Early last week the members of five bird-a-thon teams and feeder watchers watched in horror at the weather predictions. “We better not have rain Friday and Saturday — it will kill the birding!” was the cry.

Spring is a riot of color from the ground up. Migratory birds continue to arrive on-Island in droves and reports are abundant.

Spring migration is initiated when bird hormones begin to rage and the desire to reproduce causes metabolic changes.

Adam and Rand Burnett were birding on Chappaquiddick and have added two new species to the Vineyard bird list: a zone-tailed hawk and a common raven.

Spring migration is definitely picking up and it is hard to decide what the “bird of the week” is. Sightings of thrashers, a ruby-throated hummingbird, snowy egrets and more were reported.

The birds and wine of Chile and Argentina trip proceeded to move from the cabernet and merlots of inland Chile to coastal wineries.