[texbirds] Fallout (longish)

  • From: dennis shepler <dawgler@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:42:50 -0700

Howdy  Texbirders,
It seems as though I remember members of our group saying, “Where are the
birds”, etc.,  a week or so ago (and more so, last year).  Well, we got our
“fallout” and it was spectacular (although I did miss the really monster
day yesterday…I’m in CA).  I have been thinking about the term fallout.  I
have had the opportunity to witness other spectacular days on the coast and
what I have known to be called a “fallout” occurred when a squall line or
the leading edge of a frontal system passes the coast and one can see the
birds “falling” (i.e. dropping) into the trees.  The passage of the most
recent front yielded what I think should be referred to as a “stack up”.
There seemed to be a continual flow of migrants off the Gulf and the birds
stuck to the woodlots, with more passerines “stacking up” behind the first
arrivals.  Not a big deal and just a semantics issue (and possibly
linguistics).  The reason for these comments is that I often hear folks on
the coast using the term and think that they really are not witnessing what
to me is a true fallout.  And, I must thank Jack Black for his famous
comments in the movie “The Big Year”, “…I’m going to Texas…There’s going to
be major fallout in a few hours”.

I also concur with Sheridan.  Storms such as these take their toll and are
a great tool of evolution. One might consider driving the beaches and
noting the species/number count of downed birds. I think we might go back
to hoping for strong southeast winds, but I will be present on the coast on
Thursday when the next (and hopefully) final front will hit.  If it is a
rainy front, I may get to see some “fallout” in Texas.

Dennis Shepler

In Marin County, CA

-- 
W. Dennis Shepler

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