Easy Ways to Support Bird Migration in Your Area This Year

Even though they know bird migration happens, many people don’t stop to think about the role their local area plays in it. Yet, if they look up in the sky or even in their backyards, there’s a good chance they’ll see birds on their way to seasonal destinations or stopping for brief rests before resuming their journeys. What can you do to support this natural process and become more familiar with the birds that are likely to visit your city, state or town?

Install Some Bird Feeders

One of the most accessible ways to support bird migration in your area is to hang some bird feeders. Stay mindful of the other animals in your area, such as cats and dogs, and hang the feeders high enough so the birds can use them without disruption. Mounting them to something sturdy is also important to ensure they remain in place despite wind and storms. 

When considering the height, remember to also make it easy for people to periodically refill the feeders without straining. Putting the feeders in a prominent place, such as outside a kitchen window, helps household members enjoy watching the birds as they stop to feed. 

When browsing the different bird feeder Styles, choose one where the birds can easily perch while they eat. The Youvip Metal Roof Bird Feeder is a good choice because it has a metal rim all the way around for the creatures to use. Because the seed tray has a generous depth with the guardrail for perching around its border, this component also reduces waste by helping the seed stay in place. The thoughtful design also allows people to refill the feeder with one hand or disassemble it for cleaning in only two steps.

This feeder has an adjustable hanging height, giving people more flexibility about where they put it. They can also start using it right away without needing to put the feeder together first. 

Install Some Watering Stations

Bird migration is an incredibly strenuous activity. Just as birds appreciate feeders, they also like places to drink and bathe. Watering stations let them do both, so keeping them filled throughout the migration season could attract more birds to your home.

It sometimes takes the creatures a short while to learn that your home is a safe place to stop. Once they do, you may begin seeing the same birds again and again, or notice a higher overall number of them.

The CARGEN Garden Bird Bath Tray requires no assembly and comes with an S hook, making it easy to hang from a tree branch. The generous size allows multiple birds to use it at once. The tray also has a weather-resistant coating, helping it look great even when left outside throughout the season. 

Provide Safe Places

Many architects embrace a style called biomimicry, or taking inspiration from nature when planning projects. That approach allows them to make structures blend in with the surroundings, which can be especially appealing when the goal is to make them as unobtrusive as possible. That is sometimes a priority when updating an area with historical significance or trying to maintain a picturesque quality.

You may want to do something similar, especially if your backyard already has a distinct aesthetic quality to preserve. No matter the decorative approach you choose, birds need and appreciate places they consider safe. Providing them may mean you begin to see the creatures outside the main bird migration period in your area because more of them have learned that the area outside your home is a good place to reside for a while.

The SISTERBIRD 2-Pack of Bird Houses provides understated but stylish additions to your backyard while giving birds an attractive place to reside. The entrance hole caters to many types of birds while deterring predators. The design includes strategically placed grooves that act like ladder rungs and help young birds enter or leave these birdhouses. 

These birdhouses are easy to assemble with just a screwdriver. The durable, wooden exterior also allows you to use them year after year. 

Study a Bird Migration Map

Do you know which birds are most likely to come through your area when migrating and at what times of the year they will do so? Many people don’t, so don’t feel bad if you’re similarly unaware. A bird migration map keeps you informed, and it can become an excellent teaching tool, especially if you have young children or are an educator.

The National Geographic Bird Migration Wall Map for the Western Hemisphere is a good choice, especially because it is laminated. That characteristic makes it more durable and less likely to swell or shrink due to humidity-related shifts. If you plan to frame this map, its lamination you do so without glass, which could make the overall effort more budget-friendly.

This bird migration map shows the 67 bird species that migrate through the Americas each year. The accompanying lines make it easy to trace their journeys and prepare for a particular species to potentially visit your backyard.

After becoming more familiar with the birds that will move through the area, consider recording what you see in a journal. The OptiLiving A5 Birding Journal with Life List and Checklist provides ample room for recording the details.

There is enough room to record 120 entries, each with the species name, location and date. The checklist features eight bird columns, allowing you to divide each sighting by location, year, season and other particulars. The spiral-bound design also allows laying the book flat, providing even more space for writing.

Facilitate Bird Migration in Your Area

Although bird migration will happen regardless of any actions you take, making your backyard more hospitable should encourage the creatures to stop there during their long flights. Consider incorporating the birds into a household competition, such as having family members count the birds they spot in a week. This activity gets everyone more interested and encourages them to pay more attention to the outdoors.

You may even find that bird-watching becomes an activity to help you relieve stress or regain perspective. It costs no money, but could be your key to greater enjoyment of the outdoors. It’s also an excellent activity to enjoy with your friends, especially because you can chat softly while waiting for birds to appear.