Fall Migration Summary

Spring migration is often characterized by large masses of brilliantly colored birds passing through Magee Marsh within a very brief time period. Fall migration does not give us the brightly colored hues that adorned many of our feathered friends in the spring, but it does give us more time to enjoy their passage to their southern wintering grounds.

Fall migrations are much more drawn out, and some sort of migration can be seen from as early as July to as late as early January. By knowing the general sequence of migration and the favorable weather conditions, we can enjoy the many sights and sounds of these fall flights.

Weather Watch

Look for northerly winds and Canadian cold fronts. These cold air masses bring lower temperatures, winds coming in the direction of the migrating birds, usually clear skies.

July

Shorebirds - Shorebirds begin returning from the north. Lesser and greater yellowlegs, semi-palmated sandpiper, short-billed dowitchers.

Passerines - Eastern phoebe, yellow warblers, Baltimore orioles begin staging in the marsh region. Martins and swallows begin staging.

August

Waterfowl - Mallards migrate to marshes to molt. Blue-winged teal arrive.

Shorebirds - Migration continues (peaks late August-early September). Yellowlegs, pectoral and semi-palmated sandpipers, and semi-Palmated plovers.

Passerines - Flycatchers, yellow and prothonotary warblers head south. Bobolinks staging and blackbirds begin roosting in the marshes. Martins and swallow migration peaks.

September

Waterfowl - Blue-winged teal migration peaks. Green-winged teal arrive.

Waterbirds - Rails peak early in the month. Great egrets communally roost in the marshes, and gull and tern migration peaks.

Raptors - Bald eagle staging at its peak in the marshes. Other raptors peak but are sporadic in this area.

Passerines - Migration is in full force. Large variety of warblers, vireos, and thrushes. White-throated sparrows come in the end of the month.

October

Waterfowl - Dabbling ducks arrive, including pintail, wigeon, and shoveler. Diving ducks begin mid-month. Tundra swans can be seen beginning in late October. Compare with the Trumpeter swans that exist in the area year round.

Shorebirds - Migration is winding down with the dunlin and the American woodcock.

Passerines - The dominants are white-throated sparrows, kinglets, thrushes and myrtle warbler.

November

Waterfowl - Diving ducks peak with scaup, redhead, and canvasbacks being the most predominate species. Dabbling ducks include mallard, American black duck, and gadwall. Northern Canada geese move into the area.

Waterbirds - Herons and egrets pull out of the area and loons migrate through.

Raptors - Wintering hawks begin coming into the area (Northern harrier and some rough-legged hawks)

December

Waterfowl - Red-breasted mergansers, goldeneyes, mallards, American black ducks. More Canada geese arrive from the north.

Information in part was furnished by research of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

Misc

Some southbound shorebirds can be seen along the southwest Lake Erie shoreline as early as late-June or the first week of July.

In December, Long-eared and Short-eared Owls and possibly a Snowy Owl may be observed at one or more of the following locations: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Maumee Bay State Park, and Bayshore Power Plant.

Northern Shrikes are seen most winters at ONWR or MBSP.

Occasionally, a Common Redpoll will visit the bird feeders at MBSP.

If the snow is deeper than normal in the lower peninsula of Michigan, a mid-winter movement of Rough-legged Hawks may occur, sending more of the birds into our area.