Fall Migration is Underway! | Audubon

Many long-distance migrants nest within the Arctic and have solely a brief window to put eggs and lift their younger earlier than they head south once more. Florida coastlines present essential habitat and alternatives for foraging and resting earlier than birds proceed on their lengthy journey to Central and South America. For hundreds of shorebirds and seabirds, Florida may very well be the final cease earlier than they cross an ocean to their last vacation spot. They want our seashores to relaxation and refuel for his or her arduous migration journeys forward.

Which Birds Cease Right here?

Florida’s shoreline supplies resting, nesting, and foraging habitat for quite a lot of species, relying on the season.

Fall

“Fall” migration can start for some species as early as the tip of June, earlier than the primary pumpkin spice candle arrives on cabinets every year. July is after we usually begin to see migratory grownup shorebirds in Florida, like Crimson Knots and Piping Plovers.

Winter

Within the coldest months, our coastlines present essential stopover and wintering habitat for birds migrating south. Many species proceed on their lengthy journey to Central and South America, however some, like Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Crimson Knots, and Black-bellied Plovers, spend their winters in Florida. After they arrive, they’re usually mottled in look as they molt their breeding plumage into non-breeding plumage. Molting is an energetically taxing course of that requires a variety of power — another excuse our seashores are vital for resting and foraging.

Chicken banding tasks have helped us study that Black Skimmers and American Oystercatchers from the Northeast fly south for the winter, with many making Florida’s coasts their winter house.

Spring

Coastal habitat is utilized by migrants for a stopover to forage and gasoline up for the remainder of their journey north. It’s also the beginning of breeding season for shorebirds and seabirds that nest on our shoreline: Black Skimmers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, Snowy Plovers, and Wilson’s Plovers.

Summer time

Our seashores are like nurseries for Black Skimmers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, Snowy Plovers, and Wilson’s Plovers. Because the breeding season winds down for these species, many others are starting their migration south from their summer time breeding grounds within the Arctic.

What Can You do to Assist our Seaside Birds Yr-round?

Once you’re on the seaside, give birds area to relaxation and forage for meals — sure, even the gulls. It could have solely taken you 20 minutes to get to the seaside, however some birds have flown hundreds of miles in a short while, simply to get right here.   

Working by means of resting flocks of seaside birds is dangerous, because the birds expend pointless power making an attempt to fly away from the disturbance. Do the “flock stroll” any time you’re on the seaside and stroll round resting or foraging birds: as a substitute of strolling instantly by means of a flock, take the additional time to stroll round.

Have little ones who like to run by means of flocks? Make strolling across the seaside birds the “cool” factor to do along with your youngsters. Clarify to them how they’re resting and fueling as much as proceed on their journey.

If everybody shares the shore whereas visiting our unimaginable seashores in Florida, we are able to all make a distinction for these weak sea and shorebirds.