4/16 IL Migration Report

Natural cycles can be effectively summed up as "ebbs and flows", and migration is no exception. Yesterday, we witnessed the passage of a southeast-bound cold front, and now, in the wake of this event, Illinois overall is experiencing North/Northeast winds. This works in opposition to the North-

IL's predominantly NE winds are keeping most migration at

bay tonight

bound migrants that are going to fill up our local patches in the next few weeks...today was a day of ebb. Lower concentrations of birds have been moving in the past 24 hours, but oddly enough, today was instead defined by isolated first arrivals rather than massive waves of species. The most exciting sightings from today include a BARN OWL (1 day wonder?) and a SEDGE WREN at Montrose Point, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at Gillson Park in Cook Co., a PRAIRIE WARBLER at Hidden Lake FP in DuPage Co., GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER at Little Black Slough Natural Area in Johnson Co., and likely more that either I've missed or hasn't been reported. Southern and Central Illinois actual experienced some degree of migration last night, and I'll get to this soon. Right now, though, far Southern IL is experiencing moderate to heavy migration. In such a vertically oriented state, some part of it is always going to be an exception to what's going on in most of the state.

As predicted, numbers of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, SORAS, VIRGINIA RAILS, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, OSPREYS, both YELLOWLEGS, HOUSE WRENS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, GRAY CATBIRDS, EASTERN KINGBIRDS, and all the expected sparrows are increasing throughout the state, albeit slowly today. AMERICAN BITTERNS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS are also moving through. Warblers (at long last!) are also beginning to have a presence in the state (mostly in Southern/Central IL), with ORANGE-CROWNED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, PINE, YELLOW, HOODED, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and WILSON'S WARBLERS, NORTHERN PARULAS and LOUISIANA + NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH being new species to keep an eye out for. These warblers, along with SUMMER and SCARLET TANAGERS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES,  thrushes (beyond Hermit, which are already passing through), FORSTER'S TERNS, and more shorebirds will soon be moving north in large waves when the right meteorological conditions present themselves. I don't know about you, but I'm excited!

Steve Bailey gives a great report of the kinds of birds moving through southern and central Illinois that were stalled south of the advancing cold front (note that some of these species are there to breed):
"OSPREY, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, GREEN HERONS, SORA, CHIMNEY SWIFTS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, HERMIT THRUSHES, WINTER WREN, RUBY-CROWNED & GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, WHITE-EYED VIREO, 35 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, HOODED WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, PINE WARBLERS, YELLOW WARBLER, and the big surprises, BLACK-THROATED GREEN & WILSON'S WARBLERS & SUMMER TANAGER. Good birding!"

Birds are migrating a bit in far S IL

Look sharp Northern IL. Many of these birds will soon be coming for your local patch. Just keep an eye on the winds. Expect moderate to heavy movement when the winds come from the south. You won't have to wait long either; these conditions should present themselves in Illinois in the next 24 hours.

24 hrs from now, a warm front should bring Southerly winds to IL