Warbler Fall-out on Cruise Ship

My family and I were on the Disney Wonder in the shipping channels in 2,800 foot of water returning from Castaway Cay to Cape Canaveral when migratory birds began falling out of the clear blue sky. Over a couple of hours several dozen birds, mostly warblers, dropped on the ship. I didn't get photos or to identify most but I did get photos of six different warbler species. Here's a few of the photos:

American Redstart:

Nice shots. I suppose these are birds that were unable to make the migration all the way, and would fall into the sea if the ship weren't there.

Great captures and story. I've heard along the Gulf coast there are places at this time of year where Warblers are laying along the beaches exhausted from the trip. Sad to imagine these beautiful birds drowning.

They seem to hang around the Florida Keys long enough to recover, if they get there.

Beautiful shots......it's a good thing the ship was there or these little cuties wouldn't have made it back.

Great story and Captures!!

Wow! What a story -- and what shots.

Glad to find somewhere to have a bit of a rest. The distances some birds cover is quite incredible.

I served two years aboard a Navy cruiser in the Pacific back in the 60's. The same thing happened when we were off the coast during one of the Santa Annas going on in San Diego at the time. Hundreds of hummingbirds hit the ship. They were everywhere. They even got inside, coming through the ventilation funnels. We were due to be out for two more days and the captain had the cooks make up some sugarwater and put it in coffeecups with clean rags in the water and put them out where ever the hummers were found. It kept them alive till we docked and eventually they all found their way out. It was the strangest thing.

Maybe some good samaritan ecologists should float "islands" on their routes, with trees and food, so they have a place to rest. So sad to think of them falling into the water. Nature can be cruel!
Karen

pttenn wrote in post #7752246
Maybe some good samaritan ecologists should float "islands" on their routes, with trees and food, so they have a place to rest. So sad to think of them falling into the water. Nature can be cruel!
Karen

Sad, but nature truly follows "survival of the fittest". Doesn't mean we shouldn't help those less fit.

I volunteer to man the one 200 miles below Key West and keep the feeders full.

canonloader wrote in post #7752354
I volunteer to man the one 200 miles below Key West and keep the feeders full.

That 1st hurricane comes roaring through there and you'll be asking yourself
"what was I thinking"

It can't be any worse than a roaring blizzard at 25 below in Wisconsin.