Autumn Birding
The great fall bird migration is underway. As the first cold fronts arrive after summer, so do millions of migrating birds.
Dove hunters know this because the dove hunting season starts this time of year. Hopefully, the front that arrived here Wednesday, which happened to be the first day of fall, will push a few more doves our way.
But so many other migrating birds appear this time of year as well.
The National Audubon Society estimated that more than 334 million birds were in migration on Sept. 21 alone. The Audubon Society recommends dimming lights at night to help keep the birds on track during the migration season.
I’ve been seeing some nice flocks of teal flying in the evening around my house. Ducks won’t be far behind them. Look up and you may start seeing some cranes flying. I spotted a sandhill crane standing on the island in the Colorado River below the US 77 bridge on Tuesday. The cranes should really start showing up next month.
Many people have been noticing hordes of hummingbirds. A few days ago, Janessa and I were sitting on our front porch when one buzzed her head. We don’t put out any hummingbird feeders, but we have lots of flowers growing around our place, which attracts them in droves.
If you use hummingbird feeders, you don’t need to buy the fake nectar liquid they sell in stores. It’s just sugar water with food coloring, and the food coloring may not be good for hummingbirds. Instead, you can make it by mixing four parts water to one part white sugar. The sugar dissolves easier if you warm the water first.
The best way to attract migrating birds to your property is to grow different species of trees and plants that provide them with habitat and food. Oaks, elms, sycamores and cedar trees provide nesting sites. Sunflowers are highly attractive to birds for their nutritious seeds. Hummingbirds love the various varieties of blooming sage plants. Milkweed, trumpet flowers and bee balm all attract nectar-feed birds, in addition to butterflies and bees.
Read more about what you can do to improve bird habitat by visiting the National Audubon Society online at www.audubon.org.