19th Apr, 2005

Big Migration Over New Jersey!

Updated 04/20/05 6:25am
The radar loop is now from sunset last night through sunrise this morning.
It’s On!
A heavy movement of birds in progress tonight; from Caribou, Maine down to the coast of Cuba, all the way up and down the gulf coast to South Texas. I’m weening you all off of the velocity data for a night, so you’ll just have to take me on my word that what you’re seeing is indeed migration (and indeed, it is). I have included a still shot of the national composite at ~10:30pm so you can see the extent of this migration event.

Birding Outlook
This is our first really big push for the season. As of this morning Orchard Orioles, Warbling Vireos and Yellow Warblers have begun to appear in Asheville, NC. With the amount of birds on the wing this evening, we should expect some new species to show up tomorrow morning. As has been the case all spring, no precipitation in the forecast for tomorrow morning, so head for the mountains! (Garret, that is). Tomorrow evening we expect a front to push down and bring with it the possibility of thunderstorms. The forecast is shaping up in our favor, with the precipitation expected after midnight. Assuming another big night of migration, the precipitation could force birds into specific localities for Thursday morning. We’ll be watching the radar for a sign tomorrow night.

Posted by: David La Puma

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A quick walk around the Hutcheson Memorial Forest turned up very little in terms of migrants. Just a single Blue-headed Vireo, three Hermit Thrush, and a handful of Yellow-rumped Warblers. My interpretation is that most birds were moving along the higher ridges give last night’s optimal weather, and also that these lowland forests are not optimal migrant habitat. I suppose I’ll get a better idea in the days to come. Hopefully everyone else out there is doing better this morning!

By: David on April 20th, 2005
at 8:48 am

Six Mile Run was likewise quiet. No newcomers at all that I could hear, and overall numbers were down. The Coopers Hawk there is building another nest this year. South Jersey was reporting birds.

Still, when you see an impressive number of birds on the radar, it’s puzzling when they don’t turn up on the ground!

By: Susan on April 20th, 2005
at 8:40 pm

So, does this mean that I already missed the huge push through New Jersey?

By: Marty DeAngelo on April 20th, 2005
at 9:41 pm

Susan: it’s not uncommon to have a large migration but little to show for it on the ground. In some cases it’s due to flyovers (good weather = easy flying), in others it’s due to habitat (passerines tend to migrate along ridges in the spring, along the coast in the fall), and I’m sure there are many other reasons I’m not even aware of. Given the reports from Garret today, it seems like we did experience more of an exodus than an augmentation. The radar did look more active after sunset than it did approaching sunrise, so it seems to support the field observation. You should check 6-mile Run tomorrow, then it may be a bit clearer whether it’s due to habitat or not.

Marty: No, you have nothing to fear- this is only the beginning! (unless, of course, you’ve been waiting all your life to see a Palm Warbler, in which case you should get out there soon). Seriously though, tomorrow should be good so you should head out to one of the local hot spots. Try along the Delaware River/D&R Canal/ Old Mine Rd. area.

By: David on April 20th, 2005
at 11:01 pm

Thanks for the advice - luckily, we got to see a Palm Warbler at John Heinz about two weeks ago (a first for both of us). The rest of the afternoon wasn’t great, but that and the nesting Great Horned Owl were treats!

Thanks for the advice!

By: Marty on April 21st, 2005
at 8:36 am

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