Through the years, nearly 3 million birds have been counted flying past the longshore tower at Indiana Dunes State Park. Some morning flights are simply mind-blowing, as literally tens of thousands of birds fly past on gusty south wind. Each one winging its way, "elbow to elbow", seeking out the prime nesting grounds just a … Continue reading How big is 250,000?
As is typical for this time of year, a single good night of migration can catch things up, and bring millions of birds in just a few hours of darkness. In fact, the tower has seen a staggering 28 new species just this week. Migration is clearly in full swing. Eastern Kingbird by Michael Topp … Continue reading May Day Mayhem
Despite fluctuating temperatures, things have been on a roller coaster lately with winds. For those not living on the lakefront, the different in temperature day to day can really take extremes this time of year. A warm southerly wind can warm things to 70 degrees in the Dunes. But, a quick shift from the north … Continue reading Spring Pulses
Have you experienced that sensation when you step outside on a cool and damp May morning and just know, "Today's going to be an excellent day for birds"? The air is humid from warm south winds and intermittent storms overnight, but yet you can already hear chips from warblers and the liquid notes from thrushes … Continue reading On the Verge of Something Great
Whew. That was rough. Early April brought nearly an entire week of cold north winds and little movement. After such a great March start, it has been nice to see some warm sunshine and south winds. We've now had 4 days of conditions to add to the fresh April eBird Report. By April 10, we're … Continue reading Ant Eaters Unite
144,178 That is the total of bird species identified during the month of March from the Indiana Dunes Longshore Tower. That's a good total considering we haven't been out there much lately. In fact, 2 out of 3 flights counted last month occurred in the first 12 days of the month. Spring totals from the … Continue reading 144,178
With a weakening El Nino weather pattern, the early warmth that roared in are looking to wimper out the door as the month closes out. A cold pattern has been set in since the ides, allowing for fewer birds to move on the north winds. In fact, we've not had a 10,000+ bird day the … Continue reading Where did El Nino Go?
Just to keep mother nature in check, jack frost has been in place for several days now. Without the warmer south winds, few birds have been migrating the past few days, and winds often blow birds away from the tower area. The Windy site is a good place to start to see if birds will … Continue reading North Winds Bird Quiz
Many birders are surprised to learn about the Dunes Longshore Flight for the very first time. The experience is not one of typical birding. You don't pull out your checklist and slowly record species as you stroll down a path. In a small way, experiencing the morning flight from atop the Longshore Tower is a … Continue reading What is the Dunes Longshore Morning Flight?
On March 6, 2012, a gathering of birders captivated by what was newly termed the "longshore flight" convened atop the dune, gazing out over Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park. Positioned near the remnants of the former "green tower," they observed logged 36 species on a cold March morning that quickly heated with strong … Continue reading New Season, New Start
Indiana Dunes Migration Birding 