Spring migration is here – join us on line for our MassAudubon Warbler Program April 24 at 7pm
Although snow is still falling in the Mount Washington Valley, birds are on the way, some migrating all the way from South America. Some are warblers, and come to breed here in our forests. Warblers stun us every year with their gorgeous breeding plumage, like the Blackburnian Warbler at right (by Wildreturn). These tiny birds and others will soon be peaking out from behind leaves and hopping along branches in our yards and gardens. They are hard to spot, but their sweet songs will let us know they are here, an invitation to us to try and spot them.
Welcoming these tiny creatures back to New England from the tropics, knowing that many have crossed the Gulf of Mexico and made it all the way up the East Coast, is one of the most fun, awe-inspring events of the year. Here at left is one of our common breeders, the Black-throated Blue Warbler (photo left by lwolfartist).
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If you’re too impatient to take the wait-and- see approach to when they might arrive, technology now allows us to see the nightly movement of migrating birds! (Map right for the night of April 5). It’s not exact – it won’t tell you if the birds will actually land in your yard, but it will tell you whether they are moving through your area. Here is the link.
Our program takes a close look at where these warblers come from, offers tips on how to identify them by sight and sound. Here is a link to register for the program. Hope you can join us!