9 million birds through the refuge each night of Sept. 30, Oct. 6
By DON MORROW
Major events have happened in the night along the upper Gulf coast over the last few weeks. Each has affected St. Marks Natinal Wildlife Refuge in its own way.
Hurricane Helene came through in the night on September 26th. Thankfully, its effects were minimal for the refuge. A few minor levee breaches, some trees down, outer levees covered with flotsam, and some scouring of vegetation along the Lighthouse Levee Trail. The major effects of the storm missed us and impacted our neighbors to the east, bringing with it misery and destruction.
Hurricanes are a fact of life along the Gulf coast. They seem to be happening to the Big Bend more regularly, but they are not annual events at the refuge.
Two overnight events that have happened recently were, however, part of a recurring annual phenomenon. Nine million birds migrated through the refuge each night on September 30th and October 6th.
Big flights in early October are normal as Fall migration peaks and birds take advantage of favorable winds. We are at a transition point in migration. You can see it in the species mix that is being reported by refuge birders. Twenty warbler species have been reported so far this month. Southern nesting species, like Hooded, Prairie and Yellow Warblers, are beginning to give way to boreal forest nesting birds, Like Cape May, Bay-breasted and Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Most of the songbirds heading down to the Caribbean or South America will have moved through the refuge by the end of the month. So too will most of the Arctic-nesting shorebirds. Our wintering birds are beginning to show up; phoebes, House Wrens, Swamp Sparrows, and Sora rails. Shorebird numbers are increasing as the first Dunlin, the refuge’s most common wintering species, arrive from the Arctic coast. Duck migration, which is a Blue-wing Teal story in early Fall, has finally started to get interesting as a few Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler and Northern Pintail have arrived. Duck diversity will jump in November as a further dozen species arrive for the winter.
Migration is not just a nocturnal thing. Diurnal migrants like herons, egrets, and ibis, are moving through. Falcons follow shorebirds and Peregrines, Merlins, and American Kestrels are moving through the refuge. The kestrels often follow the wave of migrating dragonflies, a favorite food of theirs. Massive flocks of Tree Swallows are swirling down to feed on wax myrtle berries along the Double Dikes.
As migration peaks and begins to ebb, there are more cool days. The Monarch Festival is coming up on October 26th and I am already seeing a few Monarchs mixed in with the Gulf Fritillaries, Cloudless Sulphurs and assorted skippers. The saltbush along the Lighthouse Levee Trail, a favorite food of the Monarchs, took a hit from Helene, but enough remains for them and they will also feed on wolfberry and goldenrod.
Fall migration isn’t over yet. Birds will continue moving into early November and some later migrants, like Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, are still a month out. However, if you want to see migrant songbirds, this is the time to see them. Head down to St. Marks. It’s easy to find and open seven days a week.
Don Morrow can be reached at donaldcmorrow@gmail.com.
