Following last year’s Fourth of July fireworks display that frightened a flock of egrets and ultimately caused the birds to crash into power transformers, the annual firework launch site is moving to the nearby Bull Branch Park.
The move places the launching point about 1,000 feet away from the island in Murphy Park where the egrets typically reside, rather than the 200 feet distance used in previous years. While the city said it cannot guarantee anything, it believes the added distance will be enough to avoid what happened last year.
“We took a lot of people’s advice about what we could possibly do, and that seemed to be the very best solution,” said Stacey Osborne, city communications director. “We’re hoping that by having it this far away, there will be less startling, and they will be able to handle it a little better.”
While the city considered a handful of other possible locations to launch this year’s fireworks, the greenbelt area in Bull Branch Park was deemed to be the best solution. Besides safety for the egrets, convenience and the availability for everyone to see the fireworks was considered.
The city mentions that no egrets were actually struck by the fireworks themself, but rather were startled by the fireworks. Egrets are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
“We want to make sure we do everything we can to protect them,” Osborne said. “They’re a protected species, and we certainly don’t want to put them in danger.”
The American Legion Graham D. Luhn Post 39 hosts the display and says that the fireworks will be from the same vendor that the show has used for about the last 20 years.
Leading up to the fireworks, the July Fourth parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Davis Street. Once the parade is complete, there will be an ice cream social at the American Legion Hall.
The park will be open throughout the day, with food trucks and other activities set up around Murphy Park. The Derailers, an Austin-based country band, will play a concert starting at 7 p.m. in the pavilion. Following the live concert, the firework show will begin at dusk.
“We had an opportunity five or six years ago to help put on the Fourth of July show,” said Scott Dean, Post 39 commander. “We found that it was the right fit for what we want to do. We give back to the community as veterans and are able to provide entertainment and some community for our nation’s birthday.”
