Keepin' Time: Fall Migration of Birds Has Begun

It's kind of hard to believe, considering how hot it has been in our part of the country, that many birds have begun their annual Fall migration south, both those that spend their Summers here and those that spend their Summers north of us, but I have noticed several changes here in past couple of weeks that seem to verify they're on the move. During the Summer months, we keep out hummingbird feeders and typically have three or four that come to our back porch feeders on a daily basis to feed.

In the past week, however, that number has grown as they start coming through headed to the Rio Grande Valley and points South where they winter. Not uncommon to see a dozen to two dozen or more at a time at our feeders between Labor Day and late September, with the ones you see one day moving on South and another group coming in to take their place the next day.

Also have noticed that in the past week that I have not seen a single Mississipi Kite flying overhead or perched in the trees.

This Summer, we have had a colony of about two dozen of them nesting in the trees of our neighborhood and soaring overhead during the day catching insects mid-air that comprise most of their diet. Their Winter range is down in South America, and it appears they have begun their long journey that way.

Also had a new bird in my backyard a few days ago that I had never seen except in my bird guide, an Olive-sided Flycatcher.

During the Summer, these birds live in the Western and Northwestern Mountain states and Canada, and they winter in Central America. The Guadalupe Mountains of the Trans-Pecos region of Texas are as close as they get during the Summer. However, when the time comes to migrate South, they do come across this part of the county on their way to Mexico and points South, and I was informed by another, more experienced birder in Missouri, that they are on the move South, and he had one come through his location last week.

For at least the next couple of months, birders in North Texas are likely to see several species at backyard feeders that they don't see at any other time of the year outside of early Spring, when northern migration takes place. So, if you're a birder and want to see some birds that you won't see during the Summer or Winter, now is a good time to start watching your feeders. The Olive-sided Flycatcher is the latest one I've seen, but during Spring migration, I have had both a Rose-breasted Grosbeak

and a Black-headed Grosbeak

stop by on their way to the Northern part of the Country and Canada, and we should start seeing the return of our Winter birds in about two months or so. Always enjoy the return of Goldfinches,