This year marks my fourth spring migration in Key West, and it has been interesting to look at my records from the last four years. My friend Amy and I have both noticed that bird migration has gotten off to a slow start this year. Usually by now our favorite birding locations are teaming with all sorts of migrating birds.

The weather has been different this spring. In the past, we’ve had a lot of storms which forced the migrating birds to stopover in Key West for a break. Maybe the mild weather has encouraged them to bypass Key West? Or maybe they are just late in arriving? Birds are very sensitive to weather, air pressure, and the earth’s magnetic field. We are in the middle of Solar maximum. Could the influence of the active Sun on our magnetic field that have something to do with it?

I read on Cornell University’s BirdCast website that peak migration in our area is April 24- May 10, so it’s still a little early. In fact, I’ve noticed more birds around, so maybe they are finally arriving in Key West.

Last week I spent a couple of days the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Gardens. The gardens showcase flora native to the Florida Keys, Cuba, and the Caribbean, and has two fresh water ponds, making this spot ideal for migrating birds. The 15 acres of the gardens make it an oasis in the middle of Stock Island, which has sadly lost a lot of it’s natural habitat to development.

Here are some photos from my recent visits:

American Redstart (female)

Prairie Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

American Coot

White Ibis (juvenile)

Black-throated Green Warbler