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Posted by John Boyd on 08:17:41 04/06/07
I decided it's time to post a lengthy response to Toe's series of postings because its clear that he is grossly misleading other birders about migration in south Florida this year. When people respond to Toe's confusion by thinking they shouldn't visit, there is a problem.
Toe's list shows just how confused he is about migration.
Several of the species listed are primarily winter residents in south Florida. For them, spring migration means the disappear. We do not see them on spring migration, just as we do not see Waxwings, Gnatcatchers, or Robins on spring migration.
These include: Marbled Godwit, American Avocet, Whimbrel, Gull-billed Tern, and Wilson's Warbler.
He also includes some pelagic rarities. You have to be lucky to see them...very lucky. Of them, Manx Shearwater may winter nearby and the other two are local.
This reduces his list to 13 species, some of which are present in small numbers in winter. Here it is useful to understand a little about migration. Many passerines migrate at night. They travel hundreds of miles in a single flight, many directly crossing the gulf. Even if they come via Cuba (and many don't), they just keep going unless forced to stop (bad weather).
The passerines that show up early in north Florida are primarily breeders. They just make direct flights to their summer home. These include Hooded and Swainson's Warblers and Red-eyed Vireo. Although not a passerine, Mississippi Kite is also a north Florida breeder. To the extent we see these in spring, we see later birds heading farther north.
We are now down to 9 species. Two are rare in south Florida: American Golden-Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper. They aren't seen every year.
Toe seems to be ignoring sightings of Solitary Sandpiper, Chimney Swift and Baltimore Oriole.
In reality this is about 4 species: Least Tern, Common Nighthawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue Grosbeak.
Blue Grosbeak is most interesting. There's some evidence these make an early (ca. Feb 1) migration into south Florida, then stay for a couple of months. However, they seem particular about habitat and unless you know where to look, you may not see them.
The others are local breeders and it is about time to start seeing them. E.g., nighthawks typically start arriving April 6-12.
Of course, expected birds at expected times don't necessarily get mentioned on the birdboard and it is unreasonable to think that they should.
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