Fall migration is underway
By DON MORROW
Half a million birds migrated through St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge over the weekend. They included vireos, swallows, flycatchers, warblers, herons, and shorebirds. Most just kept going, but there are always a few who stop to rest and feed.
Based on the drop-ins that I saw on Monday, the refuge’s weekend migrant species included Yellow Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Black Tern, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Swainson’s Thrush. There were undoubtedly other species migrating. More than 75 species pass through the refuge in early September.
It is still late summer at St. Marks. The leaves of Poison Ivy are turning red and orange to attract birds to its ripening berries. The purple wands of Blazing Star are starting to bloom in the flatwoods. Leafcutter Bees are visiting patches of Horsemint. Rattlesnake Master is blooming in low wet areas. Dragonfly migration is in full swing and on some days, there are swarms of Green Darners and Black Saddlebags cruising above the marshes. Cloudless Sulphurs, our common yellow butterfly, are also beginning to migrate.
Fall migration has been underway for a while. By mid-July, Arctic nesting shorebirds and southern nesting songbirds were passing through the refuge. By late August, all of our summer resident birds were gone and any Summer Tanager or Red-eyed Vireo that you see now is a migrant from further north. Almost seven million birds have already crossed over the refuge. By the time migration ends, another sixty-five million birds may have come through.
So far, only a few birds have arrived to spend the winter at the refuge. Our first Bald Eagles are back and a few Soras have arrived. It is likely that the Blue-winged Teal currently on the refuge are just passing through, headed trans-Gulf to South America. Our wintering ducks will not show up in any numbers until October.
The second half of September will see a significant increase in bird migration. Another eighteen million birds may pass through. Then comes October with a massive rush of migrants and returning winter birds.
It is still hot and muggy. There are still biting flies about. I know that you want to stay inside and watch television, but ignore presidential politics and college football. Fall migration is real life and it is too good to miss.
Fall migration is a spectacular natural miracle. Across the continent, over five billion birds are on the move.
If you can, come down to the refuge to see our local version of fall migration, but if you cannot come to the refuge, at least go outside.
Don Morrow can be reached at donaldcmorrow@gmail.com.
