*Too long didn't read (TL/DR)*: despite the possibility of snow this weekend (and a good amount of it), we are in for some really nice wind patterns that are quite conducive for migrants from Mexico/Texas.
*For those with more time on their hands* Start here: https://earth.nullschool.net/#2021/03/11/1900Z/wind/isobaric/850hPa/orthographic=-103.83,37.33,1638/loc=-105,40 This is the 850mb winds (about 1 - 1.5km off the ground in places like SE Texas and the Gulf of Mexico). This map is for Noon on Thursday (NOT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MOVEMENT!). Take a look at the pattern you are seeing there for "us" (Boulder is highlighted as a Green circle). You can also see the Colorado river and the Arkansas river nicely on the map for easier reference. The pattern looks open for migration, but nothing major and no real concentrating factors are included in that pattern. By clicking on the "Earth" button in the bottom left corner, you can bring up a menu to navigate into the future further. On the line in that menu that starts with "Control" you can use the "<< < > >>" buttons to jump forward or backward in time. The website creator has recently changed the time jumps that are made with each button so keep track of that. ">>" is 8 hours into the future, ">" is 1 hour into the future and the same for going backwards in time. Step through the times through Saturday and Sunday (if those times are available to you when you read this post). Watch the wind pattern change dramatically and start to give us in Colorado a prolonged period of good migrant conditions. Over the next few days, you should do this same process and see how the pattern looks to be changing. This will dictate where the best conditions will be for concentrating migrants and you will see that it changes from day to day. We may think of the standard quotation, "go birding in bad weather". This weather situation will most likely be one of those types of events (expecting snow in Northern and Eastern Colorado from this and in some places upwards of a foot or more snow [some uncertainty still remains, so don't quote me on this]). At certain times, the best convergence will be more in northern Colorado from a long-distance migrant's perspective, but later in the storm, it will likely be better conditions in southern Colorado. See if you can find the best spots and at which times. If you are not quite understanding what I mean and need me to point you to a much different time on the website that looks good for migrants, try this one: https://earth.nullschool.net/#2021/03/12/1300Z/wind/isobaric/850hPa/orthographic=-103.83,37.33,1638/loc=-105.000,40.000 >From the green circle (Boulder, CO), track the winds backwards to an origin region. You should get somewhere in the vicinity of Veracruz, Mexico. And that is looking like it is going to happen for a good amount of time (6-12 hours or more depending on your tracking location). Use Dave Leatherman's mentality if you go out on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Track where the good food sources are earlier in the week and then go there on the weekend to see if new birds have shown up. There is a good chance they will in this storm system. Lots of open flyways. If I neglected to tell you something, or you wanted more info, please feel free to ask. Lots of people like these posts and want to read more about the situations, but sometimes they are afraid to ask. We are all learners here (including me), so ask questions so everyone can learn. See you out in the field over the weekend (wearing a mask or socially-distancing). Fill your feeders and good birding to you, Bryan Bryan Guarente Meteorologist/Instructional Designer UCAR/The COMET Program Boulder, CO -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAENnWHvC%2B4ikW9Vss6mp20VH3hq2_Pj4Jgu-f3-OBFGyothtQA%40mail.gmail.com.
