April is here in full swing and there is much action among the birds, trees, and flowers taking place right now. It’s a wonderful time of year as nature seems to erupt from its sleep.
The birds are singing up a storm and that’s only part of the story as the late April and May migration is about to take place right before our eyes. Are we prepared to watch for some of the more unusual birds along with some of the regular favorites arriving?
Did you know that the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks will start appearing around the last few days of April? And did you know that if you have a feeder dedicated to only pure sunflower seeds that your chances of Grosbeaks coming all summer is excellent? Grosbeak means big beak and that beak is perfect for cracking open sunflower seeds. Often in spring when I’m working in the garden on my hands and knees near our feeding station, I will suddenly hear the sound of cracking sunflower seeds. I look up and sure enough – it’s a beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeak only a few feet from me. They are generally quite tame. They have a wonderful clear warbling whistling song. The female looks much different but is also very pretty.
Did you know that many birds are already nesting in April, such as Cardinals, Bluebirds, Doves, Killdeer, House Finches, Phoebes, and several others. Eagles and Great-horned Owls have been nesting since late winter. Bluebirds like to nest in manmade nestboxes in open spaces. Speaking of Bluebirds, a quick reminder is that we are hosting the New York State Bluebird Society (NYSBS.org) Annual Bluebird Conference on Saturday, April 25 in Warsaw, NY. Go to that website for much more detailed information or give me a call/text. No charge to attend and we have many excellent speakers. Maybe I will see you there!?
Did you know that the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles will be coming back soon as well? Generally, the last couple of days of April a few show up – but they seem to “fall out of the sky” around the first few days of May. They will be looking forward to your grape jelly and maybe even suet, oranges, and other goodies, but grape jelly is by far the most widely accepted food.
The Orchard is much less common than the Baltimore. They are smaller, much darker, and often show up a little before the Baltimores. That grape jelly will attract several other birds as well including Woodpeckers, Finches, Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and others. Placing short pieces of string, about 6 to 10 inches long, on the railings, etc. near your jelly feeder will let them know that they can find some prime nesting material when they start building their nests in mid-May.
Goldfinches are molting into their bright yellow plumage right now. The females will stay their olive color as they need to be camouflaged when they are nesting – however they will not be nesting until later in July! They will spend the next two or three months finding food at your nyjer and sunflower feeders and will eat flower seeds in your gardens and in weedy fields.
This morning on my walk over the farm I noticed three bird species for the first time this year. They were Pine Siskin, Savannah Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark. Siskins are coming through moving north from their southern winter range. They are closely related to Goldfinches and chances are that you will see a few at your feeders over the next few weeks – especially liking nyjer seed. Savannah Sparrow and Meadowlark like the open grassy fields and meadows. Early May brings the Bobolinks returning from southern South America!
Warbler migration is one of the key highlights of spring migration and birding. A few early species are appearing in April such as the Pine, Palm, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. There will be 25 more species of warblers coming through in May. About half of them keep moving north and the other half actually nest around here in their preferred habitats. They really make birding super fun in May – it’s crazy. If you give birding a try in May you will be pleasantly surprised as there are so many.
Right now, you can still catch some of the massive waterfowl migration and a good amount of shore and marsh birds arriving. You just have to get out there! So much beauty is just waiting for us to see it if we just get make a little effort! The next few weeks are just spectacular. This is a busy time of year with much yard work and fixit jobs so you need to discipline yourself to spend some of that precious time to see the many birds that don’t come to the feeders – and that is by far most of them!
Yes, spring is a new beginning and so too, it’s a new beginning for you to make up your mind to enjoy God’s masterpiece of nature and beauty. You only get so many “Springs” to intensely enjoy, so don’t let this one go to waste! As always, feel free to text/call me with questions/comments at 585-813-2676. Happy Spring!
— Hans Kunze writes a New York state-focused birding column.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: These migrating birds are coming to New York feeders, yards in April, May
Reporting by Hans Kunze, Columnist / The Evening Tribune
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