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Birds
Thu May 20, 2004
Listen in RealAudio 
All outdoor pastimes—from golfing to gardening to river rafting—are dependent on the
weather. But bird-watching may well be the most weather-dependent of all. Seasoned
birdwatchers say that, "Bad weather brings good birds." But it’s not just ANY bad
weather: birders look for the perfect combination of winds, fronts and pressure
systems to deliver just the right flock.
Those inspired by the sight of soaring hawks keep an eye out for low-pressure
systems dropping down over the Great Lakes in spring. Huge numbers of northbound
hawks take advantage of the thermals and tail winds kicked up in the warm sectors of
these lows. But since thermals die out over the cold lake waters, the raptors are forced
to congregate on the lakes’ southern shores—perfect for bird-watching. Alaska’s
western Aleutian Islands are sacred ground for birders, especially when strong low
pressure systems track just over or slightly north of the islands in late spring and fall.
Birds migrating from Japan become entrained in these storms, get swept out to sea,
and are forced to land on island outposts like Attu, St. Lawrence and St. Paul. Of
course, you’re bound to get a little wet when you’re out there with your binoculars but
it’s worth braving the elements to spot a Siberian Rubythroat, Gray Wagtail or
Long-toed Stint.
For the meteorologically intrepid there’s extreme bird-watching—like battling
hurricanes for a glimpse of bridled terns or pursuing snowy owls through lake effect
snow storms. Who would have guessed the connection between weather nuts and
bird nerds. You might even say they are birds of a feather! Sorry.
Blame Seattle writer David Laskin for today’s story. The Weather Notebook is
supported by the National Science Foundation, and Subaru: Driven By What’s Inside.
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