Compared to the 1992 and 1993 spring seasons, 1994 was characterized by relatively mild weather. Spring rains temporarily restored water levels in some areas, but drought conditions continued in most parts of the state. A cold front that passed through the state 7 April resulted in fantastic fallouts of birds in Pinellas County and at Dry Tortugas for the next few days. Highest-ever counts of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Hooded Warblers were made at this time. Reports from other parts of the state were generally of fewer migrants than in other years.
Rarities reported this spring (all but a few verified) included five Caribbean species: La Sagra's Flycatcher (2), Bahama Mockingbird (3), Bananaquit, Stripe-headed Tanager (2), and Florida's second Yellow-faced Grassquit. At least 5 individuals of Antillean Short-eared Owls were observed in Monroe County. Other rarities included a Black-Hawk in North Florida, a Curlew Sandpiper present for at least 7 months in Lee County, Florida's third Marbled Murrelet (and the first live individual), a Long-eared Owl roosting in scrub, a Couch's Kingbird, and a Townsend's Warbler in St. Petersburg. A record count of Band-rumped Storm-Petrels came from the Straits of Florida in May.
Lastly, the third annual North American Migration Count was conducted 14 May in 16 counties in the state. The results were compiled by the new state compiler, Rex Rowan. Some of the more significant observations from the NAMC are contained in this report.
Contributors: B. J. Anderson, Bruce Anderson, Brooks Atherton, Lyn Atherton, Ric Atkinson, Steve Backes, Jocie Baker, Ted Below, Wes Biggs, Bob Blair, Paul Blair, Reed Bowman, Woody Bracey, Fred Broemer, Thomas Brooks, Bob Browning, Connie Cauley, Jim Cavanagh, Ken Christensen, Peter Clark, Ele Colborn, Ethel Connolly, Mark Cudney, Joe DiPasquale, Mark Dolan, Paul Donahue, Linda Douglas, Jack Dozier, Bob Duncan, Lucy Duncan, Scot Duncan, Michael Evans, Duncan Evered, Hugh Fagan, Owen Fang, Paul Fellers, T. Fish, Linda Fitzgerald, John Fitzpatrick, Eula Fontaine, Clarice Ford, Don Ford, Lee Fox, Dot Freeman, Dave Gagne, Alan Gantzhorn, Chuck Geanangel, Wally George, John Ginaven, Mark Ginsberg, Ken Gleason, Ruth Gleason, Dave Goodwin, Lynn Gould, Bruce Hallett, Mae Hartsaw, Scott Hedges, Dale Henderson, Brian Hope, Larry Hopkins, Marie Hughes, Gloria Hunter, Derek Johnson, Dean Jue, Sally Jue, Kevin Karlson, Vivian Keerd, Elena Killian, Jerry Krummrich, Howard Langridge, Dave Leonard, Frank Leonard, Peter Lorish, George Lucas, Pete Maiuri, Virginia McGrath, Mike McMillian, Tony Menart, Gail Menk, Lyla Messick, Vaughn Morrison, Barbara Muschlitz, Blair Nikula, Michael O'Brien, Joe Ondrejko, Rich Paul, Jan Platt, Chuck Potter, Bill Pranty, Peter Quincy, Lisa Richman, William B. Robertson, Harry Robinson, Ed Rosenberg, Rex Rowan, Pete Ryan, Mel Schmidt, Ann Schnapf, Steve Schoech, Jean Schulenberg, Ellen Shelton, Jim Shelton, David Sibley, Andrea Smith, Austin Smith, Lori Smith, P. William Smith, Ron Smith, Susan Smith, T. Smith, Annette Stedman, Doug Stotz, Jim Stuart, Adam Summers, Keith Tarvin, Debbie Taylor, Phil Tetlow, Jim Thompson, Barbara Thomson, Pete Timmer, Noel Wamer, Don Ware, Charles Watt, Chuck Weber, Ira Weigley, Margie Wilkinson, Glen Woolfenden, Betty Wotton, Bob Wotton, Ann Ziccardi.