Dr. David Aborn's 2022 Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds #7
Published: 05/06/2022
Dear Journey North Readers,
It has been another active week! Storms along the Gulf Coast at the beginning of the week produced fallout conditions, resulting in big numbers of migrants. Birders in Louisiana reported lots of Red-eyed Vireos and Scarlet Tanagers, and plenty of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles and Gray Catbirds. In Alabama, Blackpoll Warblers and Cape May Warblers were common sights.
Before that storm system moved in, migrants made solid progress northward as there were good flying conditions over most of the eastern and central part of the country. Here in Tennessee, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been showing up at peoples’ feeders in droves, and Blackpoll Warblers, Tennessee Warblers, Cape May Warblers, and Magnolia Warblers have also been plentiful. Birders in Massachusetts reported many Yellow Warblers, Black-throated-green Warblers, and Tree Swallows, and Barn Swallows arrived in Maine. In Ohio, May 6 is the Biggest Week In American Birding festival, and the timing is good with the arrival of Black-throated-green Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Ovenbirds, and Gray Catbirds. And good flying weather helped Ruby-throated Hummingbirds make it to Michigan and Minnesota.
In the western US, conditions were also good. Birders in California recorded 6 warbler species, along with more Warbling Vireos and the first Olive-sided Flycatchers. Lazuli Buntings arrived in Colorado. More Wilson’s Warblers and Townsend’s Warblers were able to make it up to Washington, and Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallow arrived in Alaska!
What does the coming week look like? Well, it looks like more of the same. There is a storm system moving across the southern US that may bring another fallout along the Gulf Coast. But since this region is past its peak of spring migration, this fallout may not be as spectacular as some of the earlier ones. Nevertheless, birders in that area should expect to see a good number of grounded migrants. The eastern US still has strong southerly winds that should bring new arrivals until storms move in over the weekend. That storm system is expected to weaken as it moves east, so birds should not be grounded for too long. In the central US, flying conditions will improve and movement will increase once the storms have passed. Another system is moving into the Pacific Northwest, likely grounding migrants there until the weekend.
Migration is waning in places but approaching its peak in others. Wherever you are, there are still many birds to see! Happy Mother's Day!
David Aborn
