An Eventful Season

The 2022 spring migration season is coming to an end. It's been another eventful season. Thank you for being part of our community. Your observations provide needed data and help tell stories of migration. Regardless of location, we are all connected through the joy brought upon by migratory birds.

Dr. David Aborn will take a break until next spring. Chuck Henrikson will continue to share his birding reports throughout summer – stay tuned!

Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds

In his final report of the season, Dr. David Aborn shares news of migration winding down. 

"That time of year has come again, the end of another spring migration. The only migratory activity left is up in Alaska, where Wilson’s Warblers, Blackpoll Warblers, Northern Water-thrushes, and Gray-cheeked Thrushes continue to arrive . . . I hope you have found my reports helpful and have gotten a better appreciation for what a spectacle migration is. See you next spring!"

Read more of Dr. David Aborn’s 2022 Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds #11»

A special thank to you to David for sharing his weekly Weather Forecasts for Migrating Songbirds reports. He has been contributing to Journey North for many years, informing and inspiring our community along the way.

Chuck Henrikson’s Birding Report

What are birds up to at Journey North's home base, the UW–Madison Arboretum? Chuck Henrikson shares the latest activity.

"Another site we have been watching carefully were the holes in a snag west of Pond 2 that contained both Pileated Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers. The Pileated Woodpeckers were in a round nest hole and the Northern Flickers were in a rectangular nest hole just a few feet above the PIWO nest hole. I thought of it as a two story woodpecker condo."

Read more of Chuck Henrikson’s birding report #116»

Journey North Species

As migration winds down, our avian friends shift their focus to raising the next generation of migratory birds. The breeding season is indeed a busy one. Be on the lookout for territorial behavior, courtship displays, nests, eggs, and feeding activity. Keep reporting observations of Baltimore and Bullock’s Orioles, Common Loons, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Barn Swallows. For other species, use the "All Other Signs of Spring" reporting category.

Marjorie in Lowell, MI: "Eastern bluebird, female out on the hummingbird perches in the garden." (05/17/2022)

Pat in Lake, MI: "When I opened my front door in central Michigan I encountered a beautiful Cedar Waxwing in our apple tree on May 22,2022 munching on a petal of an apple blossom. It was a pleasant surprise and a joy to see that morning!" (05/22/2022)