Huge Passerine Movement!

From October 20 – 24, we counted 10,311 passerines migrating over the Keys!

During this period, the Florida Keys were pounded with a tremendous amount of rain and wind associated with a low pressure system that gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico and pushed continuous thunderstorms, showers and strong gusts into our area.

We continued conducting our morning transect counts at Long Key, even during periods of heavy rain, often experiencing persistent movements of birds along the coast.

On October 24 alone, we counted a total of 4,948 passerines, 4,623 of which were warblers! While it may have been remarkable to have experienced over 200 Black-throated Blue Warblers that morning – which we did – a greater surprise was that a vagrant Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) was found along the beach at Long Key!

We are grateful that many people spend time in our area on the lookout for birds. Had Jennifer Burris not alerted us and park staff of this unusual occurrence, this wheatear may have gone unnoticed.