Date: 4/1/25 8:17 am From: 'dee wilder' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] April at SMNWR
Thanks, Don.
On Monday, March 31, 2025 at 03:57:56 PM EDT, Gary Hansen <gphansenmd...> wrote:
Nobody says it better. Thanks, Don
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 31, 2025, at 12:41 PM, Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
“The beginning of April never fails bringing millions ofthese welcome visitors.”
WilliamBartram The Travels of William Bartram 1791
Around half of St. Marks NWR’s Spring migrants pass throughin April, when about five million warblers, thrushes, tanagers, vireos, swallows,and sandpipers cross the refuge, mostly at night. Migration proceeds in fitsand starts. Birds are moving every night, but most of April’s migrants will flyon a half dozen nights during the month, on some of which, up to a half millionbirds will cross the refuge. A small percentage of these birds will drop in torest, delighting local birders with views of almost fifty species that occurhere only in migration.
These migrant birds lead lives that span continents. Theirbrief presence here ties us to places far distant from the refuge. In April, we may see Rose-breastedGrosbeaks that wintered in Central America headed to the slopes of theAppalachian Mountains in Virginia, Blackpoll Warblers from the Amazonianjungles of Brazil headed to the boreal forests of Yukon Territory, or PectoralSandpipers that spent the winter in Uruguay headed to coastal tundra along theshores of the Beaufort Sea. Protected lands like St. Marks are critically importantmigration stopover sites for these birds.
By the time April begins, leaf out iscomplete and the hammock forest near the Double Bridges is painted in shades ofgreen. It’s a good place to look for newly-returned Great-crested Flycatchers,Red-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated Vireos, Northern Parulas and ProthonotaryWarblers.
There are still a few leftover ducks.Blue-winged Teal continue to move through and April sees a pulse of lateNorthern Shovelers, likely birds that wintered in Cuba or Hispaniola. The CommonLoons that wintered on the Gulf finish moving early in the month. They’llmake several hops on their way to the Northwoods.
Shorebirds are on the move, too. Oursummer-breeding Willets have begun to return. They are similar enough to thewinter Willets that, except for a seasonal increase in Willet numbers, theirarrival can be hard to discern. Our winter Willets will soon begin to leave forthe Canadian Prairies where they breed.
April is the time to begin watchingfor the uncommon migrant shorebirds; American Golden Plover and Wilson’sPhalarope, along with Pectoral, White-rumped, Solitary, and Stilt Sandpipers.All of these birds are making long, continent-hopping journeys.
A lot happens at the refuge thismonth. Listen for the dull roar of bull gators echoing across Headquarters Pondin late morning, as gator courtship season begins. Watch there for newlyhatched Common Gallinules, small black fuzzballs following their parents.
April at St. Marks is the month withthe highest avian diversity, when over two hundred species may be recorded atthe refuge; an eclectic mix of leftover winter birds, newly-arrived summerbreeders, year-round residents, and transmigrants.
There are April days at St. Marks whenthe stars and the weather align and the woods are suddenly full of colorfulmigrants. It’s like a love affair when you’re young; sudden, exciting, and toosoon over.
Come down to the refuge and experienceSpring migration. It’s the next best thing to true love.
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