Migration weather delays? #phenology

For the week starting tomorrow, our copy of the Minnesota Weatherguide Engagement Calendar notes: "Backyard bird enthusiasts have their grape jelly, sunflower seed, and sugar water feeders up, anxiously awaiting the return of the first Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and ruby-throated hummingbirds." Of course, it also notes that todays normal high temperature is 63℉. As we write this about 3 PM, the outside temperature is about 48℉. Below normal high temperatures are in the forecast for the entire week ahead. Despite having become a backyard bird enthusiast, with a sunflower seed feeder up year round, we may hold off on the grape and sugar water until later in May.

rose-breasted grosbeak

Photo by J. Harrington

Arrival dates, based on the pictures we have in our archives, are as follows:

• rose-breasted grosbeaks -- May 9; May 10; May 11;


• ruby throated hummingbirds -- May 14;


• Baltimore orioles -- May 16;

Baltimore oriole

Photo by J. Harrington

These migrants seem to want some assurance that Minnesota has finished with plowable snowfalls before returning. The forecast for today and tomorrow involves the potential for such an event South of us tonight and/or tomorrow. We've our fingers crossed that, if there be snow, the forecast and the actual both continue to spare us. As much as we complain about perpetually cloudy weather, it is preferable to Spring snow.

first green flare

Sidney Wade

makes
the air

quiver
and dart

the throat
ache

to call
makes

the heart
cheer

the ear
keen

to the sheer
glorious

windfall
of oriole

veery
vireo

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