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> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_d1uUjCLlBEgoV7/4ET2+yg) Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Subject: Spring migration running slightly behind schedule as we wait for nice weather -- Daily News, Sunday, April 15, 2007 Daily News, Sunday, April 15, 2007 COLUMNS Last updated at 7:57 AM on 01/04/07 Spring migration running slightly behind schedule as we wait for nice weather CLARENCE STEVENS The Daily News Although many of our winter birds are still lingering, it is the spring migration that now dominates the birding landscape. It, in turn, is strongly shaped by the unpredictable forces of early spring weather. As goes the weather, so do the birds. This is a dangerous time of year, when late snows can lead to the death of thousands of birds, and even change for a time the more northerly limits of a species breeding range. Breeding purple martins, for example, have been almost non-existent in Nova Scotia in recent years due to a late storm a few springs ago. This spring we once again hope that some colony to the south of our borders will become too full and will send individuals northward to help re-populate our province. However, it will not be until near the end of April that we will have a better idea of whether this will happen this year, or the next, or many years down the road. The migration decision of each species of bird is not solely dependent on the weather, but it is strongly influenced by it. While the weather is erratic, the general spring climate changes more slowly, causing patterns to appear in the migration of most species. This means that we have certain times that we expect birds to return to our province, based upon their average return dates over the past couple of decades. However, with a spurt of good weather, the spring migration can suddenly leap far ahead of the normal patterns. A stint of bad weather can equally delay the expected arrival of species. This spring, for example, at the start of the third week of March, the general migration was proceeding ahead of schedule by at least a week. Only one week later, it was falling slightly behind schedule, and by the end of March, the migration was running at least a week late and as many as 10 days late for some species. Fortunately, it only takes a nice day or two for things to change. This means that right now, the big change over from winter to spring birds has not yet taken place in our province. Sure, many of our winter birds are gone and some spring birds have arrived, but the big numbers are still missing. For instance, the first vanguard of American robins have swept through, but the main population is yet to arrive. While bird populations as a whole are behind schedule due to weather, some individuals are running well ahead of expected times. A lone American kestrel has arrived seven days early, and an Eastern phoebe reported this week was not expected back until April 10. This is likely due to a splash-over from Maine, where American kestrels and Eastern phoebes have also arriving early this year. On the other side of the coin, American woodcocks are finally arriving there in numbers much later than expected, while here in Nova Scotia they are still almost non-existent. Clarence Stevens operates Natural Wonders, a nature interpretation company, and is the author of Birding Metro Halifax. To pass along your bird reports contact Clarence at dnbirder@yahoo.ca. Clarence Stevens's other columns: For a sneak peek at our birding future, check out who's arriving in Maine 25/03/07 7:41 AM Barn owl sightings rare in Nova Scotia 18/03/07 7:28 AM --Boundary_(ID_d1uUjCLlBEgoV7/4ET2+yg) Content-type: text/html; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>FW: Spring migration running slightly behind schedule as we wait for nice weather -- Daily News, Sunday, April 15, 2007</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <BR> <B>Subject: </B>Spring migration running slightly behind schedule as we wait for nice weather -- Daily News, Sunday, April 15, 2007<BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Arial">Daily News, Sunday, April 15, 2007<BR> </FONT></FONT> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#BB0000"><B>COLUMNS</B></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#A0A0A0"><I>Last updated at 7:57 AM on 01/04/07</I> </FONT> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#BB0000"><B>Spring migration running slightly behind schedule as we wait for nice weather</B></FONT> <BR> <BR> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#BB0000"><B>CLARENCE STEVENS</B></FONT><B> <BR> The Daily News<BR> </B><BR> Although many of our winter birds are still lingering, it is the spring migration that now dominates the birding landscape. It, in turn, is strongly shaped by the unpredictable forces of early spring weather. As goes the weather, so do the birds.<BR> <BR> This is a dangerous time of year, when late snows can lead to the death of thousands of birds, and even change for a time the more northerly limits of a species breeding range.<BR> <BR> Breeding purple martins, for example, have been almost non-existent in Nova Scotia in recent years due to a late storm a few springs ago. This spring we once again hope that some colony to the south of our borders will become too full and will send individuals northward to help re-populate our province. However, it will not be until near the end of April that we will have a better idea of whether this will happen this year, or the next, or many years down the road.<BR> <BR> The migration decision of each species of bird is not solely dependent on the weather, but it is strongly influenced by it. While the weather is erratic, the general spring climate changes more slowly, causing patterns to appear in the migration of most species. This means that we have certain times that we expect birds to return to our province, based upon their average return dates over the past couple of decades.<BR> <BR> However, with a spurt of good weather, the spring migration can suddenly leap far ahead of the normal patterns. A stint of bad weather can equally delay the expected arrival of species.<BR> <BR> This spring, for example, at the start of the third week of March, the general migration was proceeding ahead of schedule by at least a week. Only one week later, it was falling slightly behind schedule, and by the end of March, the migration was running at least a week late and as many as 10 days late for some species.<BR> <BR> Fortunately, it only takes a nice day or two for things to change. This means that right now, the big change over from winter to spring birds has not yet taken place in our province.<BR> <BR> Sure, many of our winter birds are gone and some spring birds have arrived, but the big numbers are still missing. For instance, the first vanguard of American robins have swept through, but the main population is yet to arrive.<BR> <BR> While bird populations as a whole are behind schedule due to weather, some individuals are running well ahead of expected times. A lone American kestrel has arrived seven days early, and an Eastern phoebe reported this week was not expected back until April 10.<BR> <BR> This is likely due to a splash-over from Maine, where American kestrels and Eastern phoebes have also arriving early this year.<BR> <BR> On the other side of the coin, American woodcocks are finally arriving there in numbers much later than expected, while here in Nova Scotia they are still almost non-existent.<BR> <BR> Clarence Stevens operates Natural Wonders, a nature interpretation company, and is the author of Birding Metro Halifax. To pass along your bird reports contact Clarence at dnbirder@yahoo.ca. <BR> <BR> <BR> <B>Clarence Stevens's</B> other columns: <BR> <UL><LI><FONT COLOR="#BB0000">For a sneak peek at our birding future, check out who's arriving in Maine </FONT><FONT COLOR="#A0A0A0"><I>25/03/07 7:41 AM</I> </FONT> <LI><FONT COLOR="#BB0000">Barn owl sightings rare in Nova Scotia </FONT><FONT COLOR="#A0A0A0"><I>18/03/07 7:28 AM</I> </FONT> <BR> </UL><BR> <BR> </BODY> </HTML> --Boundary_(ID_d1uUjCLlBEgoV7/4ET2+yg)--
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