Mind the Migration! Alert for the Month of February

Will you be in or near West Virginia this February? Grab your binoculars! It may be cold, but it’s already time to catch some early birds migrating north from their wintering grounds!

Even though it still feels like the dead of winter in many parts of the United States, February is the time to catch some early spring migrators rolling through West Virginia. If you’ve been staying in from the chilly weather the last couple months, now’s the time to warm up on those birding skills while it’s still early in the year!

First, we look to the water—or more accurately—just above it. As Osprey migrate from Central and South America to Canada to their breeding grounds, they’ll be passing through the state, looking to catch a meal along their journey. Look for these raptors perched high in trees at the shoreline of a large body of water, or actively soaring with heavy wingbeats over the surface to seek out a tasty fish. Ospreys are large with brown backs and wings with white underparts. Their heads are mostly white with a brown stripe through the eye and some brown streaking through the nape. They have yellow eyes and strong, hooked, black bills. From below, look for a white body with brown, barred wings and tail, a streaky necklace, and darker brown “wrists” on their wings.

A little closer to your home, you might see a Tree Swallow migrating through. Look for them near bodies of freshwater, whether that’s a pond, a marsh, or a wooded swamp, in search of insects to catch mid-flight! These swift fliers have long wings compared to the length of their bodies and very short bills with black lores just in front of their dark eyes. Both males and females are solid white below, including their throats, but males are iridescent turquoise above while females are more gray-brown than blue. Since Tree Swallows are known to make homes of nest boxes, you can attract a Tree Swallow to your yard by putting one up. To do so successfully, set it up as early ahead of the breeding season as possible.

If you don’t have the time or space to set up a nest box, there is hope yet to see a new visitor this month. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks will be migrating long-distance from Central and South America on their way to the Midwest and Northeast parts of the United States, and parts of Canada. Most of these migrants manage to fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single night! The males are striking, with black above and white below. Their heads are black allover, contrasting with their large, pale pink, conical bill. Across the breast, they are rose-red, owing to their name. In flight, look for bright white spotting on their black wings and a patch of white on the rump. Females, on the other hand, are medium brown above and buffy underneath with heavy streaking throughout their plumage. In contrast to males, much of their contrast is found in the face. Females have a dark brown crown and a white eyebrow above their dark eyes and pale bill. On their way north, these beautiful birds may stop to visit your bird feeder. They’ll be on the lookout for nutritious sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and peanuts to fuel the rest of their journey!

Where have you been doing most of your birding lately? Have you been visiting your local parks, or crossing state lines to catch your sightings? Or, maybe you’re keeping your birding to the coziness of your home, enjoying the view of your backyard visitors. Let us know how you’re enjoying birds lately through our contact page. Keep coming back to check out what we have in store for you next!