Spring Letter #2: Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds From Dr. David Aborn

Dear Journey North Readers,

Migration is picking up, but it is slow. More species are showing up, but only a few individuals of each. In Texas and Louisiana, more White-eyed Vireos and Common Yellowthroats arrived, along with some more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the first Black-throated-green Warbler. In Georgia, the first Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, Baltimore Oriole, and Great Crested Flycatcher were seen, and over the past week, I have seen a couple of Louisiana Waterthrushes, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. A brief window of good weather allowed a few migrants to make some progress north, with the first Blue-headed Vireos, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Common Yellowthroats, and Barn Swallows arriving in Ohio. Things aren’t much different out west, but birders in California did report their first Bullock’s Orioles, Hooded Orioles, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Rufus Hummingbirds.

Does the coming week look any better? Well, for a migrant in the eastern half of the country, I hope they like it where they are because they are stuck! A major storm system has been moving across the country bringing lots of rain, and even snow in some places! That has kept birds grounded and prevented many new birds from arriving. It will be another day or two before that system moves off the east coast and the skies clear. The northerly winds behind the cold front are not especially strong, but strong enough that migrants probably would be able to make much progress until the end of the week. Out west, the weather has been much better. Skies have been clear, and winds are from the south, so I anticipate more migrants arriving from the tropics, and those that have been around will able to make some good progress north.

We are still at the very beginning of spring migration, so there is a lot more activity to come! Rake care.

David Aborn

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

submitted 03/26/2024