I provided a link to this yesterday but found it so helpful that I decided to provide more details for those who may have missed my first message.
NOAA and Cornell have teamed up to provide migration forecasts. Some info from their first report: Below are some of the species groups to watch for as this unusually early blast of warm air sets spring bird migration in motion. If you live in the southern United States or Mexico, you might watch for the early departure of some of these birds. Geese and swans – Snow, Canada, Cackling, Greater White-fronted, and Ross’s Geese should all be on the move with this weather system. Watch for them to potentially move north to staging areas in Nebraska, and possibly to Quebec and points further east. There is also a possibility that some western geese (Cackling, Greater White-fronted, and Ross's) could be displaced eastward with the strong southwesterly flow. Watch also for Tundra Swans departing the mid-Atlantic and heading up through the Great Lakes. Ducks – A range of puddle ducks and diving ducks could be moving, including Mallard, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, scaup, Bufflehead, and many others. The first arriving Blue-winged Teal and Wood Ducks may also appear. We expect waterfowl concentrations primarily at traditional staging grounds. Also watch for species like Northern Pintail in flocks of northbound Snow Geese. Since there is no significant rain forecast, inland duck fallouts are unlikely. Turkey Vulture – A classic March migrant, Turkey Vultures have been occurring as earlier and earlier migrants in recent years and have been overwintering with increasing frequency in more northern areas. Expect a good push of them on this warm blast. Osprey – In many areas where Ospreys don’t winter, they return in March, with exceptional arrivals (on the East Coast, at least) back at nests by late February. If you need Osprey for your local February list, this year could be your best bet! Other Raptors – Many hawks are on the move already in late February and March, and with conditions like these, the Great Lakes hawkwatches (e.g., Hawk Ridge (Duluth, MN), Braddock Bay, Derby Hill, and others) are apt to do quite well, depending on the daytime winds at each site. Many Rough-legged Hawks (and possibly a few Snowy Owls) will use this weather to move northward, along with Golden and Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks. Northern Goshawks could be on the move through the Great Lakes region. Killdeer – A late February/early March migrant, we are already seeing Killdeer on the move this year. Check out the 2012 January map compared to the February one and note the incursion into the upper Midwest. We can certainly expect more Killdeer with next week’s weather, setting up an earlier than average arrival across a broad front. American Woodcock – Woodcocks typically move into mid-latitudes starting in late February, with arrival in more northerly states in mid-March. Many places (as far north as Maine!) are already seeing pioneering woodcocks up to three weeks ahead of schedule, and like Killdeer, this pattern can be expected to continue. Watch for them in the evening in areas where old fields mix with younger woodlots. On calm evenings, you may hear them 'peenting' and displaying. Belted Kingfisher – Arrival in the northern half of the country usually begins in mid-March, but many have wintered farther north this year due to the unusual amount of open water. This could be an interesting species to watch; will their migration begin two weeks early given the mild winter and favorable winds? Swallows – Early returning Tree Swallows or (exceptionally) Barn Swallows could occur under these conditions too, so be alert for the vanguard of the swallow arrival. Sparrows – This early in the season many sparrows are stealthy migrants whose migration is difficult to discern. Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are two species that could be on the move, both of which are often ignored since they winter widely. Watch for both species in higher numbers or in areas where you haven't seen them this winter. American Tree Sparrows could start withdrawing back to the north, and Fox Sparrow is a well-known early spring migrant, with movements well underway in March. Blackbirds – Species such as Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Brown-headed Cowbird are the first signs of spring migration in many places, usually first appearing in February. Look for legions of blackbirds to move north with this system. ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html