Bomb Island Roost, South Caroliina
Lake Murray, South Carolina
by
Jim Beatson
Consensus is that 700,000 to 800,000 Purple Martins roost here in peak season
around the 3rd or 4th week of July.
Known as Bomb Island on current maps, the island is also known as Lunch
Island and Doolittle Island. The island was used as target practice by B-25s, some of whom were “Doolittle’s Raiders,” during World War II. The island is in the middle of Lake Murray which is dammed near Lexington, SC. Description of the island from
SC Wildlife Magazine, July/Aug 2000, “Approximately a 12 acre island.” Hardwoods,
a few pines and undergrowth(shrubs,) and the martins even roost in the switch cane
grass.
From “Purple Martins Galore,” by Jacob Jordan(AP,) July 29, 2007, the roost has been building since the 1980’s. Lake resident Bob Wilkins and Dr. Sidney Gauthreaux
(Clemson University ornithologist who pioneered weather radar tracking of migratory
birds) among others “pushed for the sites’s protection.” In 1996 the island was
designated North America’s first official Purple Martin Sanctuary by “…DNR, the
Columbia Audubon Society and SCE&G.”
Access by boat only. The Southern Patriot, a 65 ft. double deck cruise boat out
Stability of the roost. It is protected by DNR. From The Bomb Island Site Report
of The Audubon Society’s Important Bird Areas, “Bomb Island is subject to erosion
from wave action in the lake. There is a minor amount of disturbance from careless
hikers. A potential problem is predation which could occur if four legged predators
become established on the island in the future.”
I saw the roost July 24 & July 30, 2007 during its peak of about 700,000 martins.
On a 3rd trip August 22, 2007, there were probably less than 200,000 there.
Dead Pine Tree on Bomb Island covered by Purple Martins
Purple Martins coming in for a landing
Hardwoods, shrubs, and switch cane on Bomb Island
West End of Bomb Island
