Both yesterday and today I have spotted a few "V" shaped flocks of geese flying through the sky. I thought this was a little strange - don't geese migrate later in the fall? Were these birds confused, or did they sense something that triggered their migration...possibly a cold snap? I wonder if I could use them to make a long range forecast!I used my good ol' friend Google and did some brief researching on the topic. Apparently there is a booming population of resident geese in Virginia. They are larger than migrant geese and can handle winters better. Residents also know where to find find food and learn to avoid hunting grounds. But would these birds fly in formation from golf course to golf course? I did some more digging...
A long time ago, a study was done at the University of Virginia. Here is a passage from the introduction:
Early fall migration is significantly related to an increased frequency of cyclonic disturbances off the United States east and gulf coasts. Years in which autumn migration is delayed occur when the Atlantic coast storm track is displaced northward.
In other words, an active weather pattern can trigger early migration. If you think about it, the tropics have been very active this season. Fay, Gustav, Hanna and now Ike have brought stormy conditions to the Gulf, Deep South, East Coast and the Midwest.
Has this triggered an early migration of geese? For now, one can only watch and wonder. If you have any insight on the topic, feel free to leave a comment here on the blog, or drop me an email at ajustus@wtvr.com
Here are some useful links I found:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/380737u188354031/
