Early Spring Migration
3/4/18
By David Brown
Spring bird migration exploded in our area the last week of February. Thousands of snow geese settled on farm fields in Montour County and large flocks migrated over Lycoming County. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in southern Pennsylvania reported a record 200,000 snow geese. On February 21st I spent a few hours watching the skies from my yard in Montoursville and counted over 3000 Canada geese and 100 tundra swans.
Groups of ring-billed gulls migrated north with some settling on farm fields and the river. These flocks often contain a few larger herring gulls as well.
American wigeons, northern pintails, and other dabbling ducks are feeding in shallow wetlands. Diving ducks such as ring-necked ducks and redheads prefer ponds and the river. A black scoter was photographed near the Williamsport dam on February 24th. This species of sea duck is a rare migrant in Lycoming County and is only documented in small numbers each year. Waterfowl will be common at Rose Valley Lake and other large bodies of water as the ice clears over the next month.
The counters at Tussey Mountain Hawkwatch have started reporting golden eagles. This site is 7 miles southwest of State College and is the best spring hawkwatch for seeing golden eagles east of Michigan. The first three weeks of March are the peak of golden eagle migration. Tussey Mountain has recorded as many as 62 in a single day and has a season average of about 200. Golden eagles also migrate through Lycoming County though we have no official spring counts.
American robins are often considered a sign of spring even though they are here year round. In winter robins change their diet and behavior and eat berries. Once the ground thaws robins become more conspicuous as they search for worms.
Red-winged blackbirds and common grackles are visiting my feeders. I am also seeing flocks of them migrating in the evening.
Many species have begun to sing. One only has to step outside on a warm day to hear the sweet songs of northern cardinals and Carolina wrens. On February 25th, I heard the long bubbling song of a winter wren in Montoursville.
Winter Wren
American woodcocks have returned and perform display flights at dusk in open areas near brush. Males give a distinctive “peent” call from the ground then spiral high in the air before plopping back down where they began.
The next 3 months are the most exciting time of the year for birds as over 200 species migrate through our area. Get outside and enjoy everything nature has to offer this spring.
