Tribute in Light 2024

Narrative

NYC Bird Alliance monitoring of the annual Tribute in Light memorial.

Clear skies to start, with waxing gibbous moon. Winds nearly calm at surface, ~5 MPH NW wind at 3,000’. Radar showed widespread takeoff from north and west of us, but large movement wasn't evident in the beams until the 10 PM hour. Many moths were in the beams already by the mid-8 PM hour.

Moon disappeared behind low clouds on the horizon around 11 PM, and clouds began to be seen overhead after midnight.

Beams shut off three times, for 15-20 minutes each time, at 22:29, 23:19, ~00:10.

Moth photos:

Black Witch 05:07:


Pandorus Sphinx 03:41:


Underwing moth 01:18:


Black Witch 04:40:


Underwing-type moth 21:19


Pandorus Sphinx 02:39