CHICAGO – The weather is cooling and leaves are beginning to fall, signaling one of nature’s most spectacular autumn events: fall bird migration. The United States has four major bird migration routes. Among them, the Mississippi Flyway, the bird migration route that stretches across the Midwest.
The Mississippi Flyway
Running from Winnipeg to the Mississippi River Delta, the flyaway is used by at least 325 bird species, including more than a third of all shorebird and waterfowl species in North America. Many birds spend summers in the forest, lakes, and rivers of the upper Midwest or Canada, before heading south.
Migration begins as early as mid-July, and continues through late November. By day, birds navigate using the sun and landmarks. At night, they rely on the stars and the Earth’s magnetic field. Most groups intersect with the Mississippi River, following it south to the Gulf of Mexico. From there, birds follow the shoreline to reach wintering grounds, or cross the Gulf directly.
The journey to Central and South America is full of hazards. Predators stalk feeding grounds, while glass skyscrapers, wind turbines and vehicles pose real threats. The American golden plover, just months old when it migrates, faces these dangers over nearly 20,000 miles from the Arctic to South America.
Observing Fall Migration
The Great Lakes region is home to several outstanding places to observe fall migration. The Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin sits on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River and provides views of waterfowl, shorebirds, and even monarch butterflies heading south.
In Chicago, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary draws warblers in such numbers that locals call it “The Magic Hedge”. The sanctuary’s trees,prairie and beach provide rest stops for a wide variety of birds.
Farther north, Sax-Zim Bog near Duluth, is best known for winter owls but also sees warblers, hawks, and finches during fall migration..
For more information on migration hotspots, visit the National Audubon Society’s list of Important Bird Areas online.
