This storm appears to be heading for Wilmington, North Carolina, as a rather
strong, intact Category 1 hurricane at the moment, with the projected path
essentially up the Chesapeake Bay (this could change, of course, and probably
will) this afternoon and evening. This track is rather rare - a Category 4
making landfall south of Tampa, crossing Florida as a hurricane, then regaining
the
Gulf Stream to hit North Carolina. It's very hard to say what birds will
continue to be entrained after crossing Florida, but I would suspect that at
least a fair number of Sooty Terns will still be moving with Charley, whose
impact
in s. Virginia is predicted to be felt mostly 3 - 10 p.m. We pray this one
isn't as devastating as Isabel, and it is not forecast to be. Still, with all
the rain we've had, tropical-storm-force winds can surely take out more trees,
and the rains will cause some localized flooding. Flooded farm fields can be
good places to look for shorebirds (and sometimes terns), but inland
reservoirs and the state's Atlantic and Chesapeake shores are probably best for
finding seabirds.
For those out looking for storm birds on Sunday, remember to be very careful
of downed power lines (and downed trees, which can conceal them); do not drive
through flooded areas; and take all safety precautions suggested by local
authorities. It appears that many people were killed in Florida, and we don't
want to follow suit. I would say that everyone in eastern Virginia, birder or
otherwise, should keep an eye on the television this afternoon, and keep an ear
out for tornado warnings by radio, in case the power goes out.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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