We’ve created a new tool to update us as species advance through their arrivals in each region, using data from eBird. We assign each species to four possible categories: Not Yet Arrived, Arrival Beginning, Approaching Peak, or Peaking. Then, we look for transitions between categories to tell us how each species is progressing through these stages. Below we show the transitions that have taken place in the last few days, and we highlight certain species with interactive maps. Most of the action is happening in the southeast, as we expect for this time of year. But this will not be true for long!

Upper Midwest and Northeast

We highlighted inbound gnatcatchers in last week’s forecast – and, as is evident from the map below, they have certainly pushed north. What we didn’t expect was this count of 1037 gnatcatchers (and much more) on April 5th from Cape May. Tom Johnson/Macaulay Library. eBird S35713332.

Gulf Coast and Southeast

Hooded Warbler, April 6, 2017. Robert Scranton/Macaulay Library. eBird S35744746.

West

Yellow-headed Blackbird, April 4, 2017. Petra Clayton/Macaulay Library. eBird S35775603.