(Bird) Migration Crisis

Last night as you slumbered securely in your comfortable bed in your cozy abode, millions of birds passed over on their migration journey. They are hard-wired to make these heroic trips not because of the threat of cold weather per se in their breeding digs but because of the possible paucity of the food they depend upon as summer fades to winter. They are leaving their breeding grounds and moving into their non-breeding habitat in search of the perpetual summer where food is more plentiful. But not all of their journeys pass without issue.

At Liberty Wildlife during this time, we see an influx of new patients and avian visitors. Two of the main reasons for intake of these different species are presumed window collisions (head and spine injuries) and malnourishment. The path these avian aviators must take can be long, hard, and stressful. These long-distance fliers, like all pilots, need fuel. If food supply along the way is interrupted, they can present to us as mal-nourished. This can happen for many reasons….weather related, habitat challenges, or the mixed results of global warming. In addition, over half (millions to billions) of birds are the victims of window strikes. But, the purpose of my blog today isn’t to identify or address all of those global problems so much as to suggest what you can do to help, in your own little part of the world.

For instance, you can help by adding food, particularly native plants, and clean water to your yard as a respite for them.

Reducing hazards by adding decals to windows, screens to prevent the bird from seeing its image in the window can further prevent collisions. Hang various things to break up the large space that looks to them like more blue sky or perhaps make an effort to dim outdoor lights that confuse them at night. A cheap solution to window collisions is to disguise windows using tempera paint to paint designs (perhaps fall décor) over windows. These designs can easily be cleaned off after the migration is completed, or just when you want to choose a new design. There are many resources available and products to prevent window strikes.

Another critical step you can take is to stop using pesticides in your yard. One seed coated with neonicotinoids can kill a songbird. And don’t get me started on rodenticide, which moves up the food chain to all predators, including your neighborhood dogs and cats. And speaking of pets, keep them inside, particularly cats. It’s a no brainer—they are predators, after all!

Leaving leaf litter on the ground instead of raking it up neatly will allow for natural foraging and maybe provide some cover for the birds that normally utilize this foraging technique to obtain food. Leaving snags, bare limbs or “planting” a dead tree will allow for a resting place and a lookout point for a migrating bird.

Every little bit helps. Awareness is critical. Migration will go on, and we can either turn a blind eye to the problems, or embrace the simple changes in our environs that can help. I choose to appreciate it and to look at these new visitors with the hope for their immediate return to their migration path.

In the meantime, here is a list of new “faces” that we have seen recently at Liberty Wildlife.

• Sora rail
• Black headed grosbeak
• Summer tanager
• Western tanager
• Brewers Sparrow
• Scott’s oriole
• Bullock’s oriole
• Hammonds flycatcher
• Green tailed towhee
• Warbling vireo
• Bell’s vireo
• Plumbeous vireo
• MacGillivray’s warbler
• Lucy’s warbler
• Orange crowned warbler
• Nashville warbler
• Wilson’s warbler
• Black chinned sparrow

• Others seen on property as a natural migration visitor… just passing through.
  • Green tailed towhee
  • Black phoebe
  • Rock wren
  • Black throated warbler