World Migratory Bird Day 2025

Today is World Migratory Bird Day!  The migration is in full swing here in Lambton County. Birds that migrate use what we call flyways or superhighways.  We are in the Mississippi Flyway , and the birds that use this overwinter in South and Central America.  This Black Throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens spends the winter in the Greater Antilles and other parts of the Caribbean. They are medium to long distance migrants.  These little beauties migrate at night. This BTBW was photographed a few days ago in Canatara Park.  

The Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula is one of our most beloved songbirds!  They are considered medium to long distance migrants and overwinter in Central America and Northern South America.  They follow a path through Texas, the central states, and then north to Louisiana to here in central Canada.  They look for ripe fruit throughout their trip and that's why we are encouraged to put our oranges for them.  They have been back here for about 10 days.  

The sweet sounds of the Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina resonate through our wooded areas this time of year.  They are considered long distance migrants and overwinter in Central America. They cross the Gulf of Mexico twice a year, the spring migration generally follows farther west while the fall migration follows the Atlantic coast.  These little thrushes have been around for about a week now.

  

The Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus , for me, is a sure sign that Spring is definitely here!  The aerial insectivores rely on the warming weather to bring the insects to feed.  They are long distance migrants as well.  They winter in Central and South America, and breed here across most of North America.  They migrate during the day in large flocks, they follow the east coast of Mexico northward.  

These beauties have been back for about a week now.

Solitary Sandpipers Tringa solitaria are long distance migrants that overwinter in subtropical and tropical areas such as Central and South America and the Caribbean.  They are known for their solitary behavior and don't migrate in large flocks like most other shorebirds.  I photographed this graceful shorebird last weekend at Petrolia.  

The volatile weather that we have had this year has had an impact on bird migration.  The wild winds that we have been getting brings the birds in , and sometimes the cooler weather encourages them to stay a bit longer before they head farther north.  At times we get rare vagrants that show up and birders always love this, but I personally find that I despair for the bird that has lost its way and hope it makes its way to its home in a timely manner.  

I look forward to continuing to follow the migration and I'm going to head out to Chatham Kent tomorrow for the OFO's trip to Rondeau PP.  I'll keep ya posted!