Rosyfinch Ramblings
Comments are not moderated here - please visit NEW SITE FOR ROSYFINCH.COM
Categories:

Archives:
Meta:
February 2008
M T W T F S S
« Jan   Mar »
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829  
02/21/08
The Moon and Migration
Filed under: General, Birding & Outdoors, Florida & SE US
Posted by: Ken @ 10:44 am

Cloud cover permitted us only a few glimpses of the full eclipse of the
moon on the night of February 20. I tried to photograph it, but with
poor results. While I was watching the moon “ride” through the clouds,
I missed a tremendous photo opportunity. A passenger jet making its
downwind approach to the Fort Lauderdale Airport passed directly over
the moon’s face. Unfortunately, I was viewing this through binoculars,
not the SLR viewer of my camera. Unbelievably, another jet did the same
thing about 30 minutes later, and I missed that shot as well. This is
my best image of the eclipse, so you may guess how bad the others were!

Lunar eclipse Feb 20 2008

The ancients had numerous theories about where birds spent their time after they disappeared in the fall and returned each spring. The moon figures prominently in both one of the oldest theories and in our present understanding of migration. They hibernated, hiding away in a torpid state, or, as some maintained, underwater or in the mud of marshes.  Aristotle believed they transmuted back and forth between other species that were present only in the winter. Another belief was that they spent their winters on the moon.

Even many of those who recognized that birds escaped the winter by moving to lower elevations and to warmer climates had trouble imagining how the very small ones could ever have enough energy to carry out such an enormous effort. They theorized that small birds hitchhiked on the backs of larger ones. Nowadays we can actually witness the nocturnal migration of small birds by simply watching them cross the face of the moon. There is experimental proof that some birds rely on the stars for navigation, but the timing of flights in some species, such as Red Knots, is linked to the phase of the moon.

An excellent source of information about migration is this USFWS brochure: Migration of Birds, Circular 16, which is downloable as a PDF file.

For every species, there are many unanswered questions about the details of their migration. Some information can be gathered readily, such as dates of arrival and departure from various locations. Some birders are experts at identifying certain species by the sound of their calls as they pass overhead in the night. Banding and recapturing banded birds provides objective data about the movement of individuals. Color-tagging and fitting birds with radio transmitters allows tracking and observation of behavior. Isotope studies of feathers can sometimes tell where the bird was located when the feathers formed. Radar reveals the the staggering biomass of bird flights during migration. Here in South Florida the Key West weather radar clearly tracks birds to and from Cuba and other points, north and south. The National Weather Service Web site  has very technical instructions on how to capture images from prior time periods, but this Badbirdz Web site does it for you.

Badbirdz carries on the tradition of Noel Wamer, who provided us with wonderful screen captures of radar loops during migration until his untimely death only a few months after we moved to Florida in 2004. The Badbirdz motto is “Keeping Noel’s dream alive, one migrant at a time.” The following is an image of a wave of birds moving towards Cuba last November:. You can view loops that cover the entire period from sunset to sunrise on November 3-4 here.

November 2007

comments (0)
Rosy Finches of New Mexico: Feb 21 Update
Filed under: General, Birding & Outdoors, NM & SW US, Sandia Crest
Posted by: Ken @ 7:57 am

Waving Flag-- Rosies have returnedUpdate on the Rosy-Finches of Sandia Crest, New Mexico.  The flag is waving–
Rosy-Finches are now visiting the feeders at Sandia Crest House.

BULLETIN: Matthew Medler, Science Coordinator of the Boreal Songbird Initiative, has informed me that National Geographic’s “Wild Chronicles’ program will be featuring a piece on Boreal Forest conservation efforts starting tonight.  It will include an interview with Jeff Wells about the massive migration of birds out of the Boreal each fall, as well as some stunning video footage.
 
This show will air on different dates in different cities across the country.  To see when it is airing near you, visit the Wild Chronicles web site:  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/donate/wildchronicles/
 
Earlier, I noted that Gil Bachmann, General Manager of the popular Kandahar Condominiums in Taos Ski Valley, is also a birder, though quite a busy one during snow and ski season. He sent me several very nice photos that capture the thrill of seeing hundreds of rosy-finches crowd into his feeders. Gil extends a kind invitation to any hardy birders that may wish to view the birds privately, but asks that you call him to give advance notice.

Gil’s report:

“Removing all the snow from the roofs and roadways and all the other issues relating to taking care of our guests has kept us all very busy.  No complaints, though.  Just heard that this year’s snow base is the best in 30 years!


 

“The flock of rosy finches seems to increase almost daily.  The flock has increased to at least 400, maybe up to 500.  “Thick as hair on a dog’s back” as we used to say in Missouri, when they descend on the feeders and the flower boxes full of sunflower seeds, and the deck floor around the feeders.  We have 4 of the flower box feeders and two hanging feeders.  At a given moment, they will all be filled with birds, with a greater number on the deck floor around the feeders, and another large number on the roof above the feeders.
 



“I am sending several pictures I’ve taken, to give an idea of the flurry of activity here… I will try to keep you informed of any changes in the rosy finch numbers as the season progresses.  And hopefully I will soon have more time to devote to counting the distribution of the 3 races.

“…We also extend the invitation to anyone who cares to observe the Rosy Finches or take pictures.Individuals are welcome at any time.  If a group were to want to spend several hours and even bring a lunch, they are welcome also.  We would appreciate advance notice if a group came.


 


“While viewing from our office windows is often very good, the best viewing can be done from the Manager’s condo.  There, one can sit just a few inches from the feeding birds.  With advance notice, I would be willing to welcome a group of up to 12 people in the condo.  There would be no charge for this.
 



“If anyone would wish to stay overnight here at the Kandahar, that can also be arranged.  Our weekends are all booked at this point, but there are many weekdays where we could accomodate a one or two night stay.  Condos are two bedroom, two bathroom units, that rent for $350 a night through March 11; $400 a night from March 12  through March 26; and $200 a night from March 27 through April 2.  Arrangements for these can be made by calling our office at 575-776-2226.  The finches are a daily pleasure for us here and the Kandahar!”

Although Brown-capped Rosy-Finches appear to overwhelm the Kandahar feeders, birders will recognize all three species of rosy-finches in the above photos. There is at least one adult Black, and I see a single White-crowned specimen, of the Coastal (Hepburn’s) race.



Crest House Sighting Logs for this and prior winters

Rosy-finch and Rio Grande Nature Center banding schedule

Updated table and link to spreadsheet of all banding results

Narrative reports from banders and visitors to the feeders:Correspondence

ID Tips: the four rosy-finch races at Sandia Crest

Check Weather, Webcams and Road Conditions

Return to ROSYFINCH.COM

comments (0)