February is nearing its end, and one of the oldest-used
indicators of impending spring and warmer weather is the arrival of migratory
birds. New technology helps scientists keep an eye on where birds are moving
using tools like this Ohio State University composite
radar map, which shows bird movement in real time. I contacted my former
bird science professor, Dr. Robert Zink, the Breckenridge Chair in Ornithology
at the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History,
to ask a few questions about returning birds.
Dr. Zink: Horned
Larks are one of the first. But
the “fee-bee” call of the Black-capped
Chickadee beginning in January is a reminder of spring
to come.
Nick: What are
some resources for information of the return on Minnesota migratory birds in particular?
Dr. Zink: eBird and the Minnesota Ornithologist's Union.
Nick: What
bird's call do you most enjoy hearing upon its return to Saint Paul?
Dr. Zink: All
of them.
For Saint
Paul residents who share Dr. Zink's and my own passion for birds, a wealth of
online resources allow citizens to contribute data on local birds. Some of this data is
used for research projects performed by scientists and ecologists at the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology. Cornell's ornithology program leads the nation, and in 2002,
with the National Audubon Society, they launched eBird, an online data submission
service, which “provides rich data sources for basic
information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and
temporal scales”. Natural areas depend on birds to distribute seeds and pollen
among plant communities, so the importance of knowing which species are where
is crucial to ecosystem studies. If your interest is peaked by the opportunity
to do real science while watching birds, consider participating in eBird or the
Minnesota Ornithologist's Union's rare
bird reporting hot line, or even becoming a member.
I
took a walk at the Battle Creek Regional Park off-leash area with my dog, Zip,
and heard a bird I
couldn't identify. Can you? Later that day I saw
a robin, and smiled at knowing that spring is near. Here's looking forward to
those warm mornings waking up to dense birdsong!
Nick Kiecker is a
Greenhouse Assistant volunteer with Saint Paul Natural Resources who also lends
his pen and expertise by submitting regular contributions to our blog. If you
are interested in volunteering or writing for our blog, please visit bit.ly/NaturalResourcesVolunteers.
