30 December 2023
During the last week my husband and I traveled to Virginia to discuss with circle of relatives, the similar travel we made a yr in the past simply as an enormous chilly entrance swept around the japanese US. Final yr temperatures dipped to 13 levels F in Virginia. This yr the elements used to be delicate within the higher 40s to low 60s. The temperature made a distinction in what number of birds I noticed at the travel. Imagine it or no longer there have been fewer birds in delicate climate!
As an example, on each journeys I visited Again Bay Nationwide Natural world Safe haven. In 2022 it used to be neatly beneath freezing but I noticed 29 species together with hundreds of waterfowl: Canada ducks, 250-300 tundra swans, gadwall, wigeons, black geese, ring-necked geese, scaup, ruddy geese, and coots (see tick list right here).
This yr I noticed best 18 species and the water birds have been decreased to actually a handful every of Canada ducks (heard), tundra swans (heard), gadwall and pied-billed grebes (tick list right here). In the meantime probably the most plentiful species used to be 40-50+ yellow-rumped warblers feasting on myrtle berries.
This yr’s El Niño is has definitely affected the birds. At the East Coast it’s heat sufficient that many don’t have to return south to seek out meals.
Will temperature make a distinction throughout lately’s Pittsburgh Christmas Fowl Rely? I think precipitation could have a bigger have an effect on. There’s a 90% likelihood of snow showers after which rain. 🙁