FLORIDA — Weather radar across Florida is picking up something other than rain this week, as tens of millions of birds have been detected over the state in the past 24 hours. The birds are continuing their annual fall migration south. On dry nights, the green and blue patterns on radar are actually large flocks of birds in flight. As many as 380 million birds were flying across the country in a single night.
Birds Show Up as Green and Blue on Radar
Radar images show wide circles of green and blue spreading out from radar sites across Florida. These patterns appeared even though no rain was falling.
The circular, fan-shaped look is typical of bird migration on radar. As birds take off after sunset, the radar picks them up, creating rings that grow outward from each radar site.
Millions Heading South Over Florida
The radar shows birds spread across north Florida, central Florida, and down toward south Florida. Large patches appear over the Tampa Bay area, central Florida, and the northeast coast.
Many of these birds are traveling south toward warmer areas for the winter. Florida is a key stop and passage point for species heading to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
380 Million Birds in Flight Nationwide
Across the United States, as many as 380 million birds were estimated to be in flight in one night. That makes this one of the busiest stretches of the fall migration season…