Bird movement

[rrip...@charter.net]

When "migration" comes to mind, generally most think of later into the fall season, which to some is as far off as October or November. But "fall" has already begun. Personally, I usually associated fall as a time in about mid-August when some drier winds would come through Oregon. It was usually around the 17th of August or so. Later, another time that would indicate "fall" had begun was usually just after Labor Day Weekend, when a first frost would hit. The trend for winds has shifted and it's hard to get the feel for a seasonal change when those winds occur in July, or even in June, as it did this year. And, frost? That has shifted too, coming further into October. 

But, maybe the birds use a different method to sense their seasonal change. It probably is the end of their nesting duties. And, that's what I'm seeing now. July is a time when shorebirds start moving southward, staging in shallow waters in dense flocks. In mid-July Wilson's Phalarope were seen in the thousands at Tule Lake NWR. That shorebird species nests in lower latitudes, so their migration movement was quite noticeable with nesting populations not so far away. Currently, Western Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher have increased numbers. With limited access to shallow water mudflats this year, the small mudflats south of the Wingwatchers Trail is a good place to view them. (There's a camp on the east side of the field, and railroad tracks on the eastside, so access is questionable for that area). On the other side of Lake Ewauna is a mitigation pond. It can be accessed by walking along the eastside of Lake Ewauna, beyond the sewage treatment facilities, and tall rusty historical burner, until you reach the ponds. But, once there, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs (and possibly Lesser Yellowlegs), dowitchers, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Willet, and both Least and Western Sandpiper could be seen there. 

Lake Ewauna boat launch with its ever present gull flock is changing. Most noticeable is the increased number of immature hatch year Ring-billed Gulls, and a few immature California Gulls. These new birds have increased in numbers in the last couple of weeks and are now approaching 10% of the gull flocks. The greater the percentage, hatch year birds to adult, could indicate level of nesting success. It will be interesting to see if the percentage of hatch year birds climbs to beyond 10%. I don't know where Ring-billed Gulls nest this year. 

Yesterday, being a clear day, with considerable  amount of blue, it seemed as if the birds were moving just because they could see the sky.  At Henzel Park, there were numerous warbler species gleening bugs from the cottonwood and willow trees. The habitat there along the Agency Lake location is not nesting habitat for: Nashville Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Hermit Warbler. But they were there, along with Yellow and MacGillivray's Warblers. Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, and Warbling Vireo were also seen foraging. There was not much being said vocally by the birds. Knowing chip calls are now important, or just focus on getting good visual looks to find out what's there. 

Yes, the birds are moving. And they will continue to move. Getting out there now to view adults that have not yet molted their adult plumage will probably help you to get glimpses of their colorful breeding plumages. But in a month, many will be sporting a drab basic plumage, or are immatures. So, get out, especially on non-smoky days, so that you can see the fall migration spectacle. 

The next noticeable movement: Greater White-fronted Goose.... usually come into the Klamath Basin in the latter part of August. I usually always hear them at the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair.

Kevin Spencer

Klamath Falls, Oregon