SanduskyCoVisitorsPageHYPERLINKS EXPORTED

Birding by Month
January
Midwinter brings small visitors from the north. They find
shelter in meadows, woodlands and marshes. You can find
a variety of waterfowl wherever there is an opening in the
river, bay or lake ice.
February
The moderate temperatures in the last half of the month
bring the first robins, killdeer, woodcocks and blackbirds.
March
After the frozen marshes begin to thaw, the flights of
migrating waterfowl begin. Early flights of pintails,
mallards, tundra, swans, black ducks and many others
follow the freeze line.
April
Spring migration increases in intensity, bringing over 300
species of birds to the area. A large number of raptors, the
first waves of shorebirds and a wide variety of songbirds
appear.
May
Warbler-mania strikes! Many species of these colorful
songbirds come to the area to rest and refuel before
continuing their journey.
June
Nesting season begins. Each bird finds its favorite habitat
(field, thicket, tree-top, marsh). Birding is at its best as the
last of the shorebirds are heading north.
July
Singing begins to wane; nesters are busy nesting. The first
southbound sandpipers and plovers appear.
August
The height of migration from south-bound shorebirds takes
place on mudflats or marshes of any kind.
September
The warblers return in large numbers in the fall. However,
they're quieter and duller in color.
October
Indians called this the "Month of sparrows" in weed patches
everywhere. A few you might see are the white-throated
sparrow, swamp sparrow and the fox sparrow.
November
Migrant songbirds have mostly cleared out. Huge flocks of
Bonaparte's gulls and red-breasted mergansers invade.
Marshes can be thick with waterfowl.
December
Winter sets in and shorter days sometimes bring boreal
songbirds.
May 3-12, 2019
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