If you Life in Austin and Want to see an Amazing Spectacle tonight

[Hornius Emeritus 12482]

If you live in Austin and want to see an amazing spectacle, go to Capitol Plaza in the center of town at about 8:00 p.m. tonight.  For about an hour you'll see millions of purple martins coming in to roost overnight in the trees in the parking lot. I was there last night and, although I'm not the world's best videographer, managed to take these short videos. I've never seen anything like it.  There were some children in our group and they were pretty blown away, too.  I am told that they will only be there for a few more days before they begin migrating south.

Hopefully, y'all can view these as embedded videos but, if not, here are two links:


Purple Martins 1

Purple Martins 2


 

 

[atomheartbevo 89779]

I am so glad this was not a crossover with the fitlump thread.

[Pato del Muerto 52571]

Hmm. I life near Austin. 

[BearMace 2206]

You get shit on? It's good luck, right?

[midtown 3348]

Figured this was going to a shooting or brawl on sixth street. then again that's not even a spectacle anymore

[Brisketexan 105276]

Man, I opened the thread thinking "please don't let this be a link to my home address," because goddammit, if I wanna run around my backyard nekkid singing Bee Gee's songs, I should be left alone.

Right, guys?  Guys?

[Hornius Emeritus 12482]

59 minutes ago, BearMace said:

You get shit on? It's good luck, right?

I did not, but my car did.

[Macanudo 13009]

Anyone else have Grackles on Speedway PTSD after watching that?

[Deej 76897]

You could also go to Rundberg and Lamar and watch millions of grackles roost on the power lines.

[Cheeseweasel 26438]

Purple Martians. I thought they were green.

 

[Brisketexan 105276]

9 minutes ago, Cheeseweasel said:

Purple Martians. I thought they were green.

 

You and Captain Kirk, man.

 

[Blotto 23568]

[gsoda3 3281]

how long do they do that for?  what if i get there around 8:45?  also i think i've seen grackles in roughly the same number at the heb at wells branch/35.  but those aren't as cool b/c grackles.

[South Austin 52568]

2 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Hmm. I life near Austin. 

Lifing in Austin ain't what it used to be.

[Bob Lives! 920]

3 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

go to Capitol Plaza in the center of town 


 

 

You mean Capital Plaza, where the Target is on the northside near I-35 & 290E?  

[Updawg 2286]

You mean Capital Plaza, where the Target is on the northside near I-35 & 290E?  

Yep. I guess that’s considered downtown now

[Ten Bears 2483]

Or you can go to the McNeil and I35 bridge and see half a million bats swarm out from it.

[WBT 20653]

Purple martins are much cooler than gd grackles

[Grade of D as in David 13253]

[Hornius Emeritus 12482]

7 hours ago, gsoda3 said:

how long do they do that for?  what if i get there around 8:45?  also i think i've seen grackles in roughly the same number at the heb at wells branch/35.  but those aren't as cool b/c grackles.

 

By 8:45 they are mostly settled in  They  peak at about 8:30 or so.  Also, if you want to see them you'd better go Wednesday or Thursday because soon, very soon, they'll be headed to Brazil. 

[UTexasFight 9523]

I checked out at the Target at Capitol Plaza at 8:21 yesterday evening so this hits close to home. 
 

didn’t pay attention to the scene from Birds apparently playing out above me though.

 

[RPM 26341]

10 hours ago, South Austin said:

Lifing in Austin ain't what it used to be.

Get a live.

[deadshank 24653]

What’s the bag and daily possession limit?   I have my bacon, onion, jalapeños and toothpicks ready to go.