The migration is underway
for many species of birds in North America. The migration is a natural
occurrence that happens every fall and spring. In our neck of the woods many
migrant species have started to build in numbers for the migration south. The
St. Louis area is located on the Mississippi Flyway, or bird highway, that lots
of species use to fly to their overwintering grounds.
Migration
is the seasonal movement between breeding and overwintering grounds for many
North American birds. Migrating birds are primarily driven by the availability
of food, temperature and the photoperiod. Most North American migrating birds
will leave for their overwintering grounds in early fall and return as early as
late winter to breed and raise their young.
The Mississippi flyway is
one used by many species in North America.
Almost half of the waterfowl and shorebirds found in North America use the
Mississippi flyway as a migration route. The Mississippi flyway is highly
productive because the Mississippi River has carved a path into the landscape
for the birds to follow south and the river
itself provides many types of food for the migrants.
As the days get shorter
and the leaves begin to change many new bird species will be finding their way
into our backyards. Some of the more noticeable species that will be migrating
are the Hummingbirds, Starlings, and Robins. In the weeks to come keep an eye
out for new winged visitors in the yard.
Submitted by Adam Triska,
World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
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