Tracking the Skies: Birds on the Move for Fall Migration

By Jennifer Hunt (Content Writer) and Shane Fuller (Certified Wildlife BIologist)

Get out your binoculars and head to your favorite hotspots because birds are on the move! Although it might seem like spring migration just finished, many species are heading to their wintering grounds now through early January. Our Certified Wildlife Biologists share species to keep an eye on as well as ways you can help these tiny migrants make it to their destination.

Hummingbirds

Depending on your location, you may see a number of hummingbird species as they head south. As Rufous Hummingbirds leave the Pacific Northwest, they may stop in parts of Arizona before reaching their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. In the northeast, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds leave in August, reaching peak migration in the southeast in September and October. Since male hummingbirds do not help raise young, you may see more males ahead of the females when they’re passing through.

To help fuel their arduous, hundreds-of-miles-long sojourn, leave your feeders out through the fall to provide nourishment to stragglers. Buying hummingbird food is unnecessary, as it can be easily made by melting one part white sugar into four parts of water. Simply combine the ingredients in a pan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Feeders should be cleaned and refreshed every 2-3 days, as the warm weather can ferment the sugar and turn the feeder into a dangerous breeding ground of bacteria and mold that is harmful to hummingbirds.

Shorebirds

Plovers, sandpipers, and dowitchers hit peak migration in August, as adult birds leave their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Plovers and sandpipers tend to congregate on coastal beaches, wetlands, mudflats, estuaries, and even inland areas like shallow reservoirs and irrigated farm fields. Look for dowitchers in brackish waters like estuaries and mangrove swamps. Seasoned birders can practice identifying between the long-billed dowitcher and the short-billed dowitcher, and looking in these locales is a sure-fire way to test their skills.

Seabirds

Gulls, terns, pelicans, and cormorants will be close to coastal areas and other transit hotspots in August. While they typically don’t migrate in large groups like other species do, they tend to hang out near breeding sites where food sources are abundant before making the trek south in September and October. Laughing and Western Gulls can be found scattered among inland lakes and coastal beaches, and Royal Terns can be spotted along beaches as well. Brown and American Pelicans flock to river mouths and estuaries, and Cormorants hang out near lakes and bays, especially those with large fish populations.

Swallows

Before heading to South and Central America, Swallows gather in enormous flocks near wetlands, the coast, and fields. They’re known to fly during the day and capture insects mid-air and mid-flight to keep their fuel sources high. Check marshlands, reeds, and even wires to see them roosting at night. Since their diet is heavily reliant on insects, there isn’t much landowners and homeowners can do to provide sustenance for their journey, but that’s not to say nothing can be done. Certain species like Tree Swallows are known for picking through compost piles to find discarded eggshells, and many Swallows will eat berries from bayberry and Myrica shrubs. They can also be found in open fields and marshes near bodies of freshwater. Other species include Cliff Swallows and Violet-green Swallows; the former breeds all over the United States, while the latter primarily sticks to the Western portion of the country, preferring open woodlands and foraging for insects near lakes and streams.

Warblers

Finally, Warblers are another songbird to keep watch for. In August, look for Northern Yellow Warblers, Black-and-White Warblers, and American Redstarts in trees and the coastal brush. Warblers and Redstarts typically don’t visit backyard bird feeders, especially since Warblers tend to dine on insects, but Redstarts will gravitate toward berries like serviceberry and magnolia. Although Black-and-White Warblers are small, don’t let them fool you: they can be pretty feisty. They’re known to pick fights with Black-capped Chickadees, American Redstarts, and Red-breasted Nuthatches as they defend their territory, and this behavior can extend all the way to their wintering location. Keep your eyes trained on tree limbs, as they can be found creeping along under large branches, looking for insects to munch on.

Whether you’re taking a coastal vacation looking for birds, heading to the forest, or lazing in your backyard, it’s possible to see birds on the move this month. Check websites like Cornell’s BirdCast, a migration dashboard that provides summaries of migration patterns for birds in your area. Stats like which birds are in flight, peak migration traffic, and expected nocturnal migrants are available. Depending on your property and location, you can play an important role in making sure these avian friends get to where they want to go.