WAVES OF MIGRATION
As with spring migration fall migration doesn't all happen at once either. In general southbound migration is spread over a longer period of time. In many species, the adult birds fly first, leaving their full-grown offspring to make their own way. Many don't make it. Some take a 'wrong turning', others are killed by predators or hit windows, or linger too long until increasing cold causes their death or forces them to move on. Some species fly south in small numbers a few at a time. Some, such as hawks, move en masse. A fall hawk watch can be a thrilling event to witness. Many of the rarer sightings occur in the fall months as you can see on the Okanagan Birds page.
August: During some of the hottest days of the summer, shorebird migration begins. First to arrive from breeding further north are usually the Greater, then the Lesser Yellowlegs. Other species to head south over the late summer and early fall are the 'peeps' such as Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling and so on. When water levels are high in our valley, as they have been for the past few years, there is little shore. So the numbers of shorebirds we see here can drop dramatically, since the birds fly over.
Other birds which leave early are the insect-eaters, such as flycatchers, nighthawks, swifts, and many swallows. Hummingbirds also migrate early, males first, followed by female and young at a later date. It is rare to see a hummingbird here in September or later.
September/October: This is the peak of fall migration. Most Osprey are gone by the end of September or early October. By the end of October vireos, summer-visiting sparrows, Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock's Orioles and most of the warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Cedar Waxwings are gone.
October/November: Migrant ducks and grebes move southwards a little later than the species above. These include Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal, and the Western and Eared Grebe.
But as the breeders go south, others arrive! Moving in from the north we will see our first Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrike, Snow Geese, Rough-legged Hawk, the occasional Gyrfalcon, Snow Bunting and the redpolls. So don't bewail the loss of the migrants which have gone. Celebrate the new arrivals!
Other birds which leave early are the insect-eaters, such as flycatchers, nighthawks, swifts, and many swallows. Hummingbirds also migrate early, males first, followed by female and young at a later date. It is rare to see a hummingbird here in September or later.
September/October: This is the peak of fall migration. Most Osprey are gone by the end of September or early October. By the end of October vireos, summer-visiting sparrows, Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock's Orioles and most of the warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Cedar Waxwings are gone.
October/November: Migrant ducks and grebes move southwards a little later than the species above. These include Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal, and the Western and Eared Grebe.
But as the breeders go south, others arrive! Moving in from the north we will see our first Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrike, Snow Geese, Rough-legged Hawk, the occasional Gyrfalcon, Snow Bunting and the redpolls. So don't bewail the loss of the migrants which have gone. Celebrate the new arrivals!
I find the southbound movement of huge flocks of Sandhill Cranes thrilling, their harsh croaking calls heralding their progress across our fall skies. Below is a photograph of one such flock and beneath that two shots of a family group, unusually migrating together, it seems. The adult birds have red on their heads and are larger than this year's chick. In the photo on the left, the adults lead while the young bird is in the rear, and the photo on the right shows one adult on the left with the chick on the right.
Migrating Sandhill Cranes over Kelowna, late September
