Sandhill Cranes and Shoreline Count Notes

Of the various locations in Muskegon County from which I count birds migrating along Lake Michigan each spring and fall, the overlook at Lake Harbor Park offers the best vantage point. The paucity of nearby trees also enhances detections by calls or songs, and the local dune structure tends to attenuate the noise of breaking waves more so than Kruse Park and other spots. Also, the elevation of the overlook provides a good angle for finding and scoping waterbirds. The Kruse Park boardwalk is a little too high, and shoreline or pier locations are too low. The large numbers of mergansers that sometimes fly east and west over the channel can either be a distraction or bonus, depending on your mood.

These benefits are balanced by the exposure of the overlook. Even moderate winds can make winter counts brutally cold, and speeds over 10 mph tend to introduce too much tripod shake to make scoping efficient for distant birds -- and distance is always a factor. I tend to forsake the spot on such days, which is usually the case in the winter, but when I expect a good flight over the dunes, this is the place to be.

Today was a good example. March arrivals have lagged at least two weeks behind last year. This has created a backlog of birds to the south. Steady winds from the west and north for the last few days have further delayed things, so a mild south wind seemed promising.

Migrating birds (particularly landbirds) are fickle when it comes to weather. To fly against unfavorable winds is a costly waste of energy. While many people may think migration is steady progression of passing birds, the reality is a series of bursts and busts. The majority of long-distance movements within a particular guild of species is restricted to just a few days each spring and fall. Adverse passage conditions tend to keep birds in place, but when things turn, birds move in force. Foul weather shifts can put a brake on things, and when this happens, a major "fall-out" of birds can occur. Last year, for instance, fall-out conditions on May 2 and 3 produced more migrants in the dunes than did the rest of the month.

As soon as the fog broke this morning, I headed to Lake Harbor to check the flight over the lake and dunes. Sure enough, there was a decent flow of northbound birds. I counted 32 species of migrants, but most notable was 188 Sandhill Cranes heading north between 11:54 and 1:12. My previous high count for Muskegon County was 165 on 22 March 2010.

Brian Johnson