With the advent of spring and the blooming flowers and leafing trees, come the migratory birds. We've already seen the Killdeer and Red-winged Blackbirds. What's next?
I heard a song outside earlier today that was new for this season. It reminded me of the Baltimore Oriole song - strong and melodious - I could hear it even with all the windows closed. Robins can be loud like that, but it was louder than a robin. I couldn't see it to identify it, but it got me thinking about the appearance of our summer songbirds.
Wouldn't it be nice if there were maps that tracked the progress of the migratories? A guide to let us know when to put our species specific feeders out? You know - for the hummingbirds and orioles. Say no more! There ARE such maps!
While searching for information about when to expect the orioles, I came upon this site:
Journey North. Not only does it have a map for the orioles flight north, but also for hummingbirds, Monarch butterflies, Whooping cranes, singing frogs, as well as others.
Click on graphic to enlarge
While it looks like it will be another month before I can realistically expect to see our orioles, I'm putting out the feeder anyway. They've been sighted in southern Ohio and southern Illinois. It seems we are having an early spring, and as I learned on the site, another factor coming into play regarding migration is that the birds appear as the trees are leafing out, due to increased insect activity.
I love the internet.
"Bejeweled"
7 comments:
Journey North is a great website. I refer to it a lot for the Monarch info.
Love your photos!
I remember that map last year with the monarchs but I guess I didn't really investigate it thoroughly. What fun to see who is coming and when they are due. I do like your pictures of the Grosbeak and the Oriele. I haven't seen an Oriele for years. We did have a Grosbeak last year and the year before.
Cameron ~ Thanks, Cameron! I usually go to MonarchWatch.org for Monarch info, but this is kind of a go-to place for several things, which I like.
Janet ~ We have an Oriole that comes every year. The Grosbeak skipped us last year. I sure hope he stops by here this year! I loved it when he was here. Rather a friendly bird!
Oriole's are so pretty. I saw them last year in the area but not in my yard so I put out a feeder last week hoping to draw some into the yard. I hope so anyway.I heard you have to catch there eye to get them to stay so our orange feeders may do the trick. I hope so. I have two pairs of Blue birds this spring and I am so excited about that. I will keep adding a new blue bird house each year to get more into the yard. I just love the markings on the clown birds. So pretty. I hope you get some orioles Kylee.
Hello dear Kylee,
A sleepless night for me so thought I'd visit your garden. The bird photos made me happy.
A garden without birds is like a playground without the happy sounds of children.
Love to you and your Mom,
Sharon Lovejoy
Journey North is a wonderful resource. Long before we had our first computer, there was a man on a local radio program who would request that we mail in postcards to report when our lake froze over in the fall-or when the ice went off in the spring. Phenology is so interesting. And he'd ask for reports about the first Red winged Blackbird or Hummingbird, Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (the big 3). And then he in turn would relay that information to the folks at Journey North, back when it was still in its infancy.
The first year that those amazing interactive Hummingbird migration maps were posted on the website, I would literally giggle at the approach of the Hummers. It was so cool to track their progress.
It was a click of pure joy when I was able to finally add 'my' FOY (first of the year) Hummingbird to the map!
Here in Wisconsin we have a similar project for reporting the arrival of the Common Loons to our lakes. It is sponsored by a college for environmental education and is called Loon Watch. Volunteers can contribute to the 'citizen' science by observing & reporting Loon behavior. And we have been dubbed 'Loon Rangers'. A badge that I wear proudly.
There is so much anticipation and joy in regard to the signs of the arrival of spring.
Heck, Journey North even has a newsletter that they call 'Tulip Garden'.
That would be right up your alley, Kylee!
The Interwebs is a lovely, lovely place, Kylee. Our redwings and grackles are back, the crows are building nests, the ducks are checking out our pond, the green frogs are glunking...and it's foggy and chilly here while others bask in heat. Sigh. Oh well.
Happy Easter to you and your family, dear friend!
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