SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Spring migration is finally here in Effingham County! From mid-March to late May, millions of birds travel from their southern wintering grounds to their northern breeding grounds along the Atlantic Flyway, which stretches across the Eastern Seaboard.
Most birds migrate at night for safety, using celestial cues from the night sky to navigate. Effingham serves as an important stopover site for hundreds of species migrating farther north, while more than 30 species stay here for the breeding season. Many of these birds are arriving from the Amazon rainforest and the Caribbean Islands.
A common early spring migrant to listen for is the blue-gray gnatcatcher, which makes a high-pitched, nasally “szeeeww” sound. Keep an eye out, too, for the majestic swallow-tailed kite. I saw two flying over Old Springfield on March 11.
Migratory birds face many challenges, including predation, light pollution, and fatal collisions as they move through human-altered landscapes. Here are some simple actions you can take to help birds have a safe migratory journey:
- Keep cats indoors. Outdoor cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds every year, making them the largest threat to wild birds. If you want your cat to enjoy the outdoors, consider keeping them inside from March to May to reduce stress on spring migrants.
- Prevent window collisions. One billion birds die annually from flying into windows. Adding decals, film, or curtains on the outside of your windows can break up reflections and save birds’ lives
- Turn off bright lights at night. Lights can disorient nocturnal migrating birds.
Habitat loss has become a major issue in our area, making it harder for migrants to find food and rest. You can help by setting up bird feeders and a water source in your yard. Seed mixes can attract painted buntings, beautiful multi-colored songbirds that arrive in late April. Nectar feeders can attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, which have already begun arriving in Georgia. You can make simple hummingbird nectar by mixing 1 part white sugar with 4 parts boiling water until fully dissolved. Clean feeders every two to four weeks with 10% bleach and hot water to prevent the spread of disease.
To further create habitat, plant native plants in your yard. Native plants attract insects, such as caterpillars, an important food source for northern parulas, prairie warblers, and red-eyed vireos. Native plants also provide cover and nesting sites for breeding birds. Consider planting:
- Trees: Live oaks, mulberries, and flowering dogwood
- Shrubs: Yaupon holly, southern wax myrtle, and possumhaw viburnum
- Vines: Muscadines, coral honeysuckle, and Virginia creeper
- Flowers: Swamp milkweed, butterflyweed, and black-eyed Susans
Reader challenge
My challenge to every read is to complete at least 3 out of the 5 actions that I listed, take a photo or video of your action and send it to me, contact@rrconservancy.org and share it social media with #rewildeffingham and #rewildchallenge! Can’t wait to see!
