Here in Nashville, Mother Nature has given us a brief diversion from COVID, #SaferAtHome, Zoom meetings, FaceTiming, home-schooling, cooking, cleaning, weeding, and searching for a good movie on Netflix.
She has given us reason to “ooh” and “aah,” followed by a peaceful, easy feelin’.
She has done it all by sending us waves and swirls of Purple Martins coming in to roost after a day spent foraging for insects along the Cumberland River. The birds come to fatten up for their 4000-mile flight to Brazil and other areas of the Amazon Rainforest. I’d call this swarming a murmuration, but I’m not sure if that term is reserved for starlings only.
My niece, Elizabeth, was with my husband and me and captured the sky dance of the Purple Martins in this video shot at 7:00. Like I said, lots of “oohs” and “aahs” and even a “Holy S#$%” in there.
I learned about the Purple Martins roosting in Nashville yesterday in a New York Times column written by my friend, Margaret Renkl. Her article is definitely worth reading, as are all of her weekly Monday opinion pieces in the Times. Click here for a link to the story, A 150,000-Bird Orchestra in the Sky.
I am not sure how long the birds will be in Nashville. We drove downtown and parked in front of the Schermerhorn around 6:40 p.m. At first, we didn’t see any birds and figured we had missed them. Then, suddenly, they started to show up by the hundreds. It was exciting! We were glad we had made an effort to go downtown.
”
The trees were full of roosting birds.
The sky dance was extraordinary and just what I needed to get re-energized during a blah COVID-fighting week.
Take care and in the words of Dr. James Hildreth and Dr. Alex Jahangir, Nashvillians docs who have been leading our city in its fight against COVID, along with our Mayor, John Cooper, “We’ve got this Nashville.”
COVID Projects
How to Build a 4 x 4 Raised Bed Starter Garden
Upbeat Movies to Watch While Social-Distancing
How to Make Gorgeous Birdhouse Gourds
How to Make Artisan Bread the Easy Way
How to Make Greek Yogurt at Home
Marion’s Crazy Good Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips
Fall Planting Guide for Your Kitchen Garden
Putting Your Garden to Bed with a Blanket of Cover Crops
Follow Judy’s Chickens on Instagram and Pinterest @JudysChickens.
Always check my blog for the latest version of a recipe.
If you enjoyed this post to become a follower, please be sure to press “confirm” on the follow-up letter that will be sent to your email address.
© 2014-2020 Judy Wright. All rights reserved. Photos, videos, and text may only be reproduced with the written consent of Judy Wright.
That was amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend!
Sent from my iPad
>
Thanks, Susan. It was so great to see you, yesterday. xo
Thank you for sharing! I love Nashville and purple martins!
Dance. Just dance.
>
Pure joy! Yes, to dance, just dance!!
They came through my neighborhood in Forest Hills and four or five of them stopped at my bird feeder. I got a good glimpse from my kitchen window then went to my deck to see them flying overhead….so exciting!
Oh gosh, how wonderful, Cathy. Must have seemed like a gift from above. xo
Beautiful, and yes, inspiring! If a greater connection with nature is an outcome of all the quarantining we’ve been doing this year, then there’s definitely hope. : )
So, true, Jani. I have spent many hours daydreaming on my hammock after working in my garden than ever before in my life. That part of quarantining has been a gift. Thanks for writing!
I planted two tomato plants. I followed your instructions to put episomes salts at the base of the plants. Now I need ideas of what to do with all the tomatoes!
Yay, Sue! When I have an abundance of tomatoes, I make this quick and easy marinara sauce. Last year, I froze 40 quarts of it. This year, ZERO! Give it a try! https://judyschickens.org/2018/09/13/judyschickens-marinara-sauce/ Always good to hear from you, Sue. Hope you and your family are well. xo
THAT was amazing. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you, Vineeta, for writing!!
Wow Judy that was incredible! Thanks for sharing.
Maureen
Sent from my iPhone
>
Thanks, Maureen! Are you back?