No one tells us when Spring Migration starts. It begins quietly, and without any celebrations. Most of us won’t even notice the changes that are happening around us. The first spring birds to arrive show up weeks before we expect them. They might leave small hints that they are here; singing songs we haven’t heard, or acting in ways we haven’t seen. If we aren’t paying attention, we may not see these clues.

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First Signs of Spring that You Can Observe in Your Backyard

While most people know that hummingbirds and warblers are spring migratory birds, most people overlook the true first pioneers of spring migration. Depending on location, American robins, red-winged blackbirds, and song sparrows are the other migratory birds that return during the last weeks of February and the first weeks of March. The reason that people overlook these species is that they are common birds that people have seen numerous times.

Some populations of robins stay in forested areas during the winter. So, just because you see one in the grass doesn't mean they have already migrated. If you observe winter robins, the difference becomes clear. These robins forage for berries while flocked together. In contrast, migrant robins forage for earthworms. Migrant robins actively claim territories and pull earthworms from the ground. When you notice this change in activity, you know spring is coming.

The red-winged blackbird is a noticeable bird. The male red-winged blackbird is the first to come to the marshes, wetlands, and even the road ditches. They also have a unique_CALL that can be described as conk-la-ree_ and have yellow and red patches on their shoulders. If you live around an open area with some water, you will probably notice these bold birds as they are one of the first signs of migration.

While quieter than others, song sparrows are still superbly important to the ecosystem. Because of their small size and all-brown coloring, they are often dismissed as “just another sparrow.” However, they provide the first glimpse of the promise of spring, breaking silence left after winter with their song. They can be heard announcing the start of spring from almost every corner of the Human made parks and Shriveled urban parks and from the edges of the streams to the urban shrubs they are almost everywhere.

Pay attention to the sudden arrival of these birds in your area. The increasing number of robins on your street or the first song of a blackbird perched in a nearby cattail are early signs of a movement that will become more pronounced in the coming weeks.

Minor Alterations in the Behavior and Song of Birds

You are likely noticing spring migration in your own yard! The first sign of spring migration is the changing behavior of the birds in your garden. Before new species arrive in your area, the birds in your garden will change their behavior.

In winter, cardinals, chickadees, and titmice are pretty quiet and only focus on gathering food. However, in the spring, they become a lot more active and vocal. The dawn chorus includes a lot of cardinal songs and chickadees go from their normal “chick-a-dee-dee” call to a more complex song that sounds like “fee-bee”. The white-breasted nuthatch joins in with a repetitive call which sounds a bit like laughter. These are not random noises. The increase in daylight hours and changes in hormones due to the upcoming migration get these birds ready to defend their territories through vocal communication.

And you may also see changes in bird activity. In winter, birds are in loose flocks, but now they start to pair off. Males will get up on higher perches and sing longer to defend a territory. Females will also undergo changes, as they become more selective about feeders and, in particular, more picky about which sites they forage. Even if you don’t see a single migrant bird, you will likely notice your backyard feels more alive.

The shift in this behavior signals that we should begin closer monitoring. Migrant species begin to arrive when resident birds start claiming territories. The bird songs in your yard are like an auditory calendar; each new song signals the next wave of migration.

Easy Ways to Start Welcoming Migrants This Week

Even without a nature refuge or a lot of work, there are quick and easy ways to assist early migrants in your neighborhood. Thoughtful and simple adaptations to your yard can make a difference when natural food sources are lacking.

Let’s start with food. Use black oil sunflower seeds for food seeding migrants, like the juncos and sparrows. Put nyjer (thistle) seed in a tube feeder for the finches. Suet is critical this time of year. It provides high energy fat for birds who are transitioning from winter survival mode to breeding condition. Even summer species who prefer insects will take advantage of suet when bugs are scarce.

Survival depends on food and water. Migrants are unable to stay hydrated and clean water sources are limited in late winter. During long flights, people can get dehydrated. A simple birdbath will attract more species than a feeder. A small fountain or water dripper will entice passing birds. The sound of moving water is very appealing to birds.

Native plants, especially those that bloom in spring, have the most significant long-term impact. Insects such as those in the serviceberry, redbud, and willow families, and later, migratory insect eaters, will all be supported by the nectar provided. If trees cannot be added, native shrubs and perennials should be planted. These will support habitats for all levels of the food web. Think of habitats as a table with a self-replenishing feast.

Another way you can help is to wait on yard cleanup. The dead stalks of flowers and leaf piles that you are wanting to remove? They are shelter and foraging habitat for ground-feeding migrants such as sparrows and towhees. Please wait until temperatures are consistently above freezing and insects are active before doing any significant spring cleanup.

Tools and Tips for Keeping Track of Migration in Your Region

Tracking migrations is now easy with new technology that is user-friendly.

A really useful free tool is BirdCast. It was created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and uses weather radar data to predict bird migration events in real-time. It helps you understand how many birds will be migrating and how intense the migration will be. You can see how many birds are migrating right over your head, and if there are a lot, you may want to go out the next day to try to catch some. If there are intense forecasts, many new birds will be in your yard and the parks near you by sunrise.

Journey North is excellent for tracking certain species and is a good way to track certain species. North American citizen scientists report sightings of robins, red-winged blackbirds, hummingbirds, etc. You can estimate when these species will arrive in your area. Journey North is great for citizen science community projects and for adding your own observations.

eBird shows you what birders have reported around you. Check local parks or natural areas to see some recently submitted species checklists. Your submitted sighting reports assist scientists in monitoring and tracking changes in bird populations and migration patterns over time.

As an easier option, you can check out local birding communities on social media. Folks near you are reporting their first phoebes, warblers, and waves of sparrows. These reports notify you of what you may be able to see in your yard.

Using these tools makes your everyday observations much better. You'll start to understand how warmer temperatures bring more visitors, how your yard integrates into larger moving pathways of wildlife, and how small changes in areas can have large impacts. Spring migration is not far away; it is occurring in your yard or in your street. If you know what to look for, this is all happening right in front of you. It is happening in the world around you.

Happy birding!