Saltmarshes have long been in the way of “progress”. We’ve torn them out to plant crops, build houses, and drained them. Since they are designed to buffer the land behind them during periods of hurricanes or super high tide inundations, our changes have greatly diminished the beneficial effects we derive from them. And saltmarshes are the only […]
Birding Tag: Birds and Hurricanes
Birds Who Chase Hurricanes
For most birds, hurricanes are to be avoided at all costs. But some birds find them to be just what they need. Hurricane season coincides with early fall migration. Countless birds encounter hurricanes and high winds en route, and are either blown way off course, or are unable to survive. But for some birds, hurricanes are […]
Birds Blown Off Course During Migration
In an ironic twist, fall migration coincides with hurricane season. While already aloft on a treacherous flight, if a hurricane crosses a migratory pathway some birds are picked up by these huge weather systems and moved to a location they never expected to be in. In the past few weeks, there have been reports of about 100 […]
Can a Veery Predict the Hurricane Season?
Those tiny, 30-gram, brown birds with the enchanting song have more talents than they are typically given credit for. A recent scientific study shows these little birds can anticipate the strength of the upcoming hurricane season, giving them an advantage they sorely need during dangerous and taxing migrations. Research shows that over two decades the birds were […]