Autumn is the perfect time to look up and appreciate the creatures above us who have been triggered by the colder temperatures and shorter days to do the seemingly impossible: fly thousands of miles to a new land with no guarantee of good weather, rest, or food along the way. October 12 marked the 25th annual International Migratory Bird Day, a celebration meant to further migratory bird conservation by centering a worldwide campaign around the world's major migratory bird corridors.
Photo: perkypet.com/articles/atlantic-flyway-migration
In the Northeast, we are part of the Atlantic flyway, which stretches from Greenland to the tropics of South and Central America, and functions like a highway for birds seeking the most efficient route to their wintering grounds. An ideal flyway is above obstacle-free and level ground with a mountain range not too far off. When the crosswinds hit the mountain ridges at just the right angle, it creates an updraft that helps these feathered travelers to soar and conserve precious energy.
A kettle of broad-winged hawks
Photo: onondagaaudubon.com/derby-hill-bird-observatory/kettle-broad-winged-hawks/
This method works very well on days when the wind is blowing. On warm, sunny autumn days, you may see raptors employing another energy-saving method: riding thermal air currents. In order to travel such a long distance in a short amount of time when resources are hard to come by, these birds need to conserve energy any way that they can. This often means minimizing wing-flapping by coasting along on thermals, or pockets of warm air rising from the ground. A special sight in early fall raptor migration is a "kettle," which is a large group of broad-winged hawks and other raptors ranging in number from a few individuals to thousands of birds on their way to Central and South America. On the next beautiful, bright day with puffy clouds in the sky, keep your eyes on the sky and you just might catch a glimpse of these birds passing by on their 4,500 miles journey and accomplishing an incredible feat.
-Siobhan Prout, Outreach Educator