[obol] Corvallis first arrival chart

[Greg Gillson]

To help new birders, and those new to the area, I offer the first  
arrival chart presented by Alan McGie in The Chat several years ago.

In comparing these numbers I have found that the average for the  
Willamette Valley as a whole is often a few days earlier than these  
more local averages found by fewer birders. I also prefer mean dates,  
as some of the "early" dates presented may actually refer to rare  
wintering birds. Of course, a few really early migrants may show up.  
However, the chance that any one of us will see very early bird is  
probably less likely than making an identification mistake. If you  
think you see any bird a week or more before the average first  
arrival, look again--just to be sure.

Greg Gillson
Hillsboro, Oregon
greg at thebirdguide.com
http://thebirdguide.com



The average first arrival date in the Corvallis area follows  
information from the Corvallis Audubon Society's newsletter, The Chat  
27(6), February 1998, compiled by Alan McGie, which covers 27 years of  
bird arrivals in Linn and Benton counties.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 16/April 6

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 22/February 22

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 21/May 7

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 31/March 14

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 28/March 23

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 16/March 26

Sora (Porzana carolina)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 23/April 7

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 26/March 13

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 26/April 10

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 2/April 29

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 9/April 17

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 25/March 14

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 20/April 8

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 8/April 22

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 7/March 22

Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 20/May 10

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 23/May 10

Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 4/March 20

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): May 10/June 4

Vaux's Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 5/April 21

Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 7/April 27

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 16/March 3

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 20/May 6

Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 7/May 2

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 25/May 15

Hammond's Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 14/April 21

Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 2/April 27

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 15/April 26

Cassin's Vireo (Vireo cassinii)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 26/April 17

Warbling Vireo (vireo gilvus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 2/April 26

Purple Martin (Progne subis)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 17/May 1

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): January 10/February 12

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 21/March 3

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 22/April 4

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 17/March 31

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 22/April 5

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 21/April 11

Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 9/May 4

Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 11/March 22

Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 13/April 16

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 10/April 30

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 15/April 12

Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 1/April 30

MacGillivray's Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 2/April 23

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 20/April 5

Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 3/April 18

Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 4/May 10

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 28/April 26

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 25/April 11

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): March 19/April 16

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 25/May 5

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 22/May 6

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): February 21/April 21

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Corvallis spring arrival (first/ave.): April 11/May 5