Yesterday's reports stir me to ask a question: is there a quick reference somewhere showing the migratory pathways (northbound and southbound) of migrant birds in eastern North America? Seems to me this would be of value to the observer, like me for instance, who has not memorized all these. Having some simple illustrations of routes--from the elaborate and unusual one of the whimbrel, to simpler ones like the ruby-throated hummingbird--would add a lot to people's understanding of birds that spend most of their lives elsewhere. The only field guide I know to do much (but not nearly enough) of this is the Nat'l Geo guide; if you look at the range maps for flycatchers, small arrows indicate an overland, not over-ocean, northbound route for olive-sided, yellow-bellied, alder, and willow. And if you look at reports from yesterday across the state you will see a pattern. One is tempted to conclude that the nearly constant presence of heavy rain and violent weather this spring stretching up the Mississippi Valley from Texas may have delayed birds that pass through Mexico on their way here, while trans-Gulf migrants got a free ride, explaining early arrivals for many warblers...here in Columbus, we had 37 species of these by 9 May this year. Another inch so far this a.m. in my rain gauge, Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]