When, where, and how far will birds migrate? Our migration forecasts will answer these questions for the first time.
November 13 saw an epic Franklin’s Gull and Cave Swallow flight to the East Coast of the United States, the likes of which have not been previously recorded. Here, we describe in the first of a three part series how and why this unprecedented event occurred.
Some seriously anomalous displays of displacement, entrainment, diversion, and irruption, highlighted the birding landscape of 2012. Of particular note was the unprecedented invasion of Razorbills in the southeastern US and the Gulf of Mexico. BirdCast spent some time chronicling these events and begins a discussion of whether 2015 might see a similar occurrence.
A late period arrival of favorable conditions will see light to moderate movements, primarily waterfowl, in the West, while the first half of the period in the East will see moderate flights scattered across the region.
A quiet late season week in the West saw primarily scattered light movements, while a wild post-frontal passage ride of Franklin's Gulls and Cave Swallows in the Northeast highlighted the period's primarily localized light to moderate flights.
Mid to late period conditions will be favorable for scattered light to moderate pulses of movements featuring American Wigeon, Cooper's Hawk, Golden Eagle, American Coot, Snowy Owl, and Red-winged Blackbird in the West, while a strong frontal passage early in the weekend brings moderate to heavy flights of Mallard, Snow Goose, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Purple Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, and American Robin to the East.
A generally quiet week in the West featured isolated light and moderate flights of Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Western Bluebird, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, while moderate flights of Red-breasted Merganser, White-winged Scoter, Franklin's Gull, American Robin, Savannah Sparrow, and American Tree Sparrow graced the East early and late in the period.