Migratory Birds
Many birds migrate, or move, to different places at different times of year. For birds that do migrate, they make this journey twice a year. In spring they fly north for the breeding season, and in fall they fly south until it’s time to breed again. “Short-distance migrants” do not travel very far but many “long-distance migrants” have some incredible journeys.
The Migration Champions
Many shorebirds hold the record for longest migrations like the Arctic Tern which travels from pole to pole twice in one year, and the Sooty Shearwater. However, the songbird with the longest journey is the Blackpoll Warbler. Weighing in at about 12 grams (about same as 2 nickels and a dime!), this tiny bird flies 1000s of miles all the way from Alaska to Venezuela, including a nonstop 3-day flight over the Atlantic Ocean.
Rest Stops and Research
Protected habitats in the Northeast make excellent rest stops for birds on their long journeys. Nantucket makes a great island stopover for birds in the fall right before they fly over the Atlantic Ocean to get to South America. At the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, we conduct research on migratory birds at our Migratory Songbird Banding Station during the spring and fall. Click below to learn more about our migratory bird research.
