Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 19:59:03 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Re: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.... In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 5 Jun 2000 16:37:05 -0400 from If folks could bear with on more Attu-related post -- in 1998, Attu had a brilliant spring. At the same time, we were in Beidaihe China which was languishing under the constant SW winds which resulted from the then global El Nino conditions. As a consequence, while we had wonderful diversity of birds in three weeks we never saw any unsettled weather and hence none of the large falls of Asiatic migrants that Beidaihe is known for. When we got home, we speculated that bad winds and conditions for Beidaihe might be good for Attu, which seemed to be bourne out by the results that May (same time we were in China). This year, Beidaihe was brilliant, according to friends. Thousands of thrushes, warblers, many rarities -- unsettled weather and easterly winds made conditions perfect. I wondered when I spoke to my friends whether the reverse correlation with Attu would hold this year -- perhaps it did. How the movement of migrants is affected by weather conditions on a continental scale has intrigued birders as well as professional ornithologists for many years. This is only a little tidbit of data -- would be interesting to look into it further (more years, better weather information). Oh well, enough non-Maryland stuff -- wish I had some good Maryland news to share but we seem to be in a bit of a doldrum here, too. Just the local breed- ing birds around our house now, a pair of Great Crested FCs the most vocal. Cheers, Gail Mackiernan ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================