For the birds
by Amanda Rossillo | The News Reporter | September 2021
Flock of sandpipers in flight. Courtesy of Mariko Margetson on Unsplash.
Many of us associate the end of summer with the beginning of the school year. But for many birds, it's already time to begin a different kind of transition: flying south for the winter. This installment of Backyard Science takes a look at the fascinating journeys that migrating birds take each year, and which species can be spotted in southeastern North Carolina during their travels.
Unlike resident birds that live in the same general area year round, migrating birds travel hundreds or even thousands of miles between northern and southern regions as the seasons change. These journeys take a lot of energy, but they're worth the effort. Spending the winter in tropical climates helps birds avoid the cold and surround themselves with a rich supply of food, which can be hard to come by during freezing northern winters. On the other hand, spending spring and summer further north gives them more space to build nests, and longer days provide more time to raise their young. Migrating between these two climates gives these birds the best of both worlds.
How do these birds know where they're going? Scientists think they use a combination of senses to help them navigate, even at night. Birds are able to use the sun, stars, and landmarks to keep them on the right path. They can also sense changes in the Earth's magnetic field, which is stronger at the poles and weaker at the equator. While shorebirds stick to the coasts, many smaller songbirds spread out over the continent to take advantage of available food and wind patterns.
Beginning in August, many birds that spent the warmer months in North America begin their journeys to their winter refuges in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Although cold weather in North Carolina is still several months away, birds can already sense the days getting shorter and food availability changing, and many from further north flock down the East coast to gorge on food in preparation for their trip. On a clear day, over 100 different species of birds can be seen along North Carolina's beaches.
Yellow-billed cuckoo in Tennessee. Courtesy of Maria Stewart from Unsplash.
North Carolina's coastal plain is also a haven for diverse kinds of migrating birds, from birds of prey like the Mississippi kite to small songbirds like the prothonotary warbler. In Columbus County, the Eastern wood pewee and the rare yellow-billed cuckoo are temporary summer visitors that can be spotted at Lake Waccamaw State Park.
For some arctic birds, the American southeast provides the winter warmth and food they need. Dark-eyed juncos and yellow-rumped warblers travel across the continent from northern Canada, and will arrive in North Carolina later in the fall.
Some migrating birds may be difficult to spot before they depart, but residents will stick around the whole year. Great blue herons and red-bellied woodpeckers abound, as well as the northern cardinal--North Carolina's state bird. Next time you see a migrating or resident bird, consider taking a photo and recording your observation using the free iNaturalist app. Museum scientists are using this platform to document the wildlife of our state through a project called Natural North Carolina, and every submission is valuable. If you're interested in contributing to this community science project, visit www.inaturalist.org/projects/-natural-north-carolina.