SPRING MIGRATION OVER PUERTO RICO AND THE WESTERN ATLANTIC, A RADAR STUDY

Abstract

Summary Migration over Puerto Rico was recorded by time‐lapse filming of the display of a long‐range surveillance radar on 40 days and 37 nights in the period 2 March‐29 May 1971. Moderate density movements occurred every night; low density movements occurred on most days. Many birds, primarily passerines, took off from Puerto Rico each evening at 20–45 minutes after sunset. Almost all birds flew to the west, NW or north. Birds were seen approaching from the direction of the Windward Islands and Venezuela, over Puerto Rico, and departing towards the Bahamas and eastern coast of the U.S. Uni‐ and multivariate analyses showed that the number of birds departing W‐N each evening was positively correlated with following winds. There is less night‐to‐night variation in the amount of migration at Puerto Rico than in eastern North America. However, this is apparently the result of less variable weather in the tropics, not the result of any lesser degree of meteorological selectivity by the migrants. The tracks of the birds were correlated with wind direction. Birds moved WNW‐NW with NE side winds but NW‐NNW with SE following winds. The tracks were rarely exactly downwind. The variance amongst the directions of individual birds at any given time was usually small and not correlated with cloud cover or magnetic disturbances. The estimated headings of the birds varied from day to day in a pattern suggesting adjustment of headings to compensate at least partially for lateral wind drift. In autumn many birds approach Puerto Rico from the north or even east of north; in spring few birds moved in the opposite directions. This difference in routes takes advantage of prevailing wind patterns.