This morning, while watching construction across the street (I am still a young boy at heart), I caught site of four Mississippi kites, circling the canopy of a neighbor's tree. Upon reporting this incidental sighting on eBird, I was confronted by their vigilant computer, advising me that the count was unexpectedly high for this date and location. As I have reported in the past, I respect the need for accuracy and was not at all offended by the digital query.
On the other hand, I sense that climate change is already having significant effects on seasonal bird counts, especially for species that do not strictly adhere to the solar cycle; waterfowl and migrant raptors come to mind.
Over the coming years, eBird and other avian monitoring groups will certainly have to adjust their data and expectations. No doubt, some species may stop migrating altogether.
