Introducing the *NEW* Biggest Week In American Birding Morning Flight Count!
What is the morning flight count?
New to Biggest Week, this count will allow the public to experience migration in action. Weather permitting, the count will be open every morning at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, on the dike path that separates the marsh from Lake Erie. As birds are moving overhead, our counters will be identifying them using flight calls, plumage, flight patterns, and photos. This allows for even birds such as warblers to be identified as they are flying over quickly. During the count, they will be recording the species, numbers, and flight direction and updating it live via the Trektellen count site.
Our friends at Kowa are generously providing scopes to use while visiting the count site to enjoy the variety of birds on Lake Erie and in the marsh.
New to Biggest Week, this count will allow the public to experience migration in action. Weather permitting, the count will be open every morning at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, on the dike path that separates the marsh from Lake Erie. As birds are moving overhead, our counters will be identifying them using flight calls, plumage, flight patterns, and photos. This allows for even birds such as warblers to be identified as they are flying over quickly. During the count, they will be recording the species, numbers, and flight direction and updating it live via the Trektellen count site.
Our friends at Kowa are generously providing scopes to use while visiting the count site to enjoy the variety of birds on Lake Erie and in the marsh.
What causes morning flight?
Many songbird species migrate nocturnally, and this movement continues into the early hours of the morning. These flights can last for several hours, as birds that were over water near sunrise search for an ideal place to land.
Many songbird species migrate nocturnally, and this movement continues into the early hours of the morning. These flights can last for several hours, as birds that were over water near sunrise search for an ideal place to land.
What species engage in morning flight?
Morning flight consists primarily of small songbirds, such as warblers, vireos, and finches. Larger songbirds can also participate, including Blue Jay, which forms spectacular flocks numbering into the hundreds or thousands. As the skies warm throughout the morning, we may see some raptors begin to lift off as well.
Morning flight consists primarily of small songbirds, such as warblers, vireos, and finches. Larger songbirds can also participate, including Blue Jay, which forms spectacular flocks numbering into the hundreds or thousands. As the skies warm throughout the morning, we may see some raptors begin to lift off as well.
Why Metzger Marsh?
Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area is ideally situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, in a perfect location to catch birds heading back south to reorient after their nocturnal migration. Small songbirds tend to drop into the woodlot here, as they are reluctant to continue heading southeast across the large, open marsh where they are exposed to predators. The dike between the lake and the marsh provides a clear vantage point to see the sky, marsh, lake, and woodlot.
Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area is ideally situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, in a perfect location to catch birds heading back south to reorient after their nocturnal migration. Small songbirds tend to drop into the woodlot here, as they are reluctant to continue heading southeast across the large, open marsh where they are exposed to predators. The dike between the lake and the marsh provides a clear vantage point to see the sky, marsh, lake, and woodlot.
Morning flight provides the opportunity to see many species in ways you may have never seen them before! Our counters will share ID tips for identification in flight. The gallery below contains images of some of the species that have been photographed during morning flight at Metzger Marsh.
American Pipit and Eastern Meadowlark provided by Tyler Ficker
All other images provided by Gautam Apte
American Pipit and Eastern Meadowlark provided by Tyler Ficker
All other images provided by Gautam Apte
