World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May and October. The day helps raise awareness of migratory birds and their habitats. During the spring and summer Minnesota becomes a vital stopover and breeding ground for numerous bird species. 

This year’s focus for World Migratory Bird Day is to make communities more bird-friendly. Some of the ways Northland residents can help different types of avian species is by planting native plants, providing clean water, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

The NRRI is actively studying the effects of climate change on bird migration patterns and the need to protect these habitats. Their species-based research focuses on studying species’ ecology including diet, behavior, and habitat needs.

Steve Kolbe, an avian ecologist at NRRI says it’s important to keep cats indoors, because they’re predators to migratory birds.

“We’re starting to get a lot of our really beloved long-distance migrants that are coming back. Like Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Rose Bresser-Gross Beaks. We can see 30 species of Warbler on any given day if you hit it right,” Kolbe said. “Make sure that windows have something on them. Birds don’t really perceive glass very well, and so they will frequently collide with windows and often die. If you can put something on your window to make it clear that it’s not just the reflection that they’re seeing.”

The data collected at NRRI helps provide a better understanding of the impacts that harm birds traveling between continents. Invasive species, wildlife management, restoration, and climate all play roles on the ecosystems for birds migrating.

If you’re curious about how many birds are migrating through Minnesota, you can read more here. Also for other wildlife stories you can read more here.