Purple Haze: A Conservation Film screening at Charleston Terrace Theatre
May 31, 2022
Zach Steinhauser will be partnering with the Charleston Audubon Society for a screening of Purple Haze: A Conservation Film, his documentary on one of the many wonders of South Carolina, the Purple Martins of Lake Murray! While Lake Murray plays a large part of this film, part of its production took place in the Charleston area. Purple Haze: A Conservation Film will be presented on Thursday, August 11th at the Terrace Theatre in Charleston, SC.
The film will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will end at approximately 9:00 p.m. A Q/A session with film creator, Zach Steinhauser will follow the screening where all attendees, bird watchers, nature lovers, and film enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in. Tickets can be purchased here.
Background
This unique phenomenon that happens annually around Bomb Island on Lake Murray has drawn scientists and bird enthusiasts since its discovery in 1988. One of them, Zach Steinhauser, a Lexington local, spent five years researching and following the Purple Martins to put together the documentary about the local sensation.
Zach is a United States Coast Guard licensed Captain who has been all over the United States and Brazil to study this songbird. He hopes that his film, Purple Haze: A Conservation Film, will educate and inspire others to take steps and help preserve these gentle, beautiful songbirds for generations to come.
You will also find out how to build or create your own “backyard purple martin colony” at the film’s debut. These unique homes to purple martins will keep this beloved local attraction returning to Lake Murray in the Summers.
Purple Martin Fun Facts:
• As many as 750,000 purple martins gather each evening in July and August to feed, socialize and rest on Bomb Island
• The roost is so large that it has been seen on radar and is the largest in North America!
• In the morning, they fly off, as far as 100 miles away, to prepare for their migratory flight to South America, in late August.
• While not endangered, the Purple Martins have faced about a 40 percent decline as a species in the last 50 years because people have steadily stopped putting up housing and provided nesting habitat for Martins to bring in future generations.
Follow along on Facebook and view the trailer for the video on Vimeo!
