Birds Migrating Through Ontario Right Now

The summer months seem to have come and gone too quickly, but alas it is that time again- migration! Songbirds, hawks and insects alike are heading south to their overwintering grounds. For birders, it is a second chance to see a lot of different species moving through the area. So, keep your feeders stocked, you are bound to see an increase in activity. Even more importantly, don't take down your hummingbird feeder just yet - their migration peaks this month! They will mostly be gone by the end of September, but we recommend keeping your feeder up until early October at least, for the stragglers. 

Brown Creeper with Bark Butter. Photo by Leanne Leblanc. 

Some nature happenings to note: 

September: 

• Ruby-throated hummingbirds are migrating and will have mostly departed by the end of the month 

• Broad-winged hawk migration peaks mid to late month 

• Migrating Brown Creepers and both Ruby and Gold Crowned Kinglets should appear near the end of the month

October: 

• Migration numbers increase for Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens and Yellow-rumped warblers 

• Migrating thrushes (Swainson's, Hermit and Gray-cheeked) can be seen feeding on fall fruits 

• Owls begin to appear, including Saw-Whets 

• Raptor migration peaks 

• Most wood ducks migrate south 

Ruby-crowned kinglet. Photo by Shayna Hartley. 

How you can attract and support migration birds: 

Provide high energy foods 

Mealworms and shelled or unshelled peanuts are both a fun and very nutrient dense offering for migration. It's also a great time to offer different suets or suet cylinders. Varieties with bugs and fruit and nuts are very attractive to a large variety of species and help to supplement their diets as naturally occuring bugs or fruit start to decline. 

Offer Bark Butter

With over 145 species being attracted to Bark Butter, the opportunity for new bird sightings in your yard is endless. Because of its unique advantage of being able to be spread on trees (or almost anything), you may even find yourself with visitors will not take food from commercial bird feeders.

Here is a list of just some of the uncommon feeder birds you may see feeding on Bark Butter in your yard: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Grey Catbird, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, and a number of warbler species including Pine, Palm, and Magnolia Warblers. Bark Butter will also satisfy your every day feeder birds such as Blue Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Woodpecker species. Click here for a complete list of birds recorded enjoying Bark Butter.

Provide clean water
During fall migration, you may have some interesting warbler species show up in your yard just to get a sip of water before they take off again, allowing for a glimpse at these beautiful little birds. Keep in mind that bird baths should be cleaned and disinfected with a 10% bleach solution on a regular basis to reduce the risk of bacteria and mold growth, even during cooler weather. 

Leave the leaves! 
I know this is repeated year after year, but it really does make a difference for our wildlife! Lots of migratory species like sparrows, spend most of their time foraging through the fallen leaves for insects and seeds hidden amongst them. When we rake up our leaves and throw them in the trash, we inevitably take all that food along with them. If you must rake the leaves, try to pile them into garden beds (they make great mulch!) or in a pile somewhere around your yard for the birds to access to forage in.

We hope you get the opportunity to experience these beautiful birds as they move through the region! 

Warmly, 

Heather