On Lake Murray At Night, the Purple Martins Take Flight!
Like the massive flock of vacationers descending to South Carolina each summer, legions of satiny-feathered guests are drawn to the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region. The sky gets dark and millions of Purple Martins fill the predawn and evening skies each day, establishing seasonal digs at Lunch (Bomb) Island in the middle of Lake Murray.
Lunch Island, once a practice bombing range for World War II plane crews, is the perfect spot for the birds to roost. By day they disperse for many miles to feed, at night they settle onto the island. Over a period of weeks, their numbers grow dramatically. There are about three-quarters of a million birds and the numbers are still increasing.
You can view this “natural phenomenon,” the thousands of Purple Martins on Lake Murray, the largest, natural, roosting sanctuary in North America when you visit the region during July and August. Come board a boat for an evening cruise and see this unique attraction. Hurry here! By September, the Purple Martins will be off to South America for winter hibernation.
