SHARE
Spring birds moving in
Oklahoma Mesonet reported a dry spell again this week, but there might be some precipitation coming later this period.
Writer is grateful spring is back in our open arms. Having been in Costa Rica observing some old friends before you did, it was nice seeing them during the winter, like Broad-winged Hawks, several warbler species, Baltimore Orioles, and more. It was comforting.
An estimated 66,900 birds crossed Payne County between Monday, 03-24-25 at 1950 hours and Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 0720 hours. An estimated 12,600 estimated birds in flight were traveling at an altitude of 1,600 feet at 24 mph from the NNE.
Expected nocturnal migrants were Dark-eyed Junco, Harris’s, Song, Whitecrowned, and Savannah Sparrows, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Blue-winged Teal, Yellow-rumped and Black-andwhite Warblers, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Gadwall, Redhead, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
The rare bird forecast tallied geomagnetic vagrancy conditions at 0.8, geomagnetic disturbance at 0.6, and solar activity at 1.5, all a high range.
Most of the south as well as central-southern California are receiving most of the relative richness trend numbers, while species demographic trends are again dipping for Eastern Bluebird, while Indigo Bunting has been on a steady decline for a couple of decades.
The nationwide rare/vagrant birds show Alabama’s Gray Gull, Texas’ Amur or Asian Stonechat, Yellow-headed Caracara, Brown Jay, Mottled Owl, and Cattle Tyrant.
Arkansas recorded Yellow Grosbeak, as Nebraska added Common Crane.
Arizona counted Berylline
DEB HIRT
Hummingbird.
California tagged Little Stint.
Alberta tallied Pink-footed Goose, as Alaska ticked Rustic Bunting.
Around the state, we had Vermilion Flycatcher at a pond at Mohawk Pond Golf Course.
The 2025 State of the Birds Report is calling for urgent conservation action, as key findings show that one third of all species are of high or moderate conservation concern, including 112 tipping point species that have lost over half their population over the past half-century. This now includes ducks, as well as the usual Tricolored Blackbird, Saltmarsh Sparrow, and Allen’s Hummingbird. Habitat conservation is a critical help in this matter.
Boomer Lake shared Canada Goose, Mallard, domestic Mallard, Redhead, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Ring-billed and American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Black and Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American and Fish Crows, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Purple Martin, Barn and Cliff Swallows, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, myrtle Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers, Northern Cardinal, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, American Pipit, Cooper’s Hawk, and Northern Mockingbird.
Lake Carl Blackwell added Northern Shoveler, Greenwinged Teal, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, White-winged Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Field Sparrow, and slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco.
The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University checked Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Wood Duck, Rock Pigeon (feral), Barred Owl, Hairy Woodpecker, yellow- shafted Northern Flicker, Brown Thrasher, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Western and Eastern Meadowlark, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds. Happy birding!
Deb Hirt is a wild bird rehabilitator and photographer living in Stillwater.
A Gray Gull.
DICKDANIELS (HTTP://THEWORLDBIRDS.ORG/), CC BY-SA 4.0
SHARE
