Bird migration is often synonymous with spring when songbirds stream north to nest once the winter chill has subsided. But migration has already started for many shorebirds, and most raptors have already arrived at their breeding grounds and are starting their families.

Ducks and geese are sporting striking breeding plumage right now. Easy to spot on the open water in lakes, marshes, and some in the ocean, they are beautifully turned out. This dapper Northern Shoveler was looking to pair up, and nearby a small flock of migrating shorebirds was probing the mud and on their way to Alaska and Russia to breed. Regardless of the season, there is a lot of activity. Brave the cold and enjoy the show!

 

Visit us at WildTones for bird and wildlife ringtones, alerts and alarms for iPhones and Android, and our loopable streaming nature sounds by Wildtones Nature Sounds for relaxation, sleep, meditation, and lifestyle. And check out our expanding list of ways to help birds.

Maple syrup is produced by tapping maple trees, but not all sugarbush forests are managed for wildlife. Over 50% of maple syrup is produced in Vermont and New York in winter. But in summer while the trees are growing, migrating birds return from their southern overwintering sites to nest in these same sugarbushes including, Barred Owls, Scarlet Tanagers, Wood Thrush and Black-throated Blue Warblers. Audubon Vermont, New York, Maine and Connecticut work with local sugarbush farmers to help them manage their forests to benefit birds. It’s not difficult to do and makes the forest so much more productive with the creation of nesting, feeding, and hiding spots; having a multi-layered forest with a variety of species of trees; leaving dead trees standing - any of this sound familiar? It’s exactly what you do in your own yard to attract birds!  

Some farmers who produce maple syrup are finding surprising birds returning to their property when their sugarbushes are managed for both productivity and birds. 

Support nesting birds by buying syrup from maple producers who are farming their sugarbush to benefit birds in the “off” season by providing much-needed nesting habitat. Here is a list of bird-friendly maple producers in New York, or you can buy directly from Audubon Vermont online. For more information about these programs, check out the Audubon Vermont website.  

Vultures may not be the cutest or the most beautiful of birds, but they are incredibly efficient disposers of carcasses and maintainers of a healthy environment and a keystone species. A flock of 100 vultures can completely clean up a 100-pound carcass in 3 minutes. Quick clean-up means there is less chance of disease spreading from the carrion. But in India, the populations of certain vulture species have decreased by over 97% in a 15-year period. This crash of these keystone species is causing a massive change in sanitation and safety and is having unexpected and dangerous societal effects. ...Why is this happening? Read More...

Get ready for shorebirds to start migrating north in late winter with an innovative chart that makes shorebird ID much easier. Shorebirds aren't easy to identify. But with a comparison of bodies, beaks and legs in a Rockette-like line-up the differences between that Willet and Yellowlegs and the Sanderling and Dunlin are readily apparent. Who knew shorebird ID could be so easy? Thanks to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for this downloadable handy guide!

Not all birds migrate. But of the roughly 40% who do, different species migrate in different ways, at different times and different distances. Some birds like Bar-tailed Godwits repeatedly set records for the longest sustained flight without any stops - now over 9 days from Alaska to New Zealand! Northern Bobwhites migrate up and down a mountain to keep up with food sources. Some bird migrations include extremely long taxing flights, others might even be done on foot, by swimming, or... well, check out this interactive article from Audubon and see for yourself!

There used to be a saying about somebody who doesn’t eat much — “she eats like a bird.” Just a little of this and a smidgen of that. But how much does a bird typically eat? And how much would you have to eat to match it? Listen to this BirdNote podcast to find out!

Its a great time to be watching birds nest and go about their business. Check out some of these birdcams from the US, Panama, Bermuda, South Africa and New Zealand. There are plenty of birds around the world to keep you busy!

...Click here for lots more Birdcams!...

Bring the relaxing sounds of the Northwoods to your office or home with our streaming album: Dawn Through Night: Bird Calls and Nature Sounds in the Forest. Follow the sounds of the forest as it awakens with gorgeous birdsong and progresses throughout the day and into the night with the sounds of the true wilderness expertly captured by sound Recordist Stan Tekeila. Enjoy the calm of immersive tracks which take you to the heart of the forest. Then sit back, and be transported....

Easily found in Amazon Prime, Spotify and most other streaming services.

Common Redpoll

White-throated Sparrow

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