Cassiopaean Sandbox > Our 2D Friends
Bizzare Bird Migrations
bngenoh:
Our 2D friends would be the first ones to change their behaviors in response to environmental changes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1pQPQv-psk
It's not just whooping cranes. In my location (Aberdeen, MD US) other species of birds like geese and starlings have also changed their behaviors.
voyageur:
--- Quote from: bngenoh ---...
It's not just whooping cranes. In my location (Aberdeen, MD US) other species of birds like geese and starlings have also changed their behaviors.
--- End quote ---
Have been watching the wetlands and sky's here in the north and there have been very early migration arrivals; swans, geese and ducks - also some Robins. These arrivals (early Feb) are about 40 +/- days early. Temperatures this past February ranged 0 - -20's (c) with little open water in the wetlands.
bngenoh:
--- Quote from: voyageur on March 01, 2012, 09:30:44 PM ---Have been watching the wetlands and sky's here in the north and there have been very early migration arrivals; swans, geese and ducks - also some Robins. These arrivals (early Feb) are about 40 +/- days early. Temperatures this past February ranged 0 - -20's (c) with little open water in the wetlands.
--- End quote ---
It looks like spring has come early, really really early. There are these flowering plants which i call harbingers of spring, and guess what, they are already flowering.
treesparrow:
Another article documenting unusually early spring arrivals in North America - some species up to a month early.
--- Quote ---Birds migrating to area sooner than usual
Migrating shore birds are showing up "remarkably early" at Freezout Lake northwest of Fairfield, giving birders an early peak at species passing through the state en route north, said Mike Schwitters, a longtime birdwatcher.
Schwitters tracks the numbers of birds at Freezout and provides the information to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Schwitters reported seeing about 6,000 snow geese and 17 swans at Freezout. He said nearly 10 days ago there were about 100,000 snow gees there.
The mild winter is the reason for the early arrival of shore birds, he said, noting that there is no ice on the lakes, so food and habitat are accessible as they move northward.
So far in April, Schwitters has seen about five shore bird species at Freezout.
That's about a month sooner than he usually sees them.
The early return of the birds is good news for birders, but could be bad news for the birds should winter return at some point along the migratory journey, say in Alberta, Schwitters said.
"All of a sudden their habitat is frozen up and their food sources are not accessible, and they die," he said.
On Friday, it was snowing at Freezout, but the lake was in no danger of freezing, Schwitters said.
"If I was a shore bird at Freezout Lake, I wouldn't be happy today," Schwitters said. "They are just going to have to fluff up their feathers and try to stay warm."
Shore birds also have been documented in other locations in Montana already this year, he said.
Schwitters saw two Dunlins on Thursday — April 5. The earliest he has ever spotted a Dunlin is April 11.
The birds typically don't show up until about May 17, he said.
Schwitters also has spotted a Baird's sandpiper and several black-necked stilts.
"The early numbers of shore birds I've seen has got me enthused about seeing a lot of the shore birds early," he said.
Shore birds, which are long-legged wading birds, prefer standing water, but can be spotted at times on the mud flats of the Missouri River near West Bank Park in Great Falls.
About 20 species of shore birds migrate through Montana from southern locations on their way to northern climates such as Canada and Alaska, Schwitters said. For example, Baird's sandpipers fly from as far south as South America to arctic Canada, where they nest.
Schwitters said the migration of snow geese and swans also occurred about a week early this year. Those migrations are about over, but the birds still can be seen.
--- End quote ---
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120407/NEWS01/204070314/Birds-migrating-area-sooner-than-usual?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage
Pob:
--- Quote from: treesparrow on April 11, 2012, 11:55:54 AM ---
Another article documenting unusually early spring arrivals in North America - some species up to a month early.
--- Quote ---Birds migrating to area sooner than usual
Migrating shore birds are showing up "remarkably early" at Freezout Lake northwest of Fairfield, giving birders an early peak at species passing through the state en route north, said Mike Schwitters, a longtime birdwatcher.
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
Obvious, but so typical of MSM to begin the article with a positive spin. In this case its great the migration patterns are messed up because twitchers get to see birds they wouldn't normally. :(
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