Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at the Spring Migration Festival

by Beverly DiCocco Six

There’s nothing more distinct than the sound of geese honking overhead to indicate the start of spring.

From our vantage point on the ground, the v-formation of migrating birds is so precise and well organized that it’s easy to ignore the vastness and complexity of their journey. For the 350 species of birds that migrate between the United States and Canada and the Caribbean and Latin America, the journey is arduous.

Journeys over large bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico often mean that birds must travel for a long time without stopping. As a result, birds burn a considerable amount of the fat stored in their body. To ensure successful journeys, birds need to stop strategically to store up on food. Depending on

Depending on weather, range of flight and food preferences, birds select locations to rest. These rich habitats, or “stopover sites,” provide essential assistance for birds on their long migratory treks. Birds rely on these stopovers to help them refuel on food, water, and rest. To determine where to stop, birds in the air survey the land below to locate prime locations to land. Birds seek large areas of dense forestation and wetlands for their stopovers.

The preservation of large areas of land helps ensure birds’ respite on their pathways. With a total of 310 acres of land, The Great Swamp Conservancy provides migrating birds with the opportunity to rest and refuel. Restored wetlands comprise 167 acres of GSC’s property. Additionally, more than 4,000 acres have been put into the Wetland Reserve Program through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

As a result, birds flying overhead are likely to see the GSC’s wetlands as an ideal place to stock up on food and water and to nest. The Great Swamp Conservancy is celebrating migratory stopover sites this year in conjunction with the International Migratory Bird Day. The theme of this year’s bird day is “Helping Birds Along the Way.”

We urge you to come celebrate and appreciate migratory birds and the swamp’s wetlands at the Spring Migration Festival May 6 and 7. Tractor wagon rides will be available to observe 30 acres of wetlands and the migrating birds who are stopping by. Guided bird walks to the GSC Great Blue Heron rookery will provide festival-goers with the chance to see baby herons in their nests.

Don’t miss this celebration of Spring Migration and see how the GSC is helping birds along the way. Visit http://www.migratorybirdday.org for more information.

By martha

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