[texbirds] Monitoring spring bird migration using NEXRAD weather radar
- From: "John Arvin" <jarvin@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "New Texbirds" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "LABIRD-L" <LABIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <jarvin@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:27:39 -0500
There has been little obvious bird migration on NEXRAD radar imagery during
the days for the past week or so. Yet, migrants are arriving as evidenced
by posts to the list serves, but numbers remain low. Radial velocity (shows
direction and relative speed) imagery shows some movement, albeit scattered
and light moving northward along the Texas coast to the Lake Charles
coverage area (New Orleans NEXRAD has been down for maintenance all week).
This coastwise movement necessitates a curve to the right at the Texas
coastal bend, a clear indication that some of the reflectivity visible is
due to birds. Upper winds are SSW to SW and in the 30 knot range coastwise.
A dry front is due to cross the region late Saturday into Sunday.
Unfortunately the long range forecast indicates that yet another dry spring
is in the offing, not good news in Texas where this will be the third year
of devasting drought. The coastwise movement hinted at by radar is likely
herons, gulls and terns, swallows, and other day flying migrants. These are
stacking up on the west shore of Galveston Bay and are approaching Lake
Charles from the SW. Check out weather.rap.ucar.edu/radar/
about 9 p.m. Set the display to show the previous 3 hours. There sholuld be
a bloom a little after sunset growing with time as the air fills with
birds, bats, and insects. This will increase in impressiveness as the
season progresses.
jca
John C. Arvin
Research Associate
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
103 West Hwy 332
Lake Jackson, TX 77566
jarvin@xxxxxxxx
www.gcbo.org
Austin, Texas
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