The Weatherhood forecast for Monday, November 25, is for sunshine throughout the day with a high temperature of six degrees Celsius, dipping to zero degrees overnight.
Tuesday, November 26, and Wednesday, November 27, the skies are clear with zero chance of rain with daytime temperatures around five degrees. Friday, November 28, there is a 66 per cent chance of snow beginning at 6 am, and a temperature of two degrees.The snow will most likely turn into rain by sunrise at 7:50 am on Friday.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), "every year, millions of birds embark on arduous journeys covering thousands of kilometres as they move between summer feeding and breeding sites and their non-breeding grounds. While we've yet to fully understand migratory behaviour in birds, weather conditions play a significant role in when birds take to the skies."
Folks who frequent Cranberry Lake have probably noticed that the Trumpeter swans are back.
According to Powell River Orphaned Wildlife Society (PROWLS): "Beginning in November every year, residents in the qathet region are treated to the sight of trumpeter swans arriving from their summer nesting grounds in the Arctic."
North America has more than 650 species of birds, with about 350 of those undertaking long-distance migrations.
ECCC added in a statement about how weather affects bird migration: "Among the long-distance migrants, the size and behaviour of the bird influences the time of day they migrate, and how weather conditions can help their journey. Many larger birds, such as eagles and cranes, migrate during the day to take advantage of rising air currents from the sun and wind that blows up hills and mountains. The warm rising air, called a thermal, helps them to soar upwards without almost no effort, then glide onwards on their migration, thus saving energy as they fly."
Surprisingly, geese do not take advantage of updrafts to migrate but use powered flight and rely entirely on their own wing strength.
"Many smaller birds fly at night, flapping their wings continuously over long distances,” stated the ECCC. “This nocturnal travel offers two main advantages: calmer air for smoother flight, as rising air currents typically subside after sunset, and cooler temperatures prevent the birds from overheating during their strenuous journey.”
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