WEATHER LINKS

Anyone that follows migration closely knows that weather plays a big part in it. Below are a list of links from various weather related sites that I have found helpful. If you want to know why weather plays such a big part in migration read thisarticle.

current doppler & map!!
Maps provided from The Weather Channel

[Purdue Weather Processor-weather maps and charts- good. | N.east Dopplar radar (current) ]
[ North American Jetstream | Forcasted N. American Jetstream ]
[ FSL National Infrared GOES Satellite Loop | Weather Information Superhighway ]
[ Live Weather Images | NOAA Reginal Analisis and Prediction (wind dir.& speed, ect.) ]

This article is still in draft form but I wanted to get something on here until I have finished writing the final copy- when I get some spare time- hopefully soon.

Geographical features such as ridges, peninsulas, coast lines and or large bodies of water will concentrate hawks and song birds during migration in spring and fall.. Because of the geography of certain sites, it makes them a better spot to view migrating birds at these times. In the spring the prevailing winds in the U.S. are out of the southwest, and the fall they are from the northwest. During the spring the birds are primarily concentrated along the southern side of Lake Ontario, and scattered most everywhere else. In the Fall the songbirds primarily migrate along the coasts and raptors along the coasts and ridges.

In the fall places like Cape May, Duluth, Hawk Mountain, and Kiptopeke, and in the spring places like Braddock Bay, and Derby Hill (in the eastern U.S.) are very good spots to watch migrating birds.

I will be using some of these spots to show examples of why weather plays a part in migration. Fist of all I should say this, no matter what the weather is birds will still migrate. But if the weather is optimum, and I'll describe what that means in a minute, we will see better migration, because there will be a larger concentration. In the fall the optimum conditions is a passage of a strong cold front that brings strong northerly winds. In the spring optimum conditions are a passage of a warm front with strong southerly winds. In the fall and spring the exact direction and speed of the wind could tell you where to go to see the best hawk flights. For example if the winds were strong out of the northwest after the passage of a cold front in the fall, Cape May would be an excellent choice. In the Spring if the winds were strong out of the southwest after the passage of a warm front Braddock Bay, New York would be a good choice. But if the winds were out of southeast in the spring Derby Hill would be a better choice. Obviously any moisture would put a damper on hawk watching, Hawks migrate better under a stiff wind with partly cloudy conditions being the best to view them. Passerines will migrate during similar conditions to those above with the exception being they like a little bit milder of a wind, and sometimes a little light rain makes things even better. Earlier in the morning is the best time to watch passerines and mid morning to mid afternoon is the best time to view hawks.

I hope you find this article helpful, it is only in draft form and hope to be updating it soon.

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