Bob,

Thanks.  That's pretty much exactly the answer I was expecting: more
observations are filling in the wings of the distribution.

But I wonder if we can rule out the other possibility -- that the wings of
the distribution are getting larger.  More weird weather combined with
less-suitable nesting habitat could result in more failed nests or more
non-nesting adults.  These birds may be heading south earlier in the
season.

Dave
David Mozurkewich
Seabrook, PG MD USA
mozurk @ bellAtlantic.net

On Wed, 1 Sep 2004, Bob Ringler wrote:

> Dave,
>    Though it is unusual to have Nashville Warblers this early it is not
> extraordinary.  My records show at least 14 reports in the last third of
> August, some of these banding records.  The Yellow Book shows August 18
> as an early date and there are earlier reports now.
...
> I believe the fact that three were reported today reflects more people
> birding in mid week after the passage of a cold front rather than any
> remarkable number of early Nashvilles.
>    It's too early to make any general comments about the migration but
> what has struck me even more about the early reports are three of
> Blue-headed Vireo so far, a bird that usually appears even later than
> Nashville Warbler.