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Do large flocks of birds show up... | Almanac.com

Do large flocks of birds show up...

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Do large flocks of birds show up on weather radar screens?
Answer
Yes. In fact, the phenomenon is common enough that meteorologists have a name for it: birdburst. Even the newest Doppler radar equipment might register a big flock of birds as a storm. Because weather radar uses a wide beam, it can pick up a flock that covers a large area. This most often occurs at sunrise, when birds leave their nests all at once. If groups of birds from a large flock leave their nests every few minutes, they may appear on radar as concentric rings, which resemble the appearance of the cool, moist air conditions that can produce thunderstorms. Radar technicians, however, have been trained to recognize the difference between a microburst and a birdburst.