The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has begun a unique and ambitious quest to track neotropical bird migration along the Delmarva peninsula by using high resolution radar.

This fall TNC began their tracking work with the TRMM radar group and with other radars at NASA/Wallops Island plus two portable Doppler radars and thermal imager at the Taylor Farm just south of the Wallops Island facility. The work to better understand and document bird migration is the only one of its kind in the world.

Using this technology and Spandar (super powerful high resolution radar with no blockages), scientists documented a huge exodus from the Pocomoke River forest corridor Tuesday Sept. 30 from 6:31 p.m. to 10 p.m. The mass flight started as two widely separated, discrete events along the river corridor. However, within 10 minutes, it had evolved into two swarming masses with thousands of birds covering southern Maryland's Eastern Shore from bay to sea. Within another 10 minutes, all of northern Accomack county was lit up with birds.

The movement of all birds was SE out to the coast and over the nearshore Atlantic, then SSW down the coast. On radar loops, it looked like a river of birds pouring down the coast. The same phenomenon, but to a lesser intensity, was captured on three other nights the week of Sept. 28. In early November TNC will add a tower and permanent radar at Oyster.