Was It Something I Said?

A female American Redstart enjoying a birdbath in our backyard habitat.

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Every spring for the past four years, since we moved into our current house, spring migration has brought large numbers of spring migrants to our backyard habitat.

In fact, for the past four years May 10, specifically, was the day migrants arrived in big numbers.

​About 15 or more species, and multiples of each species.  Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Gray Catbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, female American Redstarts, Great Crested Flycatchers, White-crowned Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, a Chestnut Sided Warbler, a Nashville Warbler, and more.

Even in years when the weather on that date was less than desirable, they showed up.  Huzzah!

Baltimore and Orchard Orioles flocked to the habitat in 2022.

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A handsome male Rose-breasted Grosbeak visited our birdbath during spring migration in May, 2022.

I've been following the migration forecast every day (Birdcast.info), and my hopes would rise whenever I would see a big forecast of birds headed this way.  On the night of May 9 through early morning of May 10, over 2 million birds migrated over Milwaukee County! That's a lot of birds, folks! 

​But this year, though there were a few early season migrants that trickled in for a quick stop on their way north, May 10 was a very quiet day in the habitat. And an emotional letdown for me.  It's been a difficult spring, lots going on. And I was so looking forward to the bright spot the birds bring to my world. ​

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Don't get me wrong, the backyard wasn't empty on May 10. But it was pretty darn quiet. Normally, on May 10, I open the blinds in the morning to the sight of Baltimore Orioles scattered throughout the yard, feasting on fresh orange slices, different groups of migrants arguing over who gets to monopolize the birdbath, Gray Catbirds climbing through the backyard lilac tree, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks feasting on black-oil sunflower seeds, Northern Flickers poking through the grass looking for bugs to eat, and so much flight back and forth we could bring in an air traffic controller! 

​Then, over the next few days, new arrivals, some departures, then over the course of about a week most would move on to summer nesting grounds.  One or two might stick around longer, or return once in a while over the summer.

A Gray Catbird exploring our backyard habitat during spring migration, 2022.

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I'm not sure what to make of it this year. We did have an unusual, very scattered weather pattern this  spring. Now, a week past May 10, the migration numbers have increased again. Last night nearly two million crossed over Milwaukee County. But I'll be damned if any of them stopped off in my yard. Perhaps they are late this year, and are opting to continue onward, skipping our bird-friendly backyard diner, and heading straight to nesting territories up north. Or the winds caused them to veer further west, and head north from there. The central and western part of Wisconsin has seen very high migration numbers in recent days, as seen in Birdcast.info readings from May 10 shown here.

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I'm trying not to take the absence of migrant visits personally. I have talked to others who have seen smaller numbers of visitors in their backyards this year.

On the positive side, I've seen photos of lots of bird activity in local birding hotspots, so they are out there. Hopefully, when the opportunity presents itself, I'll be able to get out there and see them. 

But it does make me wonder. With the changing climate, the unusual weather patterns across the country, are the numbers declining faster?  There is much we can do to help with bird conservation, so I'm trying not to panic. I'm trying to maintain hope. And I'm going to add more native plants and shrubs to our habitat.

​Maybe they'll have time to stop by on their way back south in the fall.

A Downy Woodpecker stopping by our habitat during fall migration, 2022.