Máistir Nádúraí: Spring Migration 2005 Data

5.31.2005

Spring Migration 2005 Data

(click on image for larger version)

This US map shows nocturnal bird migration via NexRad shortly after exodus on May 17th, 2005. Those swarms you see throughout the Ohio Valley, Midwest and clear down to south Texas are not storms…they’re birds!

John Idzikowski of Milwaukee keeps detailed records and monitors each night’s migration via NexRad during spring and fall. Often times he will email the Wisconsin Birding Network when migration is exceptional so birders have a “heads-up” for great birding the following morning. It's a great prognostication tool.

Here is a graph compiled by John showing NexRad for Milwaukee DBZ level by date for this spring:

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John recently added a Spring Migration Summary to his website.

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.