Weather & Songbird Migration
Journey North News
Ornithologist Dr. David Aborn is back this spring to share the secrets of weather and migration. In his weekly Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds, learn to read weather maps and predict when you will see songbirds traveling through YOUR locale. Get ready with this weather and migration tutorial. Image: David Aborn
Dr. David Aborn is back to share migration news and help us read the weather like migrating songbirds. There are still a few weeks before things really get busy, but signs of spring have been showing up early.
Image: Laura Erickson
It is still very early in the migration season, but the first sightings of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is a promise of things to come.
Image: Laura Erickson
More migrants have been arriving from the tropics, and last week's storm system with northerly winds stopped them cold—literally and figuratively!
Image: Laura Erickson
March 13
Spring bird migration is really getting underway! It was a busy week with a lot of landings everywhere.
Spring bird migration is really getting underway! It was a busy week with a lot of landings everywhere.
Image: Laura Erickson
March 20
This is the first day of Spring, and birds are really starting to move! New arrivals landed and other migrants pushed northward when week's high-pressure areas over much of the country moved east and winds shifted to the south.
This is the first day of Spring, and birds are really starting to move! New arrivals landed and other migrants pushed northward when week's high-pressure areas over much of the country moved east and winds shifted to the south.
Image: Laura Erickson
March 27
The northerly winds that covered much of the country put the brakes on spring migration. Migrants couldn’t make it much farther than the Gulf Coast states.
The northerly winds that covered much of the country put the brakes on spring migration. Migrants couldn’t make it much farther than the Gulf Coast states.
Image: Laura Erickson
April 3
Rain forced good numbers of migrants arriving from the tropics to land and the first fallouts of the season brought a thrilling week of birding.
Rain forced good numbers of migrants arriving from the tropics to land and the first fallouts of the season brought a thrilling week of birding.
Image: Laura Erickson
April 10
A steady stream of new arrivals pleased birders nationwide in a week of great flying conditions. Just when Minnesotans thought their winter would never end, the first Purple Martins arrived.
A steady stream of new arrivals pleased birders nationwide in a week of great flying conditions. Just when Minnesotans thought their winter would never end, the first Purple Martins arrived.
Image: Laura Erickson
April 17
In a spectacular week for fallouts, one birder in Grand Isle, Louisiana reported 75 species in one hour! southerly winds pushed migrants already here as they headed further north as peak migration continues.
In a spectacular week for fallouts, one birder in Grand Isle, Louisiana reported 75 species in one hour! southerly winds pushed migrants already here as they headed further north as peak migration continues.
Image: Laura Erickson
April 24
“Stupendous” is how birders described fallouts resulting from the weather front—shown on this NEXRAD weather radar image— approaching the Texas coast April 18. Another impressive week for birding!
“Stupendous” is how birders described fallouts resulting from the weather front—shown on this NEXRAD weather radar image— approaching the Texas coast April 18. Another impressive week for birding!
Image: Laura Erickson
May 1
An influx of migrants in record numbers brought another spectacular week and a wonderful welcome to spring. Will the fallout trend continue into the coming week? Dr. Aborn is confident that by now you'll be reading the weather maps like a pro as you follow migration to the finish lines.
An influx of migrants in record numbers brought another spectacular week and a wonderful welcome to spring. Will the fallout trend continue into the coming week? Dr. Aborn is confident that by now you'll be reading the weather maps like a pro as you follow migration to the finish lines.
Image: Laura Erickson
Coming from South America
Explore previous migration seasons:
Image: Laura Erickson
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