Spring Migration and Bird Protection

by Kaitlin Svabek

Spring migration is always a spectacle in Wisconsin. As early as February, birds begin to return from their wintering grounds, setting up territories to prepare for breeding season— maybe you’ve already seen young birds peeking out of nests. The month of May typically marks peak migration around much of the state, when birders of all ages and skill levels can look and listen for several species at once, including bright colorful warblers.

Finding these birds can be as easy as pausing to listen and watch in your neighborhood or seeking them in places like Cherokee Marsh, Nine Springs E-Way, and UW Arboretum. In different habitats, you’ll encounter different species; there are so many to enjoy!

Wisconsin Migratory Species We Love

Many waterfowl species return while snow and ice are melting at winter’s end. Geese and ducks are some of the earliest. Soon, they’re joined near ponds and marshy areas by herons, egrets, and the iconic sandhill cranes. Blackbirds, robins, and sparrows once again become abundant on the landscape.

Thawing ground in prairies and wetlands provides stopover grounds for groups of gulls and shorebirds, such as plovers and sandpipers, fueling up for journeys that may extend into the Arctic region. As spring continues, the warmer weather in April means the reemergence of many insects—the diets of several kinds of songbirds. Swallows, gnatcatchers, bluebirds, and flycatchers are then found flitting around catching bugs in the skies and treetops.

Next, energetic little hummingbirds will begin to buzz around native plants and feeders. Striking orange-andblack orioles arrive and make their presence known through their bright coloring and songs. Warblers, one of the most popular and challenging species for birders, also tend to pass through our area around this time. These small, round little birds, in vibrant shades of yellows, oranges, and even some blues, hover around in wooded areas, sometimes moving in small flocks as they chase a cloud of insects.

The Plight of Migratory Birds

The sheer number of birds moving through the Madison area during migration provides amazing opportunities for bird lovers to encounter them. But over the past couple of decades, the average population of birds in the United States and Canada has decreased by roughly three billion.

Humans are responsible for many of the continuing threats facing migratory species. The reduction of natural spaces as critical stopover areas for traveling birds to rest and refuel makes migration difficult. Outdoor cats hunt and kill a disproportionately large number of birds—billions each year—making them one of the leading causes of avian deaths.

Researchers have found that migrating birds navigate using the light of the sun, the position of stars, and Earth’s magnetic field. Human-made structures, such as bright lights and glass on buildings, can mirror or disrupt their natural navigation systems, leading to injury and death.

Across the nation, up to a billion birds die annually when they collide with windows. Data collected through Madison Audubon’s Bird Collision Corps program suggests that tens of thousands of birds die each year in Madison alone. As a community, we can work together to reduce the dangers faced by our feathered friends.

Making Migration Safer

In addition to placing feeders less than 3 or greater than 30 feet away from windows, there are other ways to make windows more visible to birds. Using anticollision dot stickers on your home or hanging zen window curtains can reduce the number of incidents at your home considerably.

Partly in response to the Bird Collision Corps data, the City of Madison

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Entrances at 116 S. Hamilton & 115 W. Main Street tornadosteakhouse.com enacted a bird-safe glass ordinance requiring that new construction take into account the impact it could have on birds. The ordinance passed with broad public support, but is currently facing a legal challenge. To continue protecting birds, share your support for the ordinance by signing the petition at madisonaudubon.org/bird-safe-glass.

Happy birding!

Kaitlin Svabek is communications coordinator for Madison Audubon. Connect with the team at info@madisonaudubon.org or follow them on social media @madisonaudubon.org.

General Resource Lists Consulted:

• madisonaudubon.org

/bird-collision-corps

• wpr.org/spring-bird-migration -well-underway

• dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf

/pubs/er/er0633.pdf

Acopian BirdSavers is a company that makes zen window curtains for the outside of windows to protect birds from hitting the glass. Using dark-colored 1/8-inch parachute cord (paracord), you can follow these instructions from their website to make your own:

Step 1: Measure the width of the glass for the horizontal paracord piece. You will use this as the top of your curtain.

Step 2: Determine the number of vertical paracord pieces you’ll need, spaced four inches apart, then measure the height of the window for length.

• Keep in mind that most paracord will shrink after getting wet. Because of this, you might want to soak the paracord in a bucket of hot water for a few hours and then let it dry to preshrink it before making your curtains.

Step 3: Cut the vertical paracord pieces to the length you need and melt the ends with a match.

Step 4: Tie a single knot at one end of each vertical paracord piece.

Step 5: Attach the vertical paracord pieces to the top horizontal paracord piece.

Step 6: Position the curtain against a window. Install the curtain in a fashion that works with the materials on the outside of your home. BirdSavers suggests using 1/4-inch cable clamps and #6 x 3/8-inch stainless steel sheet metal screws.

Field guides are very useful for bird enthusiasts interested in learning more about what specific species they encounter. These guides can be found at your local bookstore, public library, or thrift shop. Here are some excellent resources for identification:

• Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide by Stan Tekiela

• Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America by Kenn Kaufman

• Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern & Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson

• The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition by David Allen Sibley

• Merlin Bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (available to download from the Apple Store or Google Play)