Intense Bird Migration Last Night

Scarlet tanager, 2011 (photo by Steve Gosser)
Scarlet tanager (photo by Steve Gosser)

7 May 2023

I haven’t seen a bright red scarlet tanager yet this Spring but I think today’s the day.

Last night from the Rockies to the East Coast nearly a billion birds flew overhead in the continental U.S. According to BirdCast‘s map 886.4 million birds were in the air at 1:00am. The bright white and yellow portions of the map were especially intense.

Bird migration forecast for the night of 6 May 2023 by BirdCast

The birds will land before dawn, perhaps in your neighborhood. I hope some of the prettiest choose Pittsburgh.

Here are a few of the species we’ll see today and in the week ahead in southwestern Pennsylvania. Check the migration forecast at BirdCast every day.

It’s time to get outdoors!

(photos by Steve Gosser, map screenshot from BirdCast)

3 thoughts on “Intense Bird Migration Last Night

  1. I have enjoyed your information on Peregrine Falcons. Birds have always interested me, and there is a nesting pair in Kalamazoo, Michigan that has a web cam (https://www.kalamazoofalcons.com/watch-falcon-cam/nest-cam-livestream). I have been wondering how far apart the nests are, or how large a territory the falcons maintain. I have read 2-3 miles, but it isn’t clear if that means 1-2 miles from the nest, or 2-3 miles from the nest. Birds are fascinating. No borders, no passports, no baggage, nothing. They just go, where and when they want. All of this goes on unnoticed by a lot of people. Thanks for your website.

  2. Had Black and White Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler at SGL 95 in northern Butler County yesterday (Saturday), but none of the others you picture in your slideshow. A couple other birders noted that it was quite quiet also. Can’t get up there today, but hopefully the birding will be booming there next weekend!

    1. Stephen, today was great in Schenley. First of Spring white-crowned sparrow, Hooded warbler, black-billed cuckoo, veery, red-eyed vireo, least flycatcher plus (first seen on 5/5) black-throated blue warbler & Tennessee warbler. Amazingly the American bittern was still there! So far I’ve seen or heard everything on the slideshow except a magnolia warbler, which comes later anyway.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *