Woodcreeper website - watch night migration

I just learned of this website and wanted to share. They track bird migration over NJ area using a radar method (explained on the site). Check out the radar picture below to see it in action - very cool.

Home page:
http://www.woodcreeper.com/

Migration radar picture:
http://www.woodcreeper.com/images/fall2009/03Sep09_NE.gif

Thanks evie! That is David LaPuma's site and it is very interesting. He used to have the radar maps at another site also but stopped them. I just put this one in my favorites.

You know, I STILL don't understand that radar stuff. Pelle sent me that last year. just looks like rain to me. LOL.

Me too, Mrs_Ed. I can't figure out what I'm seeing when I looked at the animated radars. I thought migration was in one direction - I can't understand the circling aspect. Like you said - Looks like rain.

Hack

I always find it fascinating to see where my site gets linked to/from!

If you'd like more info on how to interpret the radar, I have set up a FAQ on my site, including a video tutorial on how to read the radar:
http://www.woodcreeper.com/radar-migration-faq/

If you have any specific questions, feel free to send them along (david@woodcreeper.com) and I'll try and answer them. If they are widely pertinent, I will probably include them in future editions of the FAQ.

Good Birding and Gardening!

David

Thanks so much David!

Hey David!!! Welcome and thanks for the link. You know what's funny? I was looking for information earlier today today on Hummingbird migration routes and would you believe I came upon your site through that search. Then I see it here!

Glad you're here. you'll have fun.

Okay David. I watched the video. Here are two screen captures. Am I right in thinking that the migration would have been the yellow and orange on the velocity screen?

Now that was fascinating. I never thought to compare wind velocities to bird velocities as a way to see the birds.

Hack

Mrs_Ed

Yes, for the most part. Everything that's orange is definitely birds, and most of what is yellow is birds too. The reflectivity image is giving you the density of the area within a cubic kilometer (each pixel is 1km x 1km x1km), and the velocity is telling you how fast and in what direction that object is moving, either towards or away from the radar. Given a perfect tail-wind, birds tend to fly 10 - 15kts faster than the prevailing wind. Given that the prevailing wind was ~5kts out of the NNW last night, everything moving south at a velocity of 15-20+ kts would be birds.

Good Birding!

David

Thanks David!

Hi David! Its Mary at FTG. When are you coming to south Florida again?