It’s barely even registered for a lot of us in the US that summer is waning, but for many species, fall migration from northern climates has already begun and we should start to see some of them passing through already. Some purple martins, swallows, and swifts are already on the move for example, and migratory warblers are already showing up in northern states.
Migration really picks up in late August, and then September and October is when it peaks in Tennessee (where I am).
Birds usually do most of their migratory flying starting just after sunset and for a couple of hours thereafter. So it’s really important to limit outdoor lights after dark so they don’t get confused. Keep plenty of water out for birds too. Although their feeding slows down at this time of year, they will still thank you for a stop at ‘the bar’ on the way back to their winter homes.
And if you want to see what’s moving through your state, check out the migratory dashboard here. Just put your state in the box and it will tell you how many millions of birds passed through last night (based on radar signatures) and generally what kinds. It’s amazing.
Oh and by the way….baby bats are just learning to fly right now. Awwwwww. (See this 3 minute video of a hand-raised bat getting flying ‘practice’ sessions!) Most baby bats are absolutely tiny in the US (half the length of your finger), and they’re not fabulous at flying yet. If you find one, call wildlife control or a licensed rehabilitation professional right away. Bats are protected species.
I watched the beautiful bat video - made me teary - Awww!