Great Birding Continues After Spring Migration

May was truly spectacular when it came to birding. Having booked the first two weeks off work to enjoy migration, I certainly saw and photographed my fair share of birds. Huge waves of birds may no longer be moving into the area as they were earlier this spring, but that doesn’t mean I have put my binoculars and camera away for another year. Late spring offers some great birding albeit views can be more challenging now that the trees have leafed up.

Several warblers species breed across our are which means we can enjoy them throughout the summer months until they head south in the fall. Yellow Warblers are most commonly seen and heard, but looking and listening closely can reveal Chestnut-sided Warblers and American Redstarts to name a few.  

Many of the birds we waited months to see in our own backyards will remain until late summer or early fall. Hummingbirds and Orioles are easily attracted to special feeders containing a mixture of one part sugar and four parts water. There are conflicting reports on whether or not food colouring is harmful to birds. My feeling is anything potentially harmful to birds should be avoided and therefore do not add colouring to my mixture. It has been my experience that the colour on the feeder itself is all that is required to attract the birds.

It is important to clean the feeder and change the mixture every couple of days especially during the warmer weather. Many of the new saucer style feeders are dishwasher safe making cleaning a breeze. Keeping a pitcher of the mixture in the fridge means it will be ready when you need it and allows the chlorine to dissipate from the water. This mixture can be kept in the fridge for up to ten days. 

Another backyard frequenting migrant is the House Wren. These tiny birds can be a challenge to see as they love cover, but reveal their location with their loud song. Wrens readily accept a properly placed nest box which will help you locate these birds. If your yard is particularly shrubby with lots of hiding spots, there’s a good chance House Wrens are present.    

Insect-eating birds including swallows and flycatchers are readily observed post-migration. Swallows can be found feeding on the wing over bodies of water while flycatchers can be observed in forests, open meadows, and field edges.  

Resident birds are abundant at this time of year with some of my favourite being woodpeckers. Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, and American Goldfinches can be found just about anywhere, so there is no shortage of birds for viewing. Birds of prey are also present which are always a treat to observe.   

With so many species nesting across the area, it is not uncommon to see birds gathering nesting material or constructing their nests. I recently observed a female Baltimore Oriole as she methodically wove her sock-like nest. Not wanting to disturb or put added stress on the bird, I only watched briefly while capturing a few photos.   

We call it birding, but in many cases enjoying nature might be a better term. When out with my camera, I focus on all aspects of nature including mammals, reptiles, butterflies, and amphibians and don’t limit myself to birds. In my opinion, observing and enjoying all aspects of nature when out in the field only adds to the experience.  

Already this year I have noticed several Monarch Butterflies. Most of these butterflies have been observed laying eggs on Common Milkweed plants some of which are only 6″ to 8″ tall. Seeing a beautiful Monarch fluttering over a meadow always puts a smile on my face. 

We are fortunate in our area to have a huge population of birds throughout the year. Whether they are migrants only here for a few months to raise a brood or resident birds present year-round, great birding is available despite spring migration having come to an end. Obtaining clear views of birds is certainly more challenging with leaves on the trees but just because birds are no longer in plain sight doesn’t mean they are not there. Using your ears to listen for birds will give away their location which will make getting eyes on them easier.

I hope this inspires you to get out and do some post-migration birding as there is plenty to see when heading out. If you prefer birding when waves of migrants are on the move, believe it or not, you don’t have to wait long as some shorebirds including Least Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs begin their migration south in late June. 

Good birding,
Paul