Trans-Gulf Migration, Spring 1952
1954; Oxford University Press; Volume: 71; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/4081672
ISSN1938-4254
Autores Tópico(s)Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts
ResumoA HEAVY trans-Gulf bird migration during the spring of 1951 was described in a previous report (Bullis and Lincoln, 1952), which included a list of species observed and collected and weather tables.The observations were made from the M/V Oregon, an exploratory fishing vessel operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while the vessel was engaged in night trawling off the Louisiana coast.Further observations were recorded aboard the Oregon during the Spring of 1952.Observations made from March 31 to May 20, cover an east-west range of more than 600 miles on the open Gulf (from off Pensacola, Florida, to a position off Laguna Madre, Texas).On the night of March 31, the Oregon was anchored at 29 ø 23.2 • north latitude, 88 ø 03' west longitude, about 55 miles south of Mobile Point, Alabama.At 10:00 p.m.I was called on deck by a crew member who had spotted a few birds passing over.The afterdeck was lighted as previously described (Bullis and Lincoln, 1952: 35).A light, drizzling rain cut visibility down to a few hundred feet.The following notes were taken: 10:00 p.m. Several warblers flying under boom light; Mourning (?) Warbler, Redstart, duck (?).Southeasterly wind 18 to 24 m.ph.Low overcast, rain.10:15 p.m.Ten to 25 warblers can be seen at one time.Rain lighter.10:20 p.m. Rain heavy.Few more birds visible.Every minute or so a large bird flashed under boom light.Another duck.Purple Martin (?). 10:22 p.m.A large heron-like bird flew across stern.SE squall with driving rain.Least Bittern and Scarlet Tanager.10:25 p.m.One swift.Least Bittern hovers under mast lights for 10 or 15 seconds.Lightning flashes reveal large groups of birds passing over the boat, heading north.10:27 p.m. Eight to ten bitterns flew past.10:30 p.m. Least Bittern hit the deck.At the same time two more hit the water off port side.10:34 p.m. Swallows directly over head.Great Blue (?) Heron.Eight to ten species of warblers visible at one time.Rain lighter.10:38 p.m. Two American Bitterns flew past.Another Least Bittern.Steady rain.Visibility about 200 feet.10:42 p.m. Purple Martin landed on triple block lines.Flew off when I approached.Warbler landed on water next to the boat.Took off when I attempted to pick it up with a dip net.Was "sitting" on the water holding its wings high.10:52 p.m. Searchlight on.More martins and smaller birds (larger than warblers) heading north.One Prothonotary Warbler.Another Least Bittern.Lightning shows 100 to 200 birds overhead beyond the lighting from the vessel.Rain picking up.10:54 p.m. Sofa Rail hit deck.Large grey bird landed on deck, took off im-
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