The birds are back! Richmond will again play home to one of the most unique birding events in the United States as it hosts the 3rd annual Gone to the Birds Festival on Saturday, July 31. Gone to the Birds takes place at and adjacent to the 17th Street Farmers’ Market from 6-9PM.

On Monday, July 26, approximately 8,000 Purple Martins were seen rushing to their roost into the Bradford Pear trees next to the 17th Street Farmers’ Market. This count mirrors the number of birds that arrived in 2008 when the first Gone to the Birds Festival was held and is four times the number of birds that “attended” last year’s festival.

Spectators will turn out to witness a unique urban experience and watch thousands of Purple Martins swarm down into the trees at dusk as the birds visit the River City on their annual migratory route to their winter home in Brazil.

Festival goers will be able to learn more about Purple Martins from volunteers and bird enthusiasts, the Purple Martin Conservation Association, Richmond Audubon Society and other local groups.
Vendors will be selling T-shirts, different varieties of purple martin houses and other avian- related products. Attendees can cool off with purple gelato or stop by the restaurants around the Farmers’ Market for dinner and a Purple Martini and other food and beverage specials!

The “Gone to the Birds” festival was started in 2008 when Martin enthusiasts and the City of Richmond teamed up to create the festival on just three weeks’ notice. Word of the Purple Martin’s amazing journey spread through the media and community, and each night in July and early August, anywhere from a few dozen to 200 people showed up to witness it for themselves.

The rush to roost quickly became the talk of the town and everyone wanted to come Downtown to see the spectacle. Thus, the first “Gone to the Birds” festival was held on July 26, 2008, and nearly 1,000 people attended.

More information, videos and a blog can be found online at http://www.gonetothebirds.org