Storm-Driven Birding: How Extreme Weather Brings Unexpected Species
Storms and severe weather events can have spectacular effects on marine wildlife, particularly pelagic birds. Strong winds and disturbed currents can push species normally confined to offshore waters toward the coast, or sometimes even well inland. These sudden influxes allow birders to observe exceptional species in unusual locations. Such events perfectly illustrate how extreme weather can temporarily transform our coasts into treasures for ornithologists.
France’s Atlantic Front Row
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This phenomenon occurs annually in Europe. Ornithologists can often anticipate these irruptions and document the events year after year. Last week, gusts exceeding 100 km/h along France’s Atlantic coast caused a notable arrival of pelagic birds, particularly Leach's Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) and Parasitic Jaegers (Stercorarius parasiticus). These species, usually observed far offshore, were spotted on beaches and along cliffs, offering birders and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to observe them up close in unexpected settings.
Hurricane Fiona: Pelagics Gone Wild
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Across the Atlantic, hurricanes are also known to bring surprises for birders. In September 2022, Hurricane Fiona caused an exceptional phenomenon on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. On the night of September 24, the system made landfall with gusts exceeding 150 km/h. This extreme weather diverted the paths of thousands of pelagic birds, including species very rare for the region. Among the most remarkable observations was the first Canadian record of Trindade Petrel (three individuals spotted on September 24 on Bras d’Or Lake, Cape Breton)—a species never before documented in the country. This rarity was accompanied by exceptional sightings of White-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon lepturus), Storm Petrels (Pelagodroma marina), and other tropical or subtropical species displaced by the storm. The result: birders on site were treated to a rare “show”—a true frenzy of pelagic birds on a freshwater lake under extreme weather conditions.
The recent Hurricane Melissa also crossed the Atlantic and hit the East Coast of North America, generating strong winds and heavy rain. Despite these extreme conditions, no spectacular influx of seabirds was reported, unlike what was observed during Hurricane Fiona in Nova Scotia. Even when storms are powerful, their effects on bird distribution can vary considerably depending on the storm’s track, intensity, and timing.
A Bittersweet Spectacle
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While these post-storm influxes represent a true treasure for ornithologists and provide unique opportunities for observation and study, they also highlight the fragility of birds in the face of extreme conditions. Violent winds, torrential rain, and crashing waves cause stress, exhaustion, and high mortality among these species, particularly young or weakened individuals. Each such spectacle is therefore both a scientific opportunity and a reminder of birds’ vulnerability to the forces of nature.
Conclusion
Storms and extreme weather events, though often destructive, reveal a fascinating side of nature’s dynamics. Spotting a Leach’s Storm-Petrel on a wind-swept beach or a tropical Petrel drifting over a Canadian lake is to witness, firsthand, the power of the climate and the resilience of wildlife.
These events remind us how strongly weather shapes bird life. Even if the sky darkens and the wind picks up, don’t hesitate to pull on your boots and grab your binoculars — it’s often when the weather seems at its worst that nature offers its most remarkable surprises.
Laurent Bédard