Purple Martin Watch Parties

2025 Watch Party Schedule

Saturday, July 26; Saturday, August 9; Saturday, August 23.

The parties are free but please register so we can send you details on the location and starting time.

Graceful in flight, the Purple Martin, the largest of North America’s swallows, is one of Houston’s most popular birds. In late summer, after leaving the nesting colony with fledglings in tow, Purple Martins gather daily in large flocks to feed, socialize, and roost before migrating.

The Houston metro area is lucky to have Purple Martin roosts, with some areas witnessing up to 500,000 birds. From July to September, Houston's Purple Martins spend most of the day feeding on flying insects to build energy for their long journey across the Gulf of Mexico. At dusk, large flocks cover the sky in a dark cloud as they fly into the trees to roost, this spectacle lasting about 45 minutes.

At Houston Audubon’s Purple Martin Watch Parties, sponsored this year by CenterPoint Energy, the community is invited to gather and witness the wonder of Purple Martin flying patterns as they come together to roost every night. During the parties, Houston Audubon staff and volunteers are on hand to educate attendees about Purple Martins, their amazing journey, and how people can help protect these birds. These free, family-friendly events are fun for all ages.

Houston Audubon’s Purple Martin Watch Parties occur at dusk from July until September. The two big roosts are in Stafford and Willowbrook. Because nature is unpredictable, locations are subject to change, so please check our website or social media for up-to-date news.

About Purple Martins

Purple Martin Communal Roosts

On the Purple Martin Conservation Association website
Download our Purple Martin Fact Card
Learn more about Purple Martins in the Bird Gallery
Purple Martin Conservation Association

Watch Parties

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Traditional Locations of Large Martin Roosts

Stafford

The Fountains is a shopping center in Stafford at Hwy 59 and Kirkwood. If you take 59 south, exit Kirkwood and turn right onto Fountain Lake Drive. Turn left into the shopping center. The martins congregate at Gordon Park behind the center. They drink at the ponds and then perch in the trees and wires at the park and around the shopping center. The park is on Fountain Lake Drive directly behind the shopping center. In 2012, Thomas Bumby and Patrick Dusek confirmed martins were roosting at the Stafford site on June 2-3. Donald Troha located the martin roost on weather radar as early as June 8 and on the evening of June 13 counted 3,000 birds. Prior locations for this roost were the KBR Building on Clinton Drive in Houston, the west side of Sharpstown Mall, and just south of the Galleria on South Post Oak.
Willowbrook Mall

The area around Willowbrook Mall has hosted numerous sites on both sides of Highway 249 near Gessner.

Peak numbers for Purple Martins occur in July and August when Purple Martins form large flocks and roost together in great numbers in preparation to migration. Some roosts may have thousands of birds. When the birds arrive to roost in the evening, it can be an amazing spectacle with the sky literally black with martins! If you know of a large roost, please contact us at birds@houstonaudubon.org. We have prepared an informational flyer about communal roosts, suitable for display. Join us in helping to protect Purple Martins!

Radar Sightings

Purple Martin flight patterns are sometimes visible on weather surveillance radar. The patterns can resemble rings which are particularly dense as they disperse to forage in the early morning.

Purple Martin Watch Parties