birdsafepgh

October 28, 2016 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2016 – Week 6 Update

dead yellow-bellied sapsucker bird — yellow-bellied sapsucker

October 11 – 17, 2016

This week our volunteers found 18 birds, from a total of 12 species (table 1). We also found our first white-breasted nuthatch of the season on October 11th. A strong front passed through the area over the weekend bringing an increase in bird movement and migration. We saw this at the beginning of the work week as bird strikes were higher from Monday to Wednesday (table 2). As the system moved towards the coast bird movement slowed along with window strikes through the rest of the work week and weekend. This followed Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast forecast and analysis for this week. This week we had bird strikes all over the city in many of our routes (table 3). Route 7 had the largest number of strikes again but overall strikes were found in many locations throughout the city. We also had only 1 live bird (see the tennessee warbler below) this week which is unusual given the past few weeks we have had closer to 50% live, 50% dead (table 4).

Birdcast forecasts that next week we should see a slow in bird movement and strikes at the start of the work week. As southern winds dominate the region Monday and Tuesday bird movement will slow until Tuesday night when a large mass of cooler air should increase bird movement. Patterns of precipitation will pass through the area for the rest of the week which could slow movement or bring some unexpected species our way so be sure to keep a watch out for next weeks update to see what we find.

Table 1.) Total number of birds found between 10/11/2016-10/17/2016

Species	Number of Birds Found
American robin	1
Brown creeper	1
Common yellowthroat	1
Eurpean starling	1
Nashville Warbler	4
Ovenbird	1
Rock pigeon	1
Swainson’s thrush	1
Tennessee warbler	2
White-breasted nuthatch	1
White-throated sparrow	3
Yellow-bellied sapsucker	1
Grand total	18

dead nashville warbler bird with a bright yellow breast — Nashville warbler

Table 2.) Total strikes per day between 10/11/2016-10/17/2016

Date	Number of Birds Found
9/12/2016	1
10/10/2016	4
10/11/2016	3
10/12/2016	7
10/13/2016	1
10/14/2016	2
Grand total	18

brown bird with a white throat — white-throated sparrow

Table 3.) number of birds found in each route between 10/11/2016-10/17/2016

Route	Number of Birds Found
1	1
2	1
4	2
7	5
8	1
9	4
10	2
Oakland	1
Other	1
Grand total	18

live Tennessee warbler being held by a researcher — Tennessee warbler

Table 4.) number of dead vs stunned birds found between 10/11/2016-10/17/2016

Status	Number of Birds
Dead	17
Stunned	1
Grand total	18

Keep an eye on our website and our Facebook page for continued updates throughout the fall season. For information on how to get involved or volunteer, email birdsafepgh@gmail.com for more info. Make sure to follow us on Instagram (@birdsafepgh) and Twitter (@birdsafePGH) as well!

Dead birds are taken to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and become specimens in the Section of Birds.

Live birds are transported to the Animal Rescue League’s Wildlife Center for rehabilitation and release.

October 12, 2016 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2016 – Week 5 Update

October 3 – 10, 2016

This week saw a large jump in bird strikes (table 1.) from 16 last week to 39 this week, our largest amount this season. Starting last Monday and Tuesday we saw large numbers taper off as hurricane Matthew made its way up the coast. As hurricane Matthew decreased in intensity bird strikes began rising once again on Sunday (table 2.). This follows closely to what was predicted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast from last week. Interestingly 18 of the 39 birds found this week were from one route (table 3.). Normally this route has regular window strikes but this week in particular saw a larger than normal proportion of birds striking windows. Last week one of our more interesting stats was the 50/50 ratio of dead to live birds which is very uncommon. This week we again saw a near tie of 22 dead to 17 live birds (table 4.).

Table 1.) Total species found between 10/03/2016-10/10/2016

Species	Number of Birds Found
Bay-brested warbler	1
Black-throated blue warbler	2
Black-throated green warbler	1
Blackpoll warbler	1
Brown creeper	1
Brown thrasher	1
Common yellowthroat	1
Dark-eyed junco	1
Golden-crowned kinglet	1
Gray catbird	2
House wren	1
Magnolia warbler	2
Mourning dove	1
Nashville warbler	1
Northern parula	1
Ovenbird	3
Song sparrow	2
Swainson’s thrush	1
Tennessee warbler	3
Unknown species	3
White throated sparrow	3
Winter wren	1
Wood thrush	1
Yellow-bellied sapsucker	3
Grand total	39

brown and grey bird with a red and yellow stripe on its head — golden-crowned kinglet

Table 2.) Number of birds found each day between 10/03/2016-10/10/2016

Date	Number of Birds Found
10/03/2016	8
10/04/2016	8
10/05/2016	67
10/06/2016	3
10/07/2016	5
10/09/2016	7
10/10/2016	2
Grand total	39

live bird being held be a researcher — white-throated sparrow

Table 3.) Number of birds found in each route between 10/03/2016-10/10/2016

Route	Number of Birds Found
1	1
4	5
5	2
6	1
7	18
9	9
Herr’s Island	1
Oakland	2
Grand total	39

Table 3.) Number of dead versus stunned birds found between 10/03/2016-10/10/2016

Status	Number of Birds Found
Dead	22
Stunned	17
Grand total	39

This week we should see moderate to heavy flights as the week begins with favorable conditions wide spread across the region. as the week progresses, remnants of hurricane Matthew will begin to pass through the Great Lakes region meaning potential changes in migration paths. As hurricane Matthew moves out to sea a disturbance moving east should bring moderate to heavy flights across the region. Make sure to keep watch on what hurricane Matthew does through the week as any changes to the storm could have impacts on us inland.

Dead birds are taken to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and become specimens in the Section of Birds.

Live birds are transported to the Animal Rescue League’s Wildlife Center for rehabilitation and release.

October 4, 2016 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2016 – Week 4 Update

blackpoll warbler being held by a researcher — blackpoll warbler

September 25 – October 2, 2016

This week we only found 16 birds, retaining the pattern of the past two weeks (Table 1.). With the remnants of tropical storm Karl moving north coinciding with northern winds, favorable conditions helped move migrating birds through our area later in the week and over the weekend. Surprisingly our data this week did not follow the pattern forecasted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast (Table 2.). We found few birds Monday through Wednesday, and no birds on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday when conditions were expected to be best. One of the most interesting components of the past week was how many dead and stunned birds we found. With sixteen birds found total exactly half were dead and half were stunned (Table 3.). This ratio is rather uncommon compared to the previous three weeks data (Table 4.).

Table 1.) Total species found between 9/25/2016-10/02/2016

Species	Number of Birds Found
American redstart	2
Blackpoll warbler	3
Cape may warbler	1
Gray catbird	1
Hooded warbler	1
Magnolia warbler	2
Mourning dove	1
Ovenbird	2
Swainson’s thrush	2
Yellow-bellied sapsucker	1
Grand total	16

Table 2.) Total birds found on each day between 9/25/2016-10/02/2016

Date	Number of Birds Found
9/25/2016	3
9/27/2016	2
9/28/2016	4
10/02/2016	7
Grand total	16

Table 3.) Number of dead versus stunned birds found on each route between 9/25/2016-10/02/2016

Route	Dead Birds	Stunned Birds	Total
1	1	0	1
5	3	0	3
7	4	4	8
8	0	1	1
9	0	1	1
10	0	1	1
Other	0	1	1
Grand total	8	8	16

comparison of dead and stunned birds each week for the first four weeks

Table 4. Number of birds found dead vs stunned during each week of the first month of the fall 2016 monitoring season.

The first part of this week has favorable conditions for increased migration. For the remainder of the week moderate to heavy flights are expected as hurricane Matthew moves northward along the eastern coast. As the forecast takes Matthew out to sea we should keep a watch on it because if the storm changes direction it could mean changes in migration patterns, and in a matter of hours alter the migration paths of birds.

Dead birds are taken to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and become specimens in the Section of Birds.

Live birds are transported to the Animal Rescue League’s Wildlife Center for rehabilitation and release.

September 27, 2016 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2016 – Week 3 Update

ruby-throated hummingbird

This week we found more birds than last week (table 1.). Last week Cornell Lab of Ornithology forecast that migration would slow as the week progressed, that is what we found as from Tuesday on, bird collisions started decreasing (table 2.). This past weekend we saw an increase in northern winds and as the week progresses we should see these conditions coincide with offshore remnants of tropical storm Karl and bring an increase in migration from Wednesday to Friday.

Table 1.) Total species found between 9/19/2016-9/25/2016

Species	Number of Birds Found
Black and white warbler	3
Blackpoll warbler	1
Gray catbird	2
Hooded warbler	1
Lincoln sparrow	1
Magnolia warbler	3
Northern flicker	1
Ovenbird	1
Tennessee warbler	1
Unknown species	2
Grand Total	16

dead common yellowthroat — common yellowthroat

Table 2.) Total birds found on each day between 9/19/2016-9/25/2016

Date	Number of Birds Found
9/19/2016	1
9/20/2016	6
9/21/2016	3
9/22/2016	3
9/23/2016	2
9/24/2016	1
Grand Total	16

brown and yellow bird — magnolia warbler

Dead birds are taken to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and become specimens in the Section of Birds.

Live birds are transported to the Animal Rescue League’s Wildlife Center for rehabilitation and release.

September 20, 2016 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2016 – Week 2 Update

Northern Parula flapping its wings — Northern Parula

Our second week of fall monitoring was quite interesting compared to the first week. Based on number of birds found (table 1.), number of species found (9), and how birds were spaced out throughout the week (table 2.), and the downtown area (table 3.). Last week a total of 36 birds were found while this week less than half of that (14) were found in and around the downtown area. Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast had forecast that this past week would see an increase in movement of warbler, thrush, and vireo species moving through our area. Interestingly we found our first Northern Parula, Red-eyed Vireo, and Swainson’s Thrush for the fall season.

Table 1.) Total species found between 9/12/2016 – 9/19/2016

Species	Number of Birds Found
Common Yellowthroat	1
Gray catbird	1
Magnolia warbler	1
Northern Parula	1
Ovenbird	1
Red-eyed Vireo	1
Song Sparrow	1
Swainson’s Thrush	1
Tennessee Warbler	3
Unknown Species	3
Grand Total	14

belly of a Swainson’s Thrush — Swainson’s Thrush

Table 2.) Total birds found on each day between 9/12/2016 – 9/19/2016

Date	Number of Birds Found
9/12/2016	4
9/13/2016	2
9/15/2016	1
9/16/2016	3
9/17/2016	1
9/19/2016	3
Grand Total	14

stunned Tennessee Warbler bird — Tennessee Warbler

Table 3.) Total number of birds found in each route between 9/12/2016 – 9/19/2016

Route	Number of Birds Found
1	2
5	3
7	3
9	1
10	1
Herr’s Island	2
Other	2
Grand Total	14

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast has forecast that migration will continue to slow this week as unfavorable conditions from this weekend continue through the week.. Make sure to keep a watch for next weeks update to see how the birds fare as migration begins to pick up.

Dead birds are taken to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and become specimens in the Section of Birds.

Live birds are transported to the Animal Rescue League’s Wildlife Center for rehabilitation and release.

September 13, 2016 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2016 Week 1 Update

Tennessee Warbler that survived a window collision was captured and transported to Animal Rescue Leagues Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

We have completed our first week of the fall 2016 monitoring season and it started with a bang. We have already collected or saved 35 birds in the downtown Pittsburgh area. With ranging species, most of which are warblers, the fall migration season seems to be upon us.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast reported that this past week warbler migration has really started getting underway along with some vireos and thrushes. That coincides with the higher numbers of warbler species and individuals found this week (table 1.). Also it was reported that due to the storm front that passed through on Thursday, migration would be slowed during that night. Subsequently lower numbers of window collisions were reported the morning after the storm (table 3.)

Here are a few tables and photos showing the species we’ve encountered so far and which routes have had the highest collision rate.

Table 1.) Total species found between 8/29/2016 – 9/11/2016

Species	Number of Birds Found
American Redstart	1
Bay-breasted Warbler	1
Black-billed Cuckoo	1
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1
Blackburnian Warbler	1
Blackpoll Warbler	4
Cape May Warbler	1
Cedar Waxwing	1
Common Yellowthroat	1
Magnolia warbler	2
Mourning Dove	6
Northern Cardinal	1
Northern Waterthrush	1
Ovenbird	6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	4
Tennessee Warbler	3
Unknown Species	1
Grand Total	36

dead Blackpoll Warblers side-by-side — Two Blackpoll Warblers found in very close proximity to one another after striking a window

Table 2.) Total birds found on each day between 8/29/2016 – 9/11/2016

Date	Number of Birds Found
8/29/2016	1
9/2/2016	1
9/4/2016	1
9/5/2016	7
9/6/2016	8
9/7/2016	5
9/9/2016	2
9/10/2016	9
9/11/2016	2
Grand Total	36

Table 3.) Total number of birds found in each route between 8/29/2016 – 9/11/2016

Route	Number of Birds Found
1	3
4	4
5	3
6	2
7	5
9	9
10	5
Other	5
Grand Total	36

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology forecast for this week shows higher density flights tonight, tomorrow night and to a lesser extent Thursday night. This being said make sure to keep a watch for next weeks update to see how the birds fair as migration begins to pick up.

Keep a watch on our website and facebook page for continued updates throughout the fall season. And for information on how to get involved or volunteer email birdsafepgh@gmail.com for more info!