Migratory Birds (6615)

Birds migrate as the seasons change to take advantage of food, water, and other resources. Many migratory birds return from the south in spring. Some of these birds continue flying north; others stay, joining our familiar winter birds. Summer bird visitors include robins, wrens, warblers, and indigo buntings, just to name a few. Try keeping a record of the arriving birds. Record the day they arrive and if they stay in your area for the summer.

Birds are quite active in spring. They spend their time building nests and raising their young. You can give birds houses to nest in and provide them with feeders.

Migratory birds use many methods to find their way from place to place. Some birds have internal compasses that detect magnetic fields; some use landmarks while others learn routes from older birds. Many birds navigate using the sun or stars, some use scent, and others even follow low-frequency sounds. Many birds use a combination of these navigational aids.

The main migratory routes used by North American birds are the four flyways: the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific. Our coastal area and bodies of water are part of the Atlantic flyway, which stretches from southern South America to the far northern areas of Canada.

Federal law protects migratory birds from human interference. It is illegal to hit, shoot, or collect wild birds, except game birds, in any way for pets or mounting unless you have a special permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department.

Bird watching offers hours of enjoyment. You can observe and record birds’ spring and fall migration for a living record of the changing seasons.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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