Photos by Kim and Cindy Risen / www.naturescapenews.com
Home At Last: This Baltimore Oriole has just arrived from Central America and is busy staking out his nesting territory. Spring migrants fly incredible distances day and night to get back to their nesting grounds as soon as possible to claim the best nesting sites. Billions of birds migrate each season, the last of the spring migrants arrive as the first of the fall migrants are beginning their south-bound journey, each searching for their “endless summer”.

By Val Cunningham

The Purple Martin flocks we’re seeing now gathered in Brazil in February, one thought on their mind—a change in scenery. The same was true for hummingbirds flitting over Central American rainforests and mountains: they began to feel restless and knew it would soon be time to leave. Tanagers and vireos developed an urgency to trade the Amazon River for treetops in North America. And tiny wood warblers, chasing insects in tropical forests, started putting on fat for flights to the temperate zone.

Twice a year, migratory birds fly from summer to summer, ensuring a constant supply of the insects, nectar and fruit that make up the bulk of their diets.

Catch the rest of the story in the May Issue of NatureScape News!       Previous Highlight