Boots on the Ground Reports

[AlaskaDenise]

Anyone living in Alaska can report personal sightings of migratory birds.

I'm about 100 miles north of Anchorage(62N150W). At this time the ground is still frozen, covered with 2 feet of snow, and nights are below freezing, but the migratory birds ARE arriving. We've had a recent cold spell, but we're back to normal and things should melt quickly.

About 2 weeks ago the Bald Eagles arrived. They were probably the ones that spend winter near the ocean here.

Today Trumpeter Swans arrived here - despite the current weather. They will stay in whatever open water they find until they decide it's advantageous to venture further.

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[Mellie]

Re: Boots on the Ground Reports

Do you know which ones come from where? What species should we look for in your opinion?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Boots on the Ground Reports

Below is the Trumpter Swan migration map from http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=54

Normally Northern Wheatears are banded 100 miles north of here on May 18th. They just spent winter in Gambia, then flew through E. Turkey, etc.

I need to find the ETA for Arctic Warblers - they will be in the local mix also. They spent winter in Cambodia, Thailand, HK, etc. I do know they should be in Japan about now.

I'm going shopping today (75 mi. away) & will take my camera and GPS. With any luck I'll post some photos.

Just adding the map (cybu.jpg) for WA State - yellow is the migratory path.

View attachment 76

View attachment 77

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Boots on the Ground Reports

Only saw year round Mallards to the south.

I traveled south to a town where there is more open water and thawing ground. I didn't see any Swans, nor Eagles. The Eagles may have have finished dining on the thawing roadkills and and moved into the woods to partake of the thawing winterkills. In this town (Wasilla) there is one stream that has a small area that doesn't freeze over except during extreme cold. That opening is the year round home to about 50 Mallards. They are eating and drinking from puddles.

I suspect that next spring we may see some of what may have happened in Georgia and Azirbaijan this spring, i.e. thawing will activate infected frozen bird droppings and maintain that viability by keeping the temperatures at the proper levels (freezing at night and thawing during the day) to created an extended infectioius period.

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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Boots on the Ground Reports

Snowy:

Have the wetlands there been drying up? Ours are drying some and will disappear if the area warms only to 2 degrees more. The geese may need to find a new route that takes them to more water.

 

[LMonty]

Re: Boots on the Ground Reports

Spring has definitely arrived here, local birds are in a nest making frenzy. Dog hair from my shedding lab plopped on bushes makes a nice offering to the sparrows and chickadees- they scarf it up promptly.

Early narcissus blooms are already starting to fade- tulips, ready to follow them in the spring parade, are just about to shake out their blooms. Smudges of green are haloed over most bushes and trees- the landscape has jolted into green in the last three days.

Warmer, noticably; and the sunshine has taken on its spring time gentle caress rather than the winters distant promise of warmth. Birds are everywhere- and the blackbirds that seem to delight at pulling up and scattering my carefully planted onion sets have been at their practical joke for days now. Perhaps they find the symmetry objectionable. I'm not sure; I can hear them scolding, but I'm far too happpy with the sunshine to pay them much mind.

I smile as I push the little red and gold bulbs back into their appointed niches. Its only life, and sometimes that's messy.

 

[LMonty]

Re: Boots and Claws on the Ground Reports

Re: Boots and Claws on the Ground Reports

Snowy, if you are talking about Canada Geese- there doesnt seem to be much difference in the local population here in Southeast Wisconsin. Several weeks back the sky was black with them, one evening (I could date it back, if you need to know when) there were thousands in the sky.

The farmer next to me- his back field, the one i see out my back windows- has a couple to a dozen or more searching the field all the day long for food.

I know I havent been here long, this is only my second spring here in this area. So my observations should hold little weight against those more in touch with their land and seasons. But here, I see no obvious difference from last year. If anything, there seem to be more geese here. but i'm assuming thats observer bias on my part-
"red truck syndrome" - i just notice them more this year

I wonder-are the people who are seeing a difference nearer the coasts? If we can get enough reports, we may be able to map out the areas of change.

Shaman Dave Words still echo.

I dont recall this reference- do you have a link you can share so I can read? Txs

 

[Mellie]

Re: Boots on the Ground Reports

Thanks, Snowy, that's interesting.

I have a friend in Boise ID who went up to canada for a healing circle. She was told by the healing woman to prepare for a time when people and families would need to distance themselves from others. Many cultures seem to have a feeling that the earth is out of balance.

We have many tribes here in NorCal. I will ask around to see if they're prepping. Good friends - Crow and Nana - who I haven't seen in some time come to mind.

Have a goot time on your trek.