Dr. David Aborn's 2022 Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds #5

Published: 04/22/2022

Dear Journey North Readers,

The weather has still been active and so has migration. The breaks in the storms have allowed a nice influx of migrants along the Gulf coast, including Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Yellow Warblers, and Yellow-breasted Chats. Those brief periods of clear skies and southerly winds have allowed a few migrants to make some progress northward.  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers arrived in New Jersey, Purple Martins and Yellow-throated Warblers were spotted in Ohio, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds made their first appearance in Kansas, and White-eyed Vireos were seen in Missouri. Here in Chattanooga, some of the new species I have seen include Wood Thrushes, a Yellow Warbler, and a Northern Waterthrush.

There has been good weather out west for most of the week. Birders in Arizona were treated to 8 species of warblers, including their first Townsend’s, McGillivray’s, and Wilson’s Warblers. More Black-headed Grosbeaks and Hooded Orioles were spotted, along with the first Blue Grosbeak of spring. Good flying weather allowed some species to get far north, with Orange-crowned Warblers and Black-throated-gray Warblers arriving in Washington, and Nashville Warblers and Violet-green Swallows being seen in Idaho.

What does the weather look like the rest of this week? If you look at the weather map, there is yet another storm system moving across the country, but it is not as potent as the previous ones. Birds will still be grounded by the rain, but they should be able to make good progress after a day or so as north winds behind the front are not as strong. It looks quiet over much of the country until the middle of next week when another system moves toward the Pacific Northwest. That system will keep birds in the west from making much progress until the weekend.

We are approaching the peak of spring migration in places, and this week looks favorable for seeing it! Take care.

David Aborn