It's difficult to not get excited during spring and fall migration. On any given day during these migration seasons, you have the chance of seeing a non-resident bird use your yard as a stopover spot.
Black & White Warbler
At either end of their journey could be locations as diverse as British Columbia and Mexico, or the Yukon Territories and Venezuela. In between, birds rely on stopover points when weather and/or need for food and rest brings birds down for a day or two or maybe longer. They use this time to rest, rehydrate, and to replenish fat reserves for the next leg of their journey.
Fox Sparrow
There are famous stopover points across the US, like Cape May NJ, known for their fallouts created by favorable geography, coupled with the habitat and abundant food and water resources needed by migrating birds. But you don't have to be in Cape May to see migrating birds, especially if your property provides what birds need during a migratory stop: shelter, food, and water. The more diverse these resources are on your property, the greater your chances of seeing a variety of migrating birds.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
My yard provides a diverse habitat - many species of deciduous trees of various heights, a variety of coniferous trees, many shrubs and bushes, and lots of low cover. I don't use pesticides of any type so insects are plentiful and for the frugivores, there are crab apples, mountain ash, holly, juniper, bittersweet, sumac, and more. Besides my numerous birdfeeders filled with a variety of seeds, nuts, and suet, I have 2 birdbaths out year-round (more in the summer) since I don't have a natural water source on the property.
Mountain Ash berries
This diversity of habitat and food and water sources is not just for the migrant birds - our everyday birds rely on these resources as well. And while the everyday birds in our lives provide reliable enjoyment on a day in and day out basis, having a Ruby-crowned Kinglet or Blue-headed Vireo visit your yard for a day or two in spring or fall adds to our yard that variety which we call the "spice of life"!
Recent Comments