Honing your birding ear can also reveal hidden details in the field. For instance, you’ll know to look for raptors when you hear songbirds whistle in alarm. With a little practice, you can begin decoding all those songs and calls, which will in turn give you remarkable insights into the species around you. It's loud, it's raucous, and for the untrained ear, it's often incoherent. Spring’s here, and there’s a birdy party raging outdoors. To catch up, check out part 1, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, and part 8. In part 2, Bird and Moon creator Rosemary Mosco takes you through the various sounds you hear and what they mean to birds (and to birders). Follow along with our birding-by-ear series to learn how to better ID birds through their vocalizations. The sheer volume of songs and calls can often feel overwhelming for birders, but these sounds offer both an opportunity and a challenge. However, the local NWS office in the Quad Cities partnered with local emergency managers to develop the recommended siren guidelines that have since been adopted by many local communities.ġ2.Editor’s Note: There's a lot to look forward to in spring, including the welcomed hullabaloo of birdsong. Does the National Weather Service recommend guidelines for sounding outdoor warning sirens? Check with your city or county officials to learn more.ġ1. Sirens are typically activated by city or county officials, usually a police or fire department or emergency management personnel. Who activates the outdoor warning sirens? The safest approach is to be proactive and use all of the information available to protect yourself and your family from threatening weather. Nothing can replace common sense. If a storm is approaching, the lightning alone is a threat. Sirens are only one part of a warning system that includes preparation, NOAA Weather Radio, and local media.ġ0. Will the outdoor warning sirens warn me of every dangerous storm? You can find information about past storms and their frequency in your community through the National Climatic Data Center. On average, the Quad City area experiences 5 storms each year that meet the common siren guidelines. How often can I expect the outdoor warning sirens to sound for severe weather? An increasing number of communities (inlcuding in the Quad Cities area) are incorporating these threats into their outdoor warning siren policies.Ĩ. When thunderstorm winds exceed 70 mph, trees can be uprooted or snapped. Hail that is golf ball sized or larger can break windows. Both of these things pose a direct risk to life if people are caught outdoors. Why are the outdoor warning sirens sometimes sounded for hail and wind? People should be indoors and monitoring local media for updates on the storm.ħ. Why don’t the outdoor warning sirens sound an all-clear signal? Check with your local officials to get the specific day for your community.Ħ. In the Quad Cities area, this is on the first Tuesday of each month. Sirens are tested according to local community or state policies. NOAA Weather Radio is like a smoke detector for severe weather, and it can wake you up when a warning is issued for your area so you can take appropriate action.ĥ. How can I get alerts when I’m at work or in my house?įor alerts indoors, every home and business should have a NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards. Sirens are an outdoor warning system designed only to alert those who are outside that something dangerous is approaching.Ĥ. Why can’t I hear the outdoor warning sirens in my house? When the sirens are heard, go inside and tune to local media to get more information.ģ. What should I do when I hear the outdoor warning sirens? The specific guidelines (tornado, hail ,wind, etc.) for sounding sirens varies by jurisdiction, so check with your local community to find out the specifics if you are interested.Ģ. In short, it means that something life-threatening is happening and you should go indoors and get more information.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |