When these birds leave wintering grounds in Central and South America, they
have no idea what the temperature is in Tennessee…they don’t watch the Weather
Channel very often. Neotropical migrants do not know whether we are having a
cold or mild winter unless they linger in North America and don’t make the move
over/around the gulf. Birds leave their tropical climates on their usual
schedule, regardless of weather conditions in North America. Also, spring
migration can be a rapid process for birds, depending on weather conditions.
Birds want to get to breeding grounds as quickly as possible, often flying over
many miles of North America without stopping. It is actually not uncommon for
first spring records of some species to occur in the Ohio River Valley or
beyond (weather conditions and birder availability are both factors with that).
Damien Simbeck
Killen, AL
From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
rockyturf@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 10:27 AM
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TN-Bird] First Of The Season Purple Martin
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This morning at The Honors Course in Ooltewah we had a female Purple Martin
at the plastic gourds at the maintenance building. This is only one day later
than the earliest (Feb. 22, 2005) I have seen any at this location. I guess the
colder than average temperature this month had no bearing on when they show up.
David Stone
Ooltewah, Tn
Hamilton County
