Jim Gilbert

Oriole Migration Update: May 8, 1997

Hurry! Put out your feeder, the orioles are flooding northward! Orioles welcome a treat of oranges, but a hummingbird feeders will also do as Shirly Johnson of Manistee, Michigan, discovered:

"The oriole was feeding from the hummingbird feeder we had put out to attract the first hummers of the season. He didn't pay any attention to the oriole feeder that was on another post in the yard."
shirley@shianet.org

• Link to Today's Migration Data
• Link to Oriole Migration Highlights

Carol Gersmehl and Mindy Person, Macalester College

Legend Date Color Timing Before 4/23 Yellow Early 4/23-4/25 Orange " " 4/26-4/28 Red " " 4/29-5/1 Light Green Later 5/2-5/4 Dark Green " " 5/5-5/7 Dark Blue " "

Since the first sighting reported on April 20th, another 39 sightings have arrived. Twenty of these have occurred in the past week. As shown on today's migration map, the oriole migration is fast and swift. To show movement on this map, cartographer Carol Gersemehl and student Mindy Person of Macalester College used a new color every 3 days. They also grouped "early" sightings by color (Yellow-Orange-Red ), and "later" sightings by the use of other colors (Light Green-Dark Green-Dark Blue). How can you make a map that shows how quickly this migration progresses?

Note the early sighting of April 23rd in Massachusetts. A storm in the northeast brought this oriole and comment from Cape Cod, Massachusetts: "Blown in with the last nor'easter ahead of schedule were a Northern Oriole in North Eastham, Massachusetts. Also a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in South Wellfleet, and a Summer Tanager, found dead in South Orleans. With another storm predicted to move through this week, keep watch for other birds moving through earlier than normal."

Try This
Compare and contrast the Oriole migration with the Monarch Butterfly, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and Common Loon migrations. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different. How would you explain the differences?

How might the following factors affect the timing and pace of each migration?

• Food requirements ( Type of food, method of feeding)
• Sensitivity to temperature
• Breeding requirements
• Life span

The Next Oriole Migration Update Will be Posted on May 22, 1997.