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Posted by Paul-the-other on 06:04:46 03/26/11
Apropo to the low migration count listed below this thought occurs to me.
Hurricane Wilma, a late October event for the Gulf and Florida had several unique aspects. It grew to extraordinary size in very short time as it approached Florida, it was an immense size covering most of the lower Gulf, it came at an angle that pushed great tidal surges up and over the Keys and then dragged the water back down over the same area in under 4 hours, had exceptional forward speed crossing Florida in 4.5 hours, had winds from 145-175 mph, and most important it struck Florida from a SW to NE course line near the time of migration. (Pulling luckless birds down from Georgia, pushing them west into the Gulf, and driving any hapless bird south into into the Caribbean)This was 2005. Factor in the average life of warblers (being the tiny lightweights under discussion) and the question comes to mind...could they have been reduced significantly in number to account for the decline in population noted in migration. These small creatures here, on the way here, or on the way to S.America (and back) would be subject to impossible winds, nearly no vegetation and attached insects, and destruction all the way from Tampa to Cozumel. Additionally the storm brought down very cold temperatures adding to the plight of the smaller migrants. Add into the equation normal life spans, low egg production, and the ordinary vagaries of wildlife could it not just be that what we see here is the conclusion of events six years past?
See brief summary of Wilma at link below. Not truly a scientific journal but it gives a snappy overview.
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