed and Barnacle geese, King Eider, Red Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper, Great Skua, all three jaeger species, Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot, Thick-billed Murre, and blizzards of Dovekies, in addition to the dainty Arctic fox and the distinctive "Svalbard" reindeer. Cruising at sea, we'll follow the boundary of the northern ice cap watching for a variety of marine mammals such as bearded and ringed seals, and blue, fin, and Beluga whales.
I will co-lead our 2012 departure with Barry Lyon, in addition to a superb Lindblad staff.
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Ivory Gull — Photo: K. David Bishop |
Spitsbergen: Land of the Ice Bears, July 6-16, 2012 with Victor Emanuel and Barry Lyon; cabins begin at $8,240 in double occupancy from Oslo.
Our Norway Pre-trip, June 30-July 7, 2012, offers a marvelous pre-cruise option for participants interested in experiencing more of the country's birdlife and scenic grandeur. We will spend almost a week exploring the renowned mountains and fjords of the southwestern mainland and coast seeking an exciting assortment of northern European birds, including Arctic Loon, Eurasian Dotterel, White-tailed Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, and Eurasian Bullfinch.
Norway Pre-trip, June 30-July 7, 2012; fee to be announced in double occupancy from Oslo.
TOUR LEADER NEWS: GARY LANGHAM
Many of you have traveled with Jeri Langham, one of our longtime leaders. Jeri has been a part-time tour leader for VENT since 1985 and has led trips to a variety of destinations that include California, Churchill, Southern Manitoba, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Borneo, and Australia. For a period of time in the 1990s, Jeri was often joined by his son Gary in co-leading VENT tours. The Langhams made a wonderful father-son team and became a favorite among a number of VENT travelers.
Although Gary has not led VENT tours recently, his father has kept us apprised of his son's continued professional ascent as a PhD biologist in the state of California. Four years ago, Gary's career reached a new high when he was named Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon California.
This summer, Jeri delivered the news to us that Gary had been named as the new Chief Scientist for National Audubon, a position that reflects that organization's view of Gary as a talented and innovative scientist.
I have known Gary a long time and am thrilled to see him receive such recognition for his achievements from such a prominent organization as National Audubon.
We wish to congratulate Gary and offer our best wishes to him and the entire Langham family.
AUTUMN TOURS WITH A FEW REMAINING SPACES
With the end of summer on the horizon, now is a great time to consider an autumn getaway. Many of our fall tours are already sold out, but a few spaces remain available on VENT tours in the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, and New Zealand. I hope you will consider joining us on one of these outstanding departures:
Grand Borneo, September 12-27, 2011 with David Bishop; $8,995 in double occupancy from Kota Kinabalu.2 spaces available.
Borneo is unquestionably one of Asia's top birding and wildlife destinations. Rainforests, orangutans, and a suite of fabulous birds make this tour one of our favorites!
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Northern Harrier — Photo: Michael O'Brien |
Cape May and Bombay Hook, September 25-October 1, 2011 with Louise Zemaitis and Michael O'Brien; $1,970 in double occupancy from Philadelphia. 2 spaces available.
Experience the thrill of autumn migration in one of the country's most prolific and historic birding areas.
Southeastern Brazil Part I, October 1-12, 2011 with Kevin Zimmer and Andrew Whittaker; $4,395 in double occupancy from Curitiba (ends in Porto Alegre). 3 spaces available.
Southeastern Brazil is our flagship tour to the most endemic-rich corner of the South American continent. Part I visits the cloud forests, high plateau grasslands, and canyons of the states of Parana, Santa Catarina & Rio Grande do Sul, where a great many hummingbirds, antbirds, and colorful tanagers are found, in addition to beautiful scenery including spectacular Itaimbezinho Canyon and Araucaria forests.
Southeastern Brazil Part II, October 10-26, 2011 with Kevin Zimmer and Andrew Whittaker; $5,945 in double occupancy from Sao Paulo (ends in Rio de Janeiro). 4 spaces available.
Part II visits the heart of the Atlantic Forest and the Serra do mar and includes such beautiful scenery as the Itatiaia highlands, the Serra dos Orgalos, and the white-sand beaches, deep blue bays, and forest-cloaked mountains that define much of Rio's coastline. This tour includes a special opportunity to see the spectacular golden lion tamarin.
Southeastern Brazil Part III, October 24-November 3, 2011 with Andrew Whittaker and Kevin Zimmer; $3,495 in double occupancy from Vitoria. 4 spaces available.
Part III of our flagship Brazil tour focuses on the many Atlantic Forest endemics of Espirito Santo, with a special search for the Cherry-throated Tanager, in addition to loads of endemic parrots, cotingas, hummingbirds, and colorful tanagers.
Polar Bears of Churchill, November 5-11, 2011 with Brennan Mulrooney; $5,595 in double occupancy from Winnipeg. 2 spaces available.
In terms of ease, Churchill is the world's greatest location for viewing polar bears. Our Polar Bears tour promises sightings of dozens of bears and an array of birds of the far north.
Panama: Fall at El Valle's Canopy Lodge, November 5-12, 2011 with Barry Zimmer and a local leader; $2,395 in double occupancy from Panama City. 4 spaces available.
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Kea — Photo: Barry Zimmer |
An enchanting lodge, delicious cuisine, and a tableau of beautiful tropical birds are highlights of this November trip to Panama.
Ecuador: The Northwestern Andean Slopes, November 13-21, 2011 with Paul Greenfield and Steve Hilty; $2,795 in double occupancy from Quito. 1 space available.
Our premier Ecuador tour, the northwestern slopes of the famed Andes harbor misty cloud forests and an extravaganza of hummingbirds, antpittas, tanagers, toucans, cocks-of-the-rock, and more! Our Tinalandia Pre-trip, November 9-14, 2011, explores lower elevations of the Andes where we'll seek a range of specialty birds not available on the main tour.
New Zealand Highlights, November 29-December 16, 2011 with Dion Hobcroft and a local leader; $6,895 in double occupancy from Auckland (ends in Invercargill). 4 spaces available.
One of the world's most beautiful countries offers special endemic landbirds including Kea, Kokako, Tui, Stitchbird, Kiwis, and more!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
More than almost anything in nature, I love witnessing spectacles, such as the tremendous flocks of Sandhill Cranes that gather on the Platte River in Nebraska every March, or the flocks of thousands of hawks that migrate over the Canopy Tower in Panama in late October.
During an extremely hot and dry summer in Texas this year, my spirits have been lifted by the presence of a marvelous Purple Martin spectacle. For the past month, every evening starting around 8:15, Purple Martins begin to congregate over a grove of oak trees near a shopping mall in north Austin. At first, there are only a few hundred in sight, but by 8:30 there are thousands, perhaps as many as 50,000! Some perch on telephone wires while many thousands circle overhead, some as high as 500 feet. By 8:45, the birds descend and the trees begin filling with martins. The noise they make is reminiscent of the rustling of the wind through the leaves of a huge forest. As the sky darkens and evening turns to dusk, the latecomers circling overhead start descending in dramatic freefall. By 9:00 it is dark and all the martins are crowded into these trees.
I have been to the martin roost many times over the last several weeks and have enjoyed sharing this experience with friends.
The martins, incidentally, form these enormous roost flocks across the southern United States between the end of the breeding season and the onset of migration. By the end of August, most Purple Martins have left the United States for their wintering grounds in Brazil.
I'll look forward to seeing them again next summer.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel