Date: 4/10/26 1:52 pm From: John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
Thiats a really interesting and clever deducrion.
On Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 7:49 AM Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey= <uhcno.edu...> wrote:
> Hello Birders: > > This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans > birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from > there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of > southern AL. > > One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant > Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not > nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all > passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are > Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf > crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not > making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct > for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. > Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere. > > Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing > if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets > concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone > were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress > and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops > lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI > in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min. > > If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering > data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western > bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird. > > There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I > was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the > 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the > skywatch as well. > > Cheers, > > Peter Yaukey > > *Peter H. Yaukey, Ph.D.* > > *Departmental Chair and Professor of Biology* > > > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g>*Department > of Biological and Physical Sciences* > > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g> > > *University of Holy Cross* > > *4123 Woodland Drive > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g>* > > *New Orleans, LA 70131 > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g>* > > *504-398-2312 Direct* > > *504-394-7744 Main* > > > > [image: cid:91D4B89B-2D58-4695-9437-0B7014880A72] > > > >
