Radar Migration September 21, 2015
Here we go again! This was the radar last night around 11:00PM EST, full of nocturnal migrant birds pouring to the south after yesterday’s cold front. Go out and find them this morning and then their friends (or maybe more accurately foes) in the sky with diurnal raptor migration going on all day. Good birding to you!
Read MoreBoothe Park Hawk Watch 2015 Season
We are now well into the fall hawk watch season as sites across the country are staffed by citizen scientists engaged in counting raptors heading south for the winter. Various hawk, falcon, vulture, eagle, and kite species plus birds like the Osprey, Northern Harrier and even some owls can be tallied on conducive flight days at migratory hotspots often situated along ridges or at the edge of a body of water. Counting these birds helps keep track of raptor populations on an international scale, gauging the health of these important predator species that have often been threatened by human...
Read MoreRadar Migration September 11, 2015
This was the eastern radar a few hours after sunset last night – wow! What did you see out there this morning? It seems like there were many thrushes in flight overnight, and I found Catbird City outside a few hours ago. Here comes the next front through the Midwest and then the Northeast today, and we need the water. It should be good early week period for all sorts of passerines and raptors. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreRadar Migration September 10, 2015
This eastern radar screenshot was taken just before midnight as the birds have lifted off with extremely heavy nocturnal migration occurring everywhere to the west of the cold front on those lovely northerly winds. New England is being mostly shut out of the passerine movement tonight as precipitation remains over the region. The cool air will continue to pour in behind the front making for a strong diurnal raptor migration day Friday at hawk watch sites, and then a great Saturday morning for everyone in the Northeast. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreRed Admiral Feeding
The Red Admiral butterfly parade continues! Many have been pouring through the north, and are often noted as having been a primary Purple Martin food source this summer with bits of them left at gourd colonies. This individual paused for a moment and actually allowed me to snap off a shot as many typically have been flying by me without a second look. This sort of flight year really does help our aerial insectivores, a good example of the importance of our food web from bottom to top. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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