Nevertheless, early spring (better known here in Maine as “winter starting to think about turning into spring”) is a time when we begin to see a wondrous influx of birds, some returning to nest and others just passing through. We also bid farewell to the visitors that have brightened our winter, like “winter finches,” Snowy Owls, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Tree Sparrows, and in many parts of the country, ducks.
The early birds
The birds we see first in early spring vary widely depending on where we live. Folks in the southern tier of states are already seeing great birds that the rest of us will have to wait weeks for, like Black-and-White Warbler, American Golden-Plover and Orchard Oriole. But some widespread species, like Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Western Bluebird, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture and Sandhill Crane are already moving up their flyways of choice into the still-snowy north.
There’s also a north/south migration in the Great Plains region. Grassland birds like Sprague’s Pipit and Chestnut-collared Longspur, which winter in Texas and northern Mexico, traverse Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska in early spring on their way to breeding areas just a bit further north in the Dakotas and Canadian prairie provinces.
In colder parts of the country the Red-winged Blackbird, a year-round resident in warmer states, is among the first “true” early spring migrants to arrive and. The males show up before the females, so they can lay claim to a breeding territory, usually in a cattail marsh.
Trans-gulf migration
The spring migration of warblers, tanagers, shorebirds and other species -- even the Ruby-throated Hummingbird! -- across the Gulf of Mexico is among the most dramatic, demanding and dangerous migrations made by birds anywhere on Earth. This phenomenon begins in mid-March, reaches its peak in late April and early May, and winds down by mid-May.
Why don’t the birds just fly through Mexico? Probably to save time on their way to their breeding territories. Most birds migrate south after breeding more slowly, because many do not defend territories on their wintering grounds. The quick trip over water might also expose them to fewer predators versus moving, in particular, along the Gulf coast of Mexico in the narrow band of hospitable habitat east of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains.
Among many sources of info on this fascinating topic is my blog entry here:
view link
Just passing through
Many Eons birders will soon be enjoying the return of colorful breeding songbirds like the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Summer Tanager. But many colorful birds, especially those in the warbler family, pass through the southern states on their way to breeding grounds further north. The boreal forest realm (aka “America’s bird nursery”) that spreads across Canada, northern New England and parts of the upper Midwest is one of the most critically important breeding areas for birds worldwide.
Among the colorful songsters that flit through on their way north are the Canada Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, Rusty Blackbird (OK, that one’s not so colorful), Evening Grosbeak, Hooded Merganser, and Barrow’s Goldeneye.
Bound for even higher latitudes in many cases are the shorebirds, among the longest distance migrants of any group of birds. Some, like the tiny White-rumped Sandpiper (about the size of a sparrow), commute back and forth between breeding grounds in the high Arctic and wintering areas at the southern tip of South America.
Enjoying the show
How can you get a glimpse of all these terrific birds as they migrate through your area? Here are some tips:
* Get outside! If you’re watching TV you ain’t birding.
* Start learning the songs and calls of some common birds in your area. Many birds begin singing as they migrate, which makes them much easier to spot.
* Visit your local Audubon Society or bird sanctuary. There are free (or almost free) bird walks happening all the time practically everywhere, from the biggest cities to rural areas.
* Get some binoculars! They make it vastly easier to see birds! For guidance on your purchase check out my former blog entries on that topic, starting with:
view link
Keep looking up, birding friends -- the birds are where you find them!
Peace and good birding,
Scott Cronenweth
Eons birding mentor
www.naturalpathwalks.com
