April is an exciting month in the bird community as we can see spring migration of many species! There is so much anticipation and excitement and every glance out your window could provide opportunities for rewarding new bird encounters. Be alert and keep watching! Birds time the spring migration north with the opening of new leaves on trees and the available feast of increasing insect populations. More daylight hours means more time for eating insects!
 |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbirds make long migratory journeys |
Migration is a fascinating topic and one of interest for anyone that likes a good mystery! Of course, we know a lot about avian migration due to bird banding stations and increases in technology. However, there is still a lot that remains unknown and knowledge gaps surrounding species, including what paths they take when they migrate and where they spend their non-breeding time. We are even unsure as to why certain species don't migrate at all despite being closely related to ones that do.
However, exploring the knowledge base we do have can be quite interesting!
Check out this interactive bird migration map by National Geographic
The Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) has a real-time tracker of bird migration that can alert you to the intensity of birds flying through your region! You can visit it here. Their website contains a breadth of information about safe-guarding migratory birds and how you can become involved.
If we think about the amount of man-made hazards and natural events that migrating birds encounter it makes their successful journeys seem even more miraculous!
Of course, watching birds beats researching them any day. So look outside and warmly welcome all our long-distance champions!
Feel free to come into the store and get some nutritious food for them to refuel after such a long journey.
Warmly,
Heather
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment