Well they came back, they nested, they hatched eggs, they fed
their young and they taught them about life - now it is time to
leave! The migration is on and birds are on the move. South that
is. It seems like a blink in time since they were waking us upwith
morning songs and busy feeding young in nests right there in
our back yards. Fall always seems to come along fast for me but
it’s a fun time – I love the changes that come with it - freshening
air – the brightening colours – the whole gamut just shifts right
before our eyes. Birds are my favourite addiction, so Autumn
means migration to me. I get excited – really I do! I love going
for walks or rides and seeing the birds moving and the big flocks
forming up, preparing for that awesome journey south. Each
week a new set of breeds has left and been replaced by a bunch
of birds from the north. It is a progression that is slowand steady
but a blast to keep an eye on.
The journey south is the thing for them. This cooler weather and
shortening of days flips the switch for birds and they start to
change priorities from breeding and raising young to finding
warmer weather and more food. The first to go are the far rang-
ing birds and the ones that are dependent on insects for food.
Shorebirds, wetland birds, warblers and flycatchers are quick
to realize that food is in short supply and they need to get a bet-
ter source. Arctic Terns are famous for migrating from the North
Pole all the way to the South Pole. We don’t get them here but
we have close relatives. Common Terns and Caspian Terns – if
you have a place along the shoreline or visit our beaches you
see them cruising the water looking for fish. By now they have
packed it in and are already down on the eastern shore of the
Atlantic, heading for the Caribbean – can you blame them?
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2011
Escarpment Magaz ine