Influence of macrosynoptic weather situation on the autumn migration of birds in Hungary

Abstract

Gyurácz J., Horváth G., Csörgõ T., Bank L., Palkó S. 2003. Influence of macrosynoptic weather situation on the autumn migration of birds in Hungary. Ring 25, 1-2: 17-36.In the study we have examined the relation between the European macrosynoptic weather situation and the number of birds captured a day at four Hungarian ringing stations during the autumn migration. Along the research we examined the data of 32 809 individuals of 8 species using different migration strategies. Using the daily capture data at the four stations we constructed the migration diagrams for each year. We chose the migration peak days within ten-day periods and examined how these peak days or their preceding days are distributed over Péczelys macrosynoptic weather situations. Comparing the 8 bird species no significant difference in distribution of the peak days over the macrosynoptic weather situations was found (ANOVA: F 7,376 = 1.81, p = 0.084). 85% of the migration peak days for all the species were connected with anticyclones, 10% with meridional cyclone / cold front situation and 5% with other cyclonic ones. The most frequent weather situation on the migration peak days was central anticyclone, which occurred in 61 cases.

Intra-seasonal changes in directional preferences of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) caught on autumn migration at Bukowo-Kopań ringing Station (N Poland) in 1996

“…The increases and decreases in number of birds noted were explained in different ways. Some authors discussed external source of this phenomenon, like weather conditions (Mehlum 1981, Gyurácz et al 2003, others pointed at some innate mechanisms, e.g. populational or physiological background (Remisiewicz and Baumanis 1996, Kopiec-Mokwa 1999, Busse 2001).…”

“…Both of mentioned elements affect migration of birds (e.g. Alerstam 1978, Elkins 1988, Gwinner 1990, Richardson 1990, Gyurácz et al 2003. This may be the explanation of the most pronounced waves (consisting of populations of different origin), separated, for example, by periods of unfavourable European-scale weather conditions.…”

Weather conditions affect spring and autumn migration of Siberian leaf warblers

“…Favourable weather conditions for migration enhance the orientation of birds, reduce the use of energy for flying and increase the speed of migration (Emlen 1975;Bloch and Bruderer 1982;Gauthreaux 1982;Akesson 1993;Liechti 2006;Shamoun-Baranes et al 2017). According to the majority of the studies, most migrations take place in windless, clear, anticyclonic weather conditions without precipitation, or with support of tail winds (Alerstam 1990;Gyurácz et al 1997Gyurácz et al , 2003Bruderer and Boldt 2001;Erni et al 2002). Favourable conditions can occur in different macrosynoptic weather situations (Kerlinger et al 1989).…”

Bird number dynamics during the post-breeding period at the Tömörd Bird Ringing Station, western Hungary

“…The cold front of the cyclones which appeared in the Baltic region or over Ukraine also had a substantial effect on the autumn migration of some short-distance migrants, e.g. the European Robin, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Blue Tit (Gyurácz et al 2003b). One day after the cold front, large numbers of individuals were captured in Tömörd.…”