The Mystery of Birds on Weather Radar: Explained
Have you ever wondered if birds can actually show up on weather radar? Well, the answer might surprise you! According to KARE Meteorologist Ben Dery, radar can pick up on various things in the atmosphere, including birds, bugs, and temperature changes.
During hurricane season, many people closely monitor the path of storms using the National Weather Service’s Doppler radar. After Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend area of Florida, an intriguing post claimed that a flock of birds was spotted on radar near Tallahassee.
However, some skeptics questioned whether birds could truly be detected by radar. So, can birds appear on weather radar?
Investigating the Claim
Yes, birds can indeed appear on weather radar. While there may be doubts about specific viral images, meteorologists and experts confirm that migratory birds and other animals can be detected by radar systems.
According to Rob Carlmark, a meteorologist at KXTV, it is common to see birds on radar, especially during their morning flights. In fact, radar imagery often shows unique patterns known as “roost rings” caused by birds taking off from their roosting sites at dawn.
Birds aren’t the only creatures visible on radar; bats and ladybugs have also been spotted over the years. In the case of hurricanes, some birds become trapped in the storm, while others alter their flight paths to avoid dangerous weather conditions.
Experts like Andrew Farnsworth and Audubon Florida shed light on how hurricanes impact bird migration, with some species using the storms to their advantage. Tagged shorebirds have been known to fly through hurricanes, while rare seabirds like Desertas petrels follow hurricanes for days to hunt for prey.
So, the next time you see a mysterious blip on the weather radar, don’t be surprised if it turns out to be a flock of birds on a morning flight or an adventurous seabird chasing a hurricane!
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