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Shut those lights off! Spring migration is underway! 🐦🌎 From March through mid-June, billions of birds travel from their southern wintering grounds to northern breeding habitats — with peak migration happening from mid-April to mid-May. As temperatures rise, this incredible movement sweeps north like a wave, reaching northern states by mid-May.
You may spot:
🟡 Warblers
🟢 Shorebirds
🦅 Raptors
🦆 Waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans
💜 Purple martins (some begin moving as early as February!)
Most songbirds migrate at night, flying in cooler air to avoid turbulence and predators.
You can help migrating birds:
💡 Reduce light pollution – Turn off non-essential outdoor lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to prevent disorientation.
🌳 Provide habitat – Plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers to supply insects, food, and shelter for resting birds.
And please see my important comment below.
##lightsoffchallenge #lightsoffchallenge #habitat #songbird #raptor #warbles #shorebirds #birdwatchers #birdwatching #darkskies #darkskieschallenge #birdlife #birdphotography #lightsoff #birdmigration #birds #birdlovers
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Each migration season, billions of birds travel through the U.S., the majority of them flying at night. But they’re facing a dramatically increasing threat: light pollution. Pledge to stand with us as we call on building owners, managers, and homeowners to turn off excess lighting during the months of bird migration to prevent these needless deaths and ensure that these birds have a safe passage when it's time to migrate: bit.ly/4c6Art0
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🌍🐦 World Migratory Bird Day Webinar – March 19
Join us on March 19 for a special World Migratory Bird Day webinar focused on ethical birding and responsible data collection. Whether you're new to birding or an experienced community scientist, this session will help you learn how to observe and document birds in ways that support their conservation.
✨ What you’ll learn:
• Best practices for ethical birding
• How to collect and share bird data responsibly
• Tips to minimize disturbance to wildlife
• Ways your observations contribute to conservation
📅 Date: March 19
🕒 Format: Live webinar
🎯 Who should attend: Birders, community scientists, educators, and conservation enthusiasts
Help protect migratory birds while making your observations count!
🔗 Register today: loom.ly/02iKc4I
#WorldMigratoryBirdDay #BirdingEthics #CommunityScience #BirdConservation
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Author Archives: garys
7 Partridges in a Crabapple Tree
I was sitting at my desk on the second story of my home on New Year’s Day, 1/1/2018. I noticed movement in a window that overlooks a large crabapple tree. Looking out I saw not one, not two, not three, … Continue reading
CBC 2017 Tawas and Oscoda Circles Summary
How Fast Can You Count? A very casual report of the AVA Christmas Bird Counts by Sue Duncan The two Christmas Bird counts done in Iosco County for 2017 were so different, and yet so alike! They were alike … Continue reading
Christmas Bird Count 2017
Volunteers are out counting. Check this space for updates!
AVA December 2017 Meeting In The Books
December Meeting a Wrap of Year 2017 Twenty-nine AVA members met at the R. J Parks Library in Oscoda on December 12 from 1-3:30. They were there to see birder friends and to learn about using the eBird application. There … Continue reading
AVA Sandhill Crane Viewing Field Trip
Narrative courtesy of Sue Duncan. Photograph courtesy of Larry VanWagoner. Enjoy! October 25, 2017 at 5:15 pm fourteen intrepid AVA Members left Nester Corner’s gas station in search of Sandhill Cranes. The large, long legged birds had been found many … Continue reading
AuSable Valley Audubon November 8 Meeting is a Go
We were able to schedule a replacement program after Thunder Bay had to cancelled the November 7 meeting. AuSable Valley Audubon will meet on Wednesday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the R.J. Parks Library in Oscoda. Larry VanWagoner and … Continue reading
Thunder Bay Audubon Nov 7 Canceled
We received the following update from out hosts at Thunder Bay Audubon: Due to a scheduling conflict, the presentation by Tom Funke, on November 7 has been canceled. We have not rescheduled it, so there will be no joint meeting … Continue reading
Fall Bird Congregations
Not all fall bird groups are colorful, but variety is still there in large numbers. These photos and description are courtesy of AVA members Terry and Mary Baker on Friday, October 13th (click on the photos for a larger image): … Continue reading
October AVA Field Trip!
Surprise! Fall colors are here. 😀Join your AuSable Valley Audubon friends in a walk at Lumberman’s Monument from the parking lot to the river overlook and back. Of course, you can also do the stairs or follow the trail that … Continue reading
Final 2017 M-55 Road Cleanup Is In The Books
182 Bags of Trash Since Spring 2011 Ten of our members joined forces on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 to make the drive along M-55 a little nicer for viewers and critters. Teams of two worked in a mostly cloudy … Continue reading
