eBird Tools to Track Bird Migration 

I am a big fan of eBird. Most folks think the only reason to have an account is to contribute your checklists and as a handy checklist tool. But there is more to eBird than that. One tool I am learning more about is BirdCast, eBird’s migration tracking tool. You can access it at Birdcast.com. BirdCast uses data collected across the US to show you migration patterns. You can look at these patterns nationwide, for your state and county, and in some cases your home town. 

When you go to the BirdCast home page, you have several options: migration dashboard, nationwide bird migration forecast maps, local bird migration alerts, live bird migration maps, and recent bird alerts for migration events. 

Go to the site and play around. If you enter Alameda County in the Migration Dashboard you will learn that an estimated 30,000 birds passed us overnight on September 13 with peak numbers at 8:30 PM. Fall migration is just starting and September 11 was the peak night for migration so far. The dashboard also gives a list of what birds expected to be passing over right now . 

If you look at the nationwide forecast maps, you will see that peak migration is occurring along the Mississippi Valley and the Carolina Coast with things pretty slow along the Pacific Flyway. If you enter Livermore California for Migration Alerts, you will see that low migration (0-4000 birds) was predicted for September 14 with medium levels (4000-5000 birds) predicted for September 15 and 16. 

Try playing around with BirdCast. If nothing else it may give you an idea of when best to head out to your favorite migrant trap. 

-Bill Hoppes