 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Weather and Migration
|
|
Dear Students:
Busy, busy,
busy! That is what it has been like for birders and ornithologists alike.
Everything can be summed up in one word...fallouts! The front that moved
through last week has kept the temperatures cool, but migration hot! Temps
have only been in the 60's during the day, and near 40 at night around
here. This is very unusual for early May. Those north winds have really
been forcing birds to land across the country. April 30 and May 1 brought
lots of birds to the Gulf coast. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
all reported 14 species of warblers, 4 species of thrushes, Indigo Buntings,
and Eastern Wood-Pewees. May 2 and 3 saw fallouts in the southeast and
east. Here in Tennessee, dozens of warbler species are around. Birders
at Shelby Park in Nashville saw 23 species of warblers (!!!) along with
5 species of vireos, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, and Baltimore and Orchard
Orioles. At my study site, many of the late season warblers were around
my study site. These included Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Redstarts,
Blackpoll Warblers, and Yellow-breasted Chats. Indigo Buntings were everywhere!
I heard my first Eastern Wood-Pewee of the year, and I saw 2 Veerys (a
species of thrush). Birders at Cravens House also saw 22 Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks. The story elsewhere was the same, from Georgia to Massachusetts
to Ohio: lots of warblers, thrushes, orioles, flycatchers, and buntings.
People out
west were not disappointed. Once again, New Mexico had the greatest numbers
and variety of migrants. New Mexico has a number of rivers and the riverside
habitats are important for western migrants during their journey north
from the tropics. Birders reported 9 species of warblers, as well as Greater
Pewees, Cassin's Vireos, and Gray Flycatchers. California reported its
first chats, redstarts, and Nashville Warblers. Migration even made its
way up to the northern Rockies, with Montana reporting good numbers of
Yellow Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, McGillivray's Warblers, and
Cassin's Vireos.
The Outlook for Birdwatchers
Can we expect another big week coming up? Unfortunately not, at least
not in the southern US. There are no fronts coming along to bring rain
and north winds. The high pressure that is over much of the country will
weaken, allowing southerly winds to predominate. This will allow many
of the birds that were forced down this week to head north. People in
the northern part of the country should continue to see birds arriving.
Just because there won't be any fallouts doesn't mean there isn't plenty
to see. Migrants will still be arriving from the tropics for about another
week, so we're not done yet! Additionally, many of the migrants that have
arrived are setting up territories. There is a lot of singing and activity
going on, so even without fallouts we can enjoy the benefits of migration.
Take care.
David
Aborn
North
Chickamauga Creek Conservancy, TN
 |
| Click
to enlarge |
The Next Weather and Songbird Migration Update will Be Posted the week of May 11, 2005.
Copyright
1996-2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our
feedback form
