By Bronwyn Earthman
Fall migration is underway, and the Mississippi flyway is a busy corridor for birds heading south for the winter. If this is the first you’re hearing about fall migration, don’t worry, there is lots of time to get out and see birds on their journeys! Fall migration is a much slower process than spring migration, as birds take their time following the sun and food sources as they move south for the winter.
Many species travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to their wintering grounds. These flights require a lot of energy, so it’s important for them to find calorie-dense food to fuel their travels, such as fall fruits and berries. Recent studies have found that birds don’t eat just any berries though, they generally go for native berries when possible. Invasive Buckthorn plants that are abundant and bursting with berries this time of year are not very attractive to many birds, as they aren’t as nutritious as native fruits such as raspberries, pokeweed and dogwood.
Some birds such as the American Kestrel time their migration to line up with the migration of their food source. Green Darner Dragonflies migrate over the course of three generations, from ponds and lakes in the Southern United States in early spring, to the upper Midwest, and back south again July through October. The Kestrels migrate with them, ensuring they always have a consistent food source!
The long, taxing migration means finding good roosting habitat is critical for birds. A good roosting site should be safe from predators, close to food sources, and right along migratory routes. There are many hazards which make birds’ efforts to find safe stopovers along their route more challenging. Outdoor lights left on can confuse birds migrating at night, leading them to veer off course or into buildings. Unmarked windows look the same as the surrounding habitat they reflect, causing birds to fly into them. Many urban areas lack native plants, which means poor food availability for those hungry migrators. And of course, the sneaky outdoor housecat, who is an excellent bird hunter, poses a major threat to migratory songbirds. Whenever possible, help your local migrating birds by turning off outdoor lights when not in use, marking windows with stickers, markers or paint to make them visible to birds, and planting more native plants in your yard to help create good habitat and food sources for them on their long journeys south.
Come out to the nature center this month to learn more about migration and to see it in action.
Fall Tree ID · Friday October 3, 10am–noon | $9/person | Ages 18+ | Activity #21701 | Learn how to identify trees by their leaves and fall color. Use a dichotomous key and learn more about the species you identify from a naturalist.
Nature Tots: Towering Trees· Saturday, October 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Free | Ages 2-6 with an adult | Activity #21685 | Get up close and meet some trees in the park! Learn about their yearly cycles and why some lose their leaves. Learn some tree names, practice being a tree, and do a tree craft.
Woodburning– Four Tuesdays 1-3 p.m., October 7-28 | $80 | Ages 18+ | Activity #21881 | In this hands-on class, you’ll learn the basics of wood burning techniques and create your very own wood-burned masterpiece. Choose from a variety of small wood projects. No experience necessary!
Homeschool Program: Seeds on the Move ·Thursday, October 10, 1-2:30 p.m. | Free for residents | Ages 5-12 | Activity #18892 | Learn about seed dispersal strategies and explore the woods and prairies looking for different kinds of seeds. Then, design a moving seed of your own!
Drop-in Nature: Spiders · Saturday, October 11, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Free | All Ages | Activity #21690 | Stop by the nature center to learn about different kinds of webs and the spiders that make them. Make your way through a giant spiderweb, go on a story walk and make a spider craft to take home.
Nature Art: Art in the Landscape: Leaves and Sticks · Saturday, October 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Free | All Ages | Activity #21693 | Make outdoor art with fall’s fleeting colors. Collect leaves, sticks, and stems from around the park to make temporary designs outdoors.
Birding in the Park: Flight Patterns· Friday October 24, 9-10:30 a.m. | $9/person | Ages 18+ | Learn distinguishing characteristics of birds found in the park while strolling with a naturalist through the park. All experience levels welcome.
Nature in Focus: Finding Your Way: Compasses and Migration· Saturday, October 25, 1-3 p.m. | $9/person | Ages 18+ | Activity #21697 | Dive into the science of bird migration, then pick up a compass and learn how to navigate through a short orienteering course. Develop a new perspective on the amazing capacities of birds as they migrate south.