Fall 2016 – Week 6 Update

 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

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

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

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.