Posted by Paul on August 12, 2002 at 21:04:43:
In a conversation with friends in Chicago area I learned that robins have already moved south, the starlings are massing, and red-winged blackbirds are passing in flocks. What gives? I have sandhill cranes flying around Coral springs, Wood Storks in the pond by the toll gate on the Sawgrass, White ibis on the median of University Drive,and redstarts and prothonotary warblers moving through. This is the earliest I have seen this action and my friends up north are also mystified. Other interesting observations; the brown thrashers did not sing much this year, very few cedar waxwings passed through, and robins seemed to overfly the PArkland/Coral springs area. I have logged over ten mockingbird nests that were abandoned by the parents after laying one or two eggs, and on three occsions I have witnessed shrike or mockingbirds locked in battle and they wouldn't let go until I walked up on them. I do believe they would have tried to kill one another. It is a strange spring and summer. Anyone else with unusual field activity?