Comments on: Eight Intriguing Migration Mysteries Solved With BirdCast and eBird

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:04:39 +0000

I have recently seen some loons in our neighborhood ponds in Chandler AZ. That’s a first for me. Is that a common occurance?

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 03:53:17 +0000

When Northern Lapwings end up in NE America what happens with them ? Do they find their way back to where they would normally migrate to?

By: Bill Pretlow

Bill Pretlow — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 04:49:00 +0000

We live in the Sonoran Desert near Phoenix. Abert’s Towhees commonly visit our feeders. One year, a Spotted Towhee showed up even though we are far from its natural range. Normally, the Abert’s are peaceful, shy creatures, but they harassed the Spotted bird unmercifully.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:53:58 +0000

In reply to MiTmite9. I so enjoyed your comment. Where can I experience the same thing as you have?

By: MiTmite9

MiTmite9 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:25:58 +0000

Not recently, but in years past I have been outside at night and heard migrating birds peeping to one another. It is a magical and thrilling sound for me.

By: David Davis

David Davis — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 20:19:24 +0000

Interesting article–thanks. We have property in the mountains of NW Virginia where we do most of our birding and eBirding. I have often wondered what proportion of fall migrants there come from the north (northern tier states and/or Canada) vs. higher altitudes in the Appalachians (and obviously, I’m referring only to those species that have breeding populations in both, like Magnolia and Canada Warblers, Swamp Sparrows, juncos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, among several others). I suspect that both show up but probably at different times as the Appalachian birds only have to travel 30 or 40 miles, mostly downslope, to reach us while the northern birds must traverse hundreds of miles. In a potentially related phenomenon, in late summer (August) we usually have a number of species show up in our little habitat-rich valley that breed locally but at higher elevations–some less than 5 miles away. Examples are Ovenbirds, Worm-eating Warblers, and Am. Redstarts. I suspect that they come into our valley for the richer food supply and more abundant water than that available on the higher, drier slopes. Has anyone explored these two questions? If not, it seems to me that they would make interesting topics of scientific and conservation value. Keep up the great work.

By: Sampson

Sampson — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 18:46:04 +0000

I live at about 4,500ft in the Southern Sierras. I have lived here for 20 years. I have only seen Mountain Chickadees maybe twice down at this elevation and just for a day or two. I have seen and heard them up higher on our mountains at around 6,000ft quite often. This is the first year I have a cute little Mountain Chickadee that has stayed around for over a week and is eating out of my birdfeeder! I fill it with safflower and black oil sunflower seeds and see lots of species feed but never this one until now. While my husband and I enjoy seeing this darling little bird we wonder why it has decided to stay so long.