A large roost of Purple Martins at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is considered a nuisance because of their droppings so they are being sprayed with fire hoses. Seriously.
You can email the director of the memorial at kw@oklahomacitynationalmem
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
According to an knowledgeable observer who visited the site last evening, the stench is really overwhelming. It is sounding like this is a roost for several thousand Purple Martins. She posted to Julie Zickefoose’s facebook page. I called and wrote on the facebook page to the Memorial people. I really hope they find a better solution to this. This is an issue that has really been gnawing my psyche the last 24 hours.
went down to check it out. Using clappers, and power washers/hoses are low doesn’t look like tons of pressure…..basically raining on birds not on them directly. The birds have been staging there several weeks. Live at a loft nearby.
From Wildcare Oklahoma’s Facebook page: “Just got back from the OKC National Memorial where we picked up dead martins, a robin, a nest of nestling western kingbirds and one live martin which we are caring for. Please use your voice and help get this stopped! Every night the fire department uses their hoses to blast them in the trees as they rest. Is this how you want your tax dollars to be used? Call the OKC National Memorial (405) 235-3313 and speak up for purple martins.”
Spraying migratory birds with fire hoses is not ok.
Purple martins are a protected native species. This is illegal, if anyone is able to get a federal agency involved