Carrol Henderson Challenge Questions Today's News Spring's Journey North Report Your Sightings Teacher's Manual Search Journey North return to: A/CPB

Weather and Songbird Migration April 6, 1998 Dear Students: Map by Purdue University The front I said would move through Texas this weekend did come through on Friday, April 3rd, but it was weak. We had no rain, and north winds only lasted a day. Nonetheless, the north winds were enough to make flying difficult and lots of White-eyed Vireos and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were around, along with a few Black-and-white Warblers. The Dallas area also reported a Hooded Warbler, Nashville Warblers (the most common migrant through central Texas), a Black-throated Green Warbler, and a Great-crested Flycatcher. Map by Purdue University The next day, the winds were from the south, and many of the birds continued their journey north on Saturday the 4th. The front strengthened as it moved east, bringing lots of rain and snow to the eastern U.S. ...and lots of migrants! Louisiana Waterthrushes, Yellow-throated Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Parula Warblers, and Hermit Thrushes were all seen. I hope some of you had a chance to catch the action! There is now a stronger front set to move through the middle of the country. The bad weather should make for better birding on Tuesday, April 7th. As the front moves east, people there can expect similar conditions on Wednesday the 8th or Thursday the 9th. Map by The Weather Channel Looking at the weather map, you will see another front moving into the west. That should bring another round of rain and north winds to Texas over the weekend. With El Nino, there is a tendency for fronts to move across the country one after the other. In other years (like last year), fronts can be less frequent, making for few large fallouts. When you study bird migration, you can have some very slow days. I'm glad it is looking better this year! Take care. Dr. David A. Aborn david_aborn@baylor.edu Background Information See Primer: "Weather and Songbird Migration"