Yearly Archives: 2022

Waterbird Count Update: May 6-12

This past week at the waterbird count has represented the longest stretch of favorable migration conditions I’ve ever experienced at WPBO: there have been no sustained periods of strong north winds; no lasting fog. Not surprisingly, the birding has been favorable, too! It feels like we’re on the cusp of the peak scoter, Long-tailed [...]

2022-08-12T09:44:26-04:00May 13th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Update: May 6-12

Owl Update 5/11/2022

We experienced another fairly productive owl migration this past week. We banded 110 owls, including 58 Northern Saw-whet Owls, which has us currently at 300 saw-whets banded for the season. We banded 46 more Long-eared Owls, which has us at 194 Long-eared Owls for the season. Unfortunately, no Boreal Owls were banded this past [...]

2023-03-23T02:34:03-04:00May 11th, 2022|Owl Banding|Comments Off on Owl Update 5/11/2022

Hawk-cyclone

Oh, what a sight to behold! On unseen currents they spin, flashing like silversides in the sun, Broad-winged Hawks numbering in the thousands. Twisting, turning, gliding, and churning, higher and higher, they rise and blossom into a great mushroom cloud at an unimaginable altitude. They fill the sky as they funnel out to find [...]

2022-08-12T09:45:01-04:00May 10th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Hawk-cyclone

Loons on the Move! Waterbird Count April 29–May 5

The most exciting event at WPBO's waterbird count this week has been the big loon push. This is, for me, a favorite part of spring. The loons are the vanguards of the opening migration floodgates. They signal the onset of a month that passes — like the white wedge on the outer limits of [...]

2022-08-12T09:46:10-04:00May 6th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Loons on the Move! Waterbird Count April 29–May 5

Owl Update 5/4/2022

We finally had a calm weather week, and the owl migration continued to be relatively productive. We banded 106 owls over the last seven nights, highlighted by another six Boreal Owls and 65 more Long-eared Owls. It's become apparent that Northern Saw-whet Owls are at a low point in their cycle this spring, but [...]

2022-05-04T12:08:18-04:00May 4th, 2022|Owl Banding|Comments Off on Owl Update 5/4/2022

Woke Up This Morning

I woke up this morning and brewed my coffee extra strong. My head was still reeling from a whirlwind weekend of raptors and visitors brought up to Whitefish Point by sunny skies, favorable winds, and warmer temperatures that reached way up into the 40s! Yet, before I even opened my eyes, I was seeing [...]

2022-08-12T09:46:44-04:00May 3rd, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Woke Up This Morning

Waterbird Count Week 2 (April 22-28): Bird Time

At WPBO, we measure things less by day or date than we do by seasonal happenings. See, for example: “The day the snow slid off the roof;” “The night the spring peepers began to sing;” “The day the sky was full of cranes and their voices.” Instead of observing Daylight Savings Time, the owl [...]

2022-08-12T09:48:14-04:00April 29th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Week 2 (April 22-28): Bird Time

Owl Update 4/27/2022

This week was unexpectedly productive after experiencing a particularly disappointing stretch of owl migration prior to our last blog post. As we looked at the extended weather forecast as we wrote last week’s blog, it looked like we would be lucky to get even one night of banding in this past week. Not only [...]

2022-04-27T14:53:33-04:00April 27th, 2022|Owl Banding|Comments Off on Owl Update 4/27/2022

The Times They Are a-Changing

After weeks of staring at largely lackluster skies, the last few days have, without a doubt, proved that migration is fully underway here at Whitefish Point. Not only is your friendly neighborhood raptor counter seeing more raptors, but I also see more bare ground after rains, and warmer temperatures have melted much of the [...]

2022-08-12T09:49:00-04:00April 26th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on The Times They Are a-Changing

Waterbird Count Week 1 (15-21 April): The Welcomings

This is my third spring conducting WPBO’s spring waterbird count. I am delighted to be back, for I love Whitefish Point, and in particular, I love observing spring migration here. The season is short, the flights intense, the hours of migration run around the clock. With the whole season ahead of me, there is [...]

2022-08-12T09:50:34-04:00April 22nd, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Week 1 (15-21 April): The Welcomings
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