[carjug]

(Stecoah Gap is on NC 143 near Robbinsville, at the base of the Smoky Mountains)

There is a warbler hotspot about fifty miles from my house. It is called Stecoah Gap, and aside from the abundance of grapevines choking the trees, there is nothing special about the place. It is simply a ridge on the north side of a mountain.
Around April 20 it fills up with warblers. B&W, Parulae, Blackburnian, Redstarts, BT Greens, Ovenbirds; the list hit 16 species this year. WHY?

What makes for a spring migration hotspot? Do the birds have a set route, or is there a natural night-time wind tunnel that pulls them into these places? Where are the other hotspots between Florida/Texas and Canada? and how does a person look for undiscovered hotspots?

[David FG]

Originally Posted by carjug

(Stecoah Gap is on NC 143 near Robbinsville, at the base of the Smoky Mountains)

There is a warbler hotspot about fifty miles from my house. It is called Stecoah Gap, and aside from the abundance of grapevines choking the trees, there is nothing special about the place. It is simply a ridge on the north side of a mountain.
Around April 20 it fills up with warblers. B&W, Parulae, Blackburnian, Redstarts, BT Greens, Ovenbirds; the list hit 16 species this year. WHY?

What makes for a spring migration hotspot? Do the birds have a set route, or is there a natural night-time wind tunnel that pulls them into these places? Where are the other hotspots between Florida/Texas and Canada? and how does a person look for undiscovered hotspots?

I'm not sure about the one you mention, but in general terms, 'hot spots' will be in places where migrating birds can find a relatively shorter or easier route - so, for example, a gap in a range of mountains, or a place where a sea-crossing is shorter.

For this reason, Gibraltar and the Bosphorus are 'hot spots' in Europe. Birds will be 'funneled' into these areas because they provide an easier passage.

[lashinala]

We have similar ones here in Huntsville on the north sides of several mountains (Montesano, Green, Keel). All 3 do have the same characteristics: north side heavily wooded ridges. My guess is that they became hot spots because there are still mature trees (not always easy to find).
I guess the best way to find a new one would be to go where no one else goes...

[carjug]

Thanks, I will be looking those up.
North Side of mountains, heavily wooded , mature woods, and I want to add grapevine ridden. This is gonna be fun!

Pileated woodpecker at feeder! Whoo-hoo!