migration song - the magic of bird migration
A female Red-breasted Grosbeak perches in our backyard pine tree during Spring Migration.
May 10, 2019 was a banner day in our backyard. We moved into the house in fall of 2018, weathered the winter, and looked forward to spring, and the coming Spring Migration season. We were anxious to see what kinds of birds might visit the yard. When we moved in there were two big pine trees already established, several shrubs, and a raised garden bed. We added a bird bath, installed some bird feeders and waited.
On May 10 they arrived! More birds visited our backyard on that day than I could have imagined. Over 20 different species, in multiples! Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles and more! I took notes, and pictures. We observed the birds come and go through spring and summer. We tended the garden, added lots of native plants to it, added some young shrubs and bushes to the yard, a couple more birdbaths. We added a brush pile, a leaf compost bin. We put out a hummingbird feeder, and a couple hummingbird favored plants. We had a few resident hummingbirds, and then more passing through come Fall Migration.
We planted a pair of Serviceberry bushes, which will bear fruit to feed Cedar Waxwings and other fruit eating birds in the coming years. But they are small yet, and it will take a few seasons of growth until they tempt the hungry birds. But, alas! Come Fall Migration, the birdbaths attracted a flock of about 30 Cedar Waxwings passing through. So, though we didn't have food for them yet, we had shelter and fresh water.
This spring has been different. Mired in the muck of Covid-19, staying safer at home, we really looked forward to Spring Migration. We spent a lot of time looking out the window onto our backyard. We follow the migration forecasts at birdcast.info. We had a few migrants show up over the past couple weeks. A flock of White-throated Sparrows stuck around for a week or so. Their song in the morning is heavenly.
But I kept thinking about last year. May 10. That was the day.
This past Saturday, May 9, was World Migratory Bird Day. A day when migration is celebrated and observed around the world. We hoped to see lots of migrants in our backyard habitat. The weather was good. Pleasant and sunny. But the migrants didn't show. It was a fairly quiet day in the habitat. I was disappointed. The weather forecast for the next day, May 10, and Mother's Day, was not a good one. Cold, rain, mixed with snow. Gray skies. Yuck.
On May 10 they arrived! More birds visited our backyard on that day than I could have imagined. Over 20 different species, in multiples! Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles and more! I took notes, and pictures. We observed the birds come and go through spring and summer. We tended the garden, added lots of native plants to it, added some young shrubs and bushes to the yard, a couple more birdbaths. We added a brush pile, a leaf compost bin. We put out a hummingbird feeder, and a couple hummingbird favored plants. We had a few resident hummingbirds, and then more passing through come Fall Migration.
We planted a pair of Serviceberry bushes, which will bear fruit to feed Cedar Waxwings and other fruit eating birds in the coming years. But they are small yet, and it will take a few seasons of growth until they tempt the hungry birds. But, alas! Come Fall Migration, the birdbaths attracted a flock of about 30 Cedar Waxwings passing through. So, though we didn't have food for them yet, we had shelter and fresh water.
This spring has been different. Mired in the muck of Covid-19, staying safer at home, we really looked forward to Spring Migration. We spent a lot of time looking out the window onto our backyard. We follow the migration forecasts at birdcast.info. We had a few migrants show up over the past couple weeks. A flock of White-throated Sparrows stuck around for a week or so. Their song in the morning is heavenly.
But I kept thinking about last year. May 10. That was the day.
This past Saturday, May 9, was World Migratory Bird Day. A day when migration is celebrated and observed around the world. We hoped to see lots of migrants in our backyard habitat. The weather was good. Pleasant and sunny. But the migrants didn't show. It was a fairly quiet day in the habitat. I was disappointed. The weather forecast for the next day, May 10, and Mother's Day, was not a good one. Cold, rain, mixed with snow. Gray skies. Yuck.
Color me surprised when I opened the blinds on the morning of May 10. Several Baltimore Oriole's were perched on tree branches at the back of the yard, feasting on orange slices we put out. A flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks flitted back and forth between the pine trees, feeders, and birdbaths. Four, yes four!, Indigo Buntings flew back and forth through the yard, feeding at the feeders, and on the ground, and perching on the bushes. A, small flock of White-crowned Sparrows flew back and forth through the yard, perched on the birdbaths, pecked at the ground finding good things to eat. A Blue-jay stopped by, a Hermit Thrush, too. A pair of Cowbirds, a shiny Grackle, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers. Several regulars hung about too, American Robins, Goldfinches, House Finches, House Sparrows, a resident pair of Cardinals. The weather was disagreeable, and yet, they had arrived. On May 10, again!
Curious thing, migration. How do they know when to go, and where to go? Billions of birds migrate every spring and fall. They fly thousands of miles over land and sea to come from the southern hemisphere to locations all over North America. Tiny winged creatures, flying en masse through the skies. Then they do it all again in the fall. Billions for the first time. Somehow they know when and where to go. I am amazed and thrilled by it every time. Inspired, too.
A few year's ago I visited Baxter's Hollow Conservancy near Wisconsin Dells. The beauty of the preserve, and the birds residing there in both summer and fall inspired me to write a song about the journey of birds and the migration seasons.
Curious thing, migration. How do they know when to go, and where to go? Billions of birds migrate every spring and fall. They fly thousands of miles over land and sea to come from the southern hemisphere to locations all over North America. Tiny winged creatures, flying en masse through the skies. Then they do it all again in the fall. Billions for the first time. Somehow they know when and where to go. I am amazed and thrilled by it every time. Inspired, too.
A few year's ago I visited Baxter's Hollow Conservancy near Wisconsin Dells. The beauty of the preserve, and the birds residing there in both summer and fall inspired me to write a song about the journey of birds and the migration seasons.
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BAXTER'S HOLLOW - (Migration Song)
I was born in Baxter's Hollow, among the pine and the oak trees The wind was blowing through twisted branches A song in time with the blooming leaves I grew up strong in Baxter's Hollow, Robins and Waxwings as my kin The sun shone bright on Baxter's Hollow The summer breeze calls the moon a friend Then autumn falls and I must journey The colors bold beneath a big blue sky For the first time I'll leave my homeland I'll spread my wings and I will fly Far away from Baxter's Hollow, where my mama cared for me Where the stream flows cool with water And the flowers are strung with bees I know not where I am going I follow those who've gone before Though I am scared and a little lonely I'll venture on to southern shores But when the snow and cold have faded And the spring has sprung once more I'll take to flight and journey homeward To Baxter's Hollow green once more (c)2015 words, music, photos and performance by Kimberly Mackowski |
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THESE BIRDS IN YOUR BACKYARD OR LOCAL PARKS?
All photos, blog posts, and content are copyright (c) 2014-2021 Kimberly Mackowski, unless otherwise noted. |
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