The orioles are on their way! The first Orioles of the season have been spotted in Texas and Louisiana. Thanks to David Aborn for today's report about wind, weather, and songbird migration which you will find below.
Did you know that the oriole is Maryland's state bird? An effort is underway to preserve 500 acres of old growth forest in suburban Maryland, just 15 miles east of Washington DC. The forest is called Belt Woods and has the highest density of breeding songbirds in the U.S., one of which is the oriole. Author Lynne Cherry (The Great Kapok Tree) is writing a book about this forest called "Flute's Journey". The story is about a wood thrush named Flute who hatched in Belt Woods and migrates to and from the rain forests of Costa Rica. In the story, Flute wonders if she will be able to return to Belt Woods again. If you were writing this book how would you complete the story about Flute, the orioles or the other songbirds that nest in Belt Woods? What obstacles will the birds face along the way?
To: Journey North
From: Ornithologist David Aborn
University of Southern Mississippi
Dear Students:
Last week I predicted a good day for birdwatchers over the weekend, as a
cold front was expected to pass across the country bringing north winds
which would force birds to land. Well, Nature threw a curve. The front
stalled over the weekend and didn't cross the Gulf states until Monday.
As a result, winds were blowing very strongly from the south, which is
great for the birds, but bad for those on the Gulf Coast trying to watch or
catch them.
At our study site south of Lake Charles, LA, there was not the impressive fallout of migrants that there might have been. Nonetheless, the people there were still seeing and catching a variety of species, including the first Northern Oriole of the season! Tuesday and Wednesday were probably better, as there were north winds.
If you look at today's weather map, there is another cold front and high
pressure center moving into the plains states. Again, it is expected to
reach the Gulf over the weekend. If this front doesn't stall, there
should be another increase in migrants over the weekend. Species such as
Red-eyed Vireos, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, and Blackburnian Warblers,
and Northern Orioles are some of the species whose numbers should start to
increase soon. For the next couple of days, however, the south winds will
keep numbers lower than usual along the Gulf coast.
A couple of weeks ago, you were asked to think about why migrants fly at night. There are several advantages to flying at night. One reason is that the wind currents are very still during the night, so it's easier for the birds to fly, and they are less likely to be blown off course. Some other reasons are that it is cooler, so the birds don't overheat, and the birds are also less visible to predators. Flying at night also lets them use the stars to navigate.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Take care.
David A. Aborn
daborn@whale.st.usm.edu
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To: Journey North
From: Nan S Porter
nporter@tenet.edu
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996
Subject: Migration
Over the past two weekends, I have made the trek - a little over an hour - to High Island to see the birds. Since High Island is higher than the surrounding land mass, it supports many trees which attract the hungry and exhausted migratories on their way between Central/South America and their summer breeding grounds. On the weekend of April 13 there were many Orchard Orioles everywhere. There were Indigo Buntings everywhere. We saw white-eyed vireos and Bell's vireo, yellow-throated warbler, several prothonotary warblers, a few Scarlet Tanagers and Summer Tanagers, and a Louisiana water-thrush.
On the weekend of April 20, there were no Orchard Orioles to be seen but a number of Northern Orioles. I saw only one Indigo buunting rather than the flocks the weekend before. I saw a beautiful Painted Bunting! There were several Scarlet Tanagers, and Summer Tanagers, just as the weekend before. I saw two yellow billed cuckoos and one black billed cuckoo - all neck breakers way up in the trees. I saw no white eyed vireos but there must have been 100 Solitary Vireos coming through. I also saw a yellow-throated vireo and a red-eyed vireo. There were numerous debates about the water-thrushes this weekend, some said they were Louisiana water thrushes and some said they were Northern water-thrushes. The only difference is whether the markings are white or cream and in the dark shadows, who could tell? But, the debates were fun. For warblers, I saw several black-throated greens, a Kentucky, several common yellow-throats, only one Prothonotary and just missed seeing a chestnutsided and a Blackburnian. There was an interesting fellow who tried to teach me the difference between a Tennessee warbler and a warbling vireo. Both were coming through. I'm afraid I was a lost cause at telling the difference between them. I can't wait until next weekend to see what the wind brings in.
Nan Porter
Instructional Supervisor
North Central District, Houston ISD
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To: Journey North
From: P. D. Hulce, Houston Audubon Society
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996
Here is a migration update from the upper Texas coast. The weather has continued warm and dry, with one of the worst droughts in many years. On April 5th and 12th, short, fairly wet, cold fronts moved through the area. On April the 13th, the rare bird alert reported good numbers of Baltimore Orioles, and many other migrants in High Island and other coastal locations. Warblers, shorebirds, and hawks were all being reported in various places. On the morning of the 13th, I observed a mini-fallout in my own back yard, in urban Houston. A pair of Hooded Warblers, and a Summer and Scarlet Tanager were the first arrivals. White-eyed Vireos could be heard singing seemingly everywhere. By late afternoon, the warblers included Tennessee, Parula, Blue-winged, Yellow-rumped, Kentucky, and Common Yellowthroat. Also seen were Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Indigo Buntings.
By the 16th, it had again dryed out, and we had resorted to using the sprinkler to maintain our flower beds. Out of nowhere, a Black & White Warbler, a Worm-eating Warbler, and a Common Yellowthroat appeared, as well the family of 5 Carolina Wrens which had just hatched in my brush pile. However, the Rufous Hummingbird and numerous Ruby-throated Hummer's were not seen past the 15th. Today, the 18th, was another nice day, with a Swainson's Thrush, 2 Common yellowthroats, an Eastern Pewee, and a beautiful male Baltimore Oriole that came down to the sprinkler and bird bath, my first of the year. Other birds included over 30 Cedar Waxwings, and numerous American Goldfinch. An Eastern Screech Owl has also been regular in my back yard and also at Hermann Park, where I have worked the last two weeks. Hope this is interesting, good birding.
The Next Oriole Migration Update Will be Posted on May 1, 1996
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