Take a sunset cruise and see the amazing spectacle of more than 100,000 purple martins flying into their roost at the Old Manns Harbor Bridge. Set sail on Saturday, July 31 on the 65-foot Crystal Dawn. The cost is $30 per person, and a full refund can be expected if cancelled by weather. The cruise will depart at 6 p.m. from Pirate’s Cove Marina off the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway. It will return at approximately 10 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.purplemartinroost.com or call (252) 394-6205 for more information.
Light refreshments will be provides but guests are encouraged to bring their own. You won't believe it when you see the martins in action! 100,000 martins converge on the bridge every night from July through August (although the roost is active from mid-June to mid-September when there are fewer birds present). After nesting, some martins may travel up to 150 miles from their breeding colonies to reach this location! Arriving at sunset, they sleep under the bridge. At sunrise they depart to feed for the day, building up fat stores in preparation for their annual 2,600 mile migration back to Brazil.
The roost is so large it can be seen on Doppler radar.
