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A/CPB
Neotropical Migratory Songbird Migration Update: April 17, 1997
Cape May Warbler, USFWS
- Latest Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration Update
- Latest Oriole Migration Update (Baltimore and Bullock's)
- Link to Background Information About Weather and Songbird Migration
Of the 660 birds that breed in North America, 350 spend the winter south of the U.S. border. Collectively, these species are known as "Neotropical Migrants". This spring, we are tracking the migrations of 3 species of neotropical migratory songbirds. This page provides links to the latest updates, as well as a weekly weather "Weather Forecast for the Birds".
Weather Forecast for the Birds
| To: | Journey North |
| From: | David Aborn |
| Date: | April 17, 1997 |
Dear Students:
The cold front I told you about last week moved through central Texas on Friday, and was it ever a COLD front! Temperatures reached freezing both Saturday and Sunday nights. Such a strong front produced very severe weather, which is one factor that forces migrating birds to land. During one of Friday's storms, a female Blackburnian Warbler took refuge on the window sill of a Fort Worth high school for 45 minutes! (Blackburnian warblers are only seen in Texas during migration, as they travel from their wintering grounds in Bolivia, Peru, and Costa Rice to their nesting grounds in the northeastern U.S. and Canada.)
Nashville Warbler David Aborn
"The strong north winds that followed the front forced many migrants to land and kept them around all weekend. The numbers were good, mostly Nashville Warblers, and I heard the first Yellow Warbler of the season. Someone else reported the first Swainson's Thrush of the season as well. By Monday, the winds shifted around from the south, so many of the birds left.
"Across the Great Plains, severe weather showed its power. According to the Kansas Ornithologist's Union, 'Heavy snow in western Kansas on April 11th grounded many birds and no doubt killed many migrants. Killdeer too weak to fly were seen on the April 11th, and several emaciated Killdeer were found frozen on the morning of April 12th. The cold weather has forced many wintering birds to linger beyond their departure dates.'
CNN
"This week, a cold front moved across the Gulf coast states on Wednesday and today, but it is a weak front. That means the winds will still be from the south, so no large fallouts are expected around here. The northern US might do better because the north winds are expected to be stronger in the mid-West and East. Even though I don't anticipate any fallouts, the weather will still be nice enough to do some bird-watching, and I will let you know what I see. Anything is possible this time of year!
"In the mean time, think about this, why might birds make such a long, dangerous crossing over the Gulf of Mexico when they could just fly along Central America and Mexico until the reached the U.S.?
David Aborn
David_Aborn@baylor.edu
The Next Neotropical Migratory Songbird Update Will be Posted April 24, 1997.