Bird movement was pretty significant on April 26, 2012 and many of the migrants showed up at “the drip”, a fresh-water fountain found inside Fort Jefferson. The days in the Tortugas this year were quite memorable. I spent hours watching birds drop in after their 500-mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico. It was both intriguing and inspiring to think of the incredible effort it takes to make the journey of just *one* crossing of this large body of water. Now imagine doing it twice a year! I think it just made my heart skip a couple beats. What sort of amazing force drives a bird internally to do this? Well, it is something awe-inspiring. I enjoy experiencing the energy and power of bird migration every year. It is very moving to me. Seeing the obvious fatigue of some of these birds here on the Dry Tortugas was a strong reminder of the perils of an “average” migration.
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- Blackpoll Warbler at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Brown Noddy on coaling dock – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Cattle Egret close up – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- female Magnificent Frigatebird in flight – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- female Painted Bunting – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Greg Miller at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-27 photo by Greg Miller
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- inside of Fort Jefferson from upper level – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Least Sandpiper – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- male Baltimore Oriole close up at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- male Black-throated Green Warbler sipping water at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26
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- male Magnificent Frigatebird in flight – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- male Magnolia Warbler sipping water at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- male Tennessee Warbler at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- male Yellow Warbler at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- moat around Fort Jefferson with Florida Fish Finder in background – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- molting Black-bellied Plovers on coaling dock – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- molting male Bobolink – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- molting Ruddy Turnstone head shot – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Northern Waterthrush on the beach – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Ovenbird close up – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Red-eyed Vireo close up at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Red-eyed Vireo, 2 Tennessee Warblers, and a Black-throated Green Warbler using fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Semipalmated Sandpiper – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- view of coaling docks from on top of Fort Jefferson – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- White-rumped Sandpiper – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Worm-eating Warbler – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Yellow-billed Cuckoo head shot – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
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- Yellow-billed Cuckoo hunched at fountain – Dry Tortugas, FL – 2012-04-26 photo by Greg Miller
Enjoy the birds.
Hi Greg,
I think your birding blog is very unique and quite creative. Have you had the chance to visit the Dry Tortugas Birding Blog? http://www.drytortugasblog.com/fortjefferson-drytortugas-birdblog/ You can keep up to date on all the latest birding trends and migrations! Maybe you might consider recommending the Dry Tortugas blog in your next post? Have a great summer!
Best birding sites chicago area and Sheboygan Wi. area, you would recommend?
My favorite Chicago area birding site is Montrose Point (part of Lincoln Park). It’s a small area of land that juts into Lake Michigan and is a good migrant trap.
-greg