Radar: Weather and Migrating Birds

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Behavior, Nature, Wildlife, Biodiversity

Ed Hessler

Nicole Mitchell who writes for MPR's Updraft, a wonderfully informative weather blog, included some notes on radar activity and migrating birds.

The pattern on the radar "may look like precipitation, but the pattern (birds) make (often a "bloom" on the radar) along with the energy of the return can help determine when a return is not caused by precipitation." Mitchell includes radar captures from the Duluth National Weather Service which shows the contrast with migratory birds and actual rain that was moving into northwestern Minnesota at the same time.

Blooms!

Mitchell's reporting may be seen here.