Last year, they were held at Round Rock Crossing after the birds moved from Highland Mall in North Austin. This year, the birds shifted their nightly roost to the H-E-B-anchored shopping center at 601 Louis Henna Blvd.
“The shopping center’s property management has made it clear that not only are the Purple Martin Parties not permitted, but anyone loitering on the property will be considered trespassing,” Travis Audubon wrote.
Travis Audubon spokesperson Caley Thomas told Chron the organization believes the decision stemmed primarily from liability concerns.
“We have been hosting these parties at different roost sites for 16 years, and if there is traffic onsite that we think might pose a threat, we adapt,” Thomas said. “Last year, we had volunteer crossing guards ensuring that cars stopped for pedestrian traffic at a busy intersection of the shopping center. In the past, at other roosting sites, we have had property management request a certificate of insurance from us, but that doesn’t seem to be enough to assuage their concerns in this case.”
Thomas said this is the first time the organization has been denied permission by a property management company to host purple martin parties.
Although public gatherings have been canceled, Travis Audubon said it will continue to monitor the roost to help ensure the birds are not disturbed before their migration.
The organization is encouraging supporters to instead attend the July 26 launch party for Bird-nado Migratory Ale—a collaboration with Austin Beerworks celebrating purple martins, watch its short documentary The Bird Lot on YouTube, or donate to its Purple Martin Committee.
Thomas said volunteers will continue monitoring the roost each morning and said the purple martins “seem to be doing just fine” at their current location.
“Since the roost is literally hundreds of thousands of birds cramming together into a few small trees, some hurt birds are to be expected,” Thomas said. “We have let property management know that these birds and their roosting behavior are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and we are hopeful that they will honor the birds’ right to gather and roost without intervention.”
The cancellation has drawn a wave of criticism online.
“What an absolutely disappointing decision. Who can we contact in the shopping center about this?” one commenter wrote.
Another said they traveled to Round Rock for last year’s event and spent money at businesses afterward. “This is to the benefit of the shopping center businesses to have a cool event like this,” the commenter wrote.
“This means war,” another person commented.
“Since these parties have grown in popularity over the years, and are an event that people expect every summer, the public is understandably upset that they’re not happening,” Thomas said. “It’s a free, family-friendly event that connects people to birds and nature unlike any other experience. For hundreds, if not thousands, of people each year, a Purple Martin Party is their entry point into the world of birds and birding.”
Chron has reached out to Rassier Properties for comment.