WBU Roswell will be OPEN on Labor day from 10am - 5pm
Migration is coming!
Fall migration is complex because different bird types migrate on different schedules. It is also more prolonged than spring migration as birds aren't rushing to compete for territories and mates. Below is the migration sequence for the Atlanta area. Some individuals of various species arrive earlier or linger later than most, but the following applies to the decisive majority. In chronological order:
POST-BREEDING DISPERSAL - not truly migration but many species start wandering the landscape after nesting, in late summer and into fall. Immature birds especially. These include Mississippi Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, various waders (e.g. herons & egrets, Anhinga, White Ibis, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill) and some songbirds. Early arrivals aside, this dispersal begins in the first week of July, peaks between July 15 and August 31, and continues to September 7. A few individuals remain later.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK - migration starts in the last week of August and peaks in the first 2 weeks of September, the first especially. Then it drops sharply. Typically nighthawks start appearing about 2 - 2.5 hours before sunset and numbers increase towards nightfall. Please report any nighthawks you may see on eBird since this species has declined heavily over the past c. 20-25 years.
HURRICANE BIRDS - not migration but fall is hurricane season, mostly in September and October but sometimes early November. These storms blow various seabirds and others far inland and off-course. So do weaker tropical storms to a lesser extent. If such weather hits, check your local water bodies when it's safe to do so. Our largest lakes, Lanier and Allatoona / Acworth, are probably best. Hurricanes displace other types of birds too so it is worthwhile to check different birding sites.
LANDBIRDS (mostly songbirds, also cuckoos, raptors etc.) - some start migrating as early as late July but fall migration begins "for real" in the last week of August, accelerates in the first week of September, increases to a peak during the 3rd and 4th weeks of September, then declines but continues to the end of October. A few species, like Cooper's Hawk, migrate for another week. Sharp-shinned Hawk movement extends to mid-November, and Merlin and Northern Harrier all the way to mid-December.2
A very few species migrate slightly outside of this time frame, e.g. Bank Swallow, Blue-headed Vireo and Vesper Sparrow. So with any target species check the bar chart link below for precise timing.
TURKEY VULTURE (and to a lesser extent Black Vulture) - fall passage begins c. October 15, peaks between October 22 and November 14, then declines to an end by November 21. Always impressive but all the more so if you can find a roost (I can recommend one in Sandy Springs) - masses of vultures swirling & streaming low overhead.
SANDHILL CRANE - fall migration is concentrated from November 22 through December 14, but continues to December 21st. Some cranes occur later esporadically. Listen for their trademark, loud, rattling-trumpeting calls.
For species-specific information, here is the greater Atlanta region's eBird bar chart:
https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=1900&eyr=2025&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-GA-015,US-GA-057,US-GA-063,US-GA-067,US-GA-077,US-GA-089,US-GA-097,US-GA-113,US-GA-117,US-GA-121,US-GA-135,US-GA-139,US-GA-151,US-GA-223,US-GA-247
Next to each species you can click the jagged line icon for a precise line graph (move the cursor across it for dates), and the teardrop-shape icon for a map. It is imperative to study the graphs & maps closely to find target species.
***
Please note birds migrate broadly so Kennesaw Mountain, for all its well-deserved fame, is but one site to visit (see eBird's Explore Hotspots feature - https://ebird.org/hotspots). Migrants occur not only in parks and other (semi)-natural locations but also in many urban / suburban woodlots, back yards and ponds. Vultures, cranes and nighthawks fly over heavily urbanized areas too.
Also, migrants' passage relates closely to weather patterns, notably cold fronts and winds. Some days are much better than others so don't despair if some outings are unproductive. Vultures and Sandhill Cranes especially prefer specific flying conditions so their movements are concentrated into a few, separate days within their migration windows. Explore the Cornell Lab's Birdcast website for migration forecasts and alerts:
https://birdcast.info/
Finally, in fall young birds abound and many species are in drab plumage, some resembling others. They also don't vocalize much or at all. This calls for extra caution with identification. For example, immature Yellow-billed Cuckoos can have dark bills like Black-billed Cuckoo and immature Tree Swallows are brownish and can have a cross-breast band resembling Bank Swallow. If reporting a rarity, please describe how you determined the ID versus similar species and / or include a diagnostic photo.
6 Ways to Prepare Your Yard for Fall Migration
Attract migrating birds to your backyard by setting up an environment that mimics how birds naturally live and forage.
1. Understand fall migration.
When fall arrives, a bird's life transitions. Summer was nesting time, during which birds set up territories and raise babies. In fall, they are no longer raising families and most of these territories break down. Some birds flock up with their own kind and use the flock as a winter survival tactic, taking advantage of more eyes to search for food and watch for predators.
Some birds mix together with other bird species in a winter foraging flock. This loose foraging guild travels around, learning each other’s alarm calls to protect from danger. They also learn food foraging techniques from each other, such as searching up or down trees.
2. Attract birds with low-lying landscapes.
Overall, a varied, dynamic landscape that is not completely manicured will help attract birds during the fall. Take a look at your landscape, try to leave some natural roughage. If possible, leave weed-seed plants. Many birds, like finches, sparrows and juncos, love to work on them.
Put out a few brush piles. It gives birds a place to hide from weather and predators. It also gives them a place to loaf and socialize before and after eating at your feeders. Ground-feeding environments attract birds that avoid elevated food sources. Song sparrows like to feed this way and are just about everywhere in North America.
You also want millet-type blends. These are wonderful when offered in feeders that are near the ground or in an elevated feeder that allows some millet to be dropped to the ground.
3. Attend to bird feeding stations.
Fall is the perfect time to attend to your bird feeding stations. Take the opportunity to clean and repair your feeders now, because who really wants to care for feeders during winter weather?
Fall is also a great time to move bird feeding stations closer to the house. It will be easier to keep them full during winter’s cold. Plus, regularly moving feeding stations prevents buildup of debris under the feeder, making it healthier for ground-feeding birds.
4. Fresh food now to attract birds later.
As birds come through and decide where to stay, they are more likely to stay if they note a regularly available food source. Even if they are not hitting the food source on a consistent basis in the fall, once the weather turns cooler, they’ll remember where that reliable source is. By keeping food fresh now, even if it’s a small amount, the birds will reward you once the weather turns.
5. There are more food sources beyond seed.
Make sure you have high-quality fresh food and high-energy, high-fat foods. Wild Birds Unlimited seed blends have these qualities. Also, spreadable Bark Butter or Bark Butter Bits are great sources. Bark Butter in any form is a magnet for birds, and there are over 140 species confirmed that enjoy them. Once they try it, birds are all over it. Live or dried mealworms are another option. These foods help captivate migrating birds.
6. Provide a moving water source.
A moving water source is a magnet for birds. If a bird is passing through and they see or hear moving water, they will almost always check it out. They need open water sources for drinking and keeping their feathers maintained for flight and proper insulation as the nights get colder.
Stop by the store and we’ll show you the foods, feeders and other products to help attract migrating birds.
