Millions of birders appreciate the information provided online by BirdCast during fall migration (Forester’s Tern photo by Paul Konrad). A BirdCast radar map showing active bird migration August 3, 1:30am EDT (courtesy of BirdCast and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology).

As we enter the beginning of a new birding season that marks the beginning of a new migration, BirdCast is again providing birders with a most impressive suite of migration monitoring opportunities for the fall migration season – and they are all Free! “Fall” migration really begins in early July for individuals of some species – some shorebirds in particular, but some songbirds too. As the post-nesting dispersal ensues and early migrants relocate to stopover and wintering areas, BirdCast provides a wealth of information for your county, your state, and across the Lower 48 States on a day by day basis.

There are actually 4 webpages for you to interact with, each providing a wealth of information that can help fuel your birding plans and provide insights into how migration progresses during fall (and spring). The migration programs are Live Bird Migration Radar Maps, the Migration Dashboard, Bird Migration Forecast Radar Maps, and Local Migration Alerts. Each of these is unique and interesting, especially if you check on them periodically during migration season.

Live Bird Migration Radar Maps: You can begin by viewing the exciting live radar-based migration maps of the Lower 48 States at Live bird migration maps - BirdCast. These especially interesting animated maps run on a time cycle that you can follow from 6pm throughout the next 24 hours with reference to sunset and sunrise too. You will be impressed, and you can also refer to the archived maps that you can refer to from previous nights, weeks, and years.

Migration Dashboard: A favorite for many birders, simply type your county or state into the white box at the top of this information-packed webpage to reveal local bird migration highlights above your local county at Migration Dashboard - BirdCast. Information provided includes an estimate of the numbers of birds that migrated; the elevation, speed, and direction the birds were migrating, and some birds that migrate during the period. You can also explore bird migration in other counties and states of interest across the contiguous United States by typing the location into the Dashboard, and information recorded for each night is also archived.

Bird Migration Forecast Maps: If you are making plans for a birding adventure or are curious about what you might expect during the next 3 nights of migration in your area, presented in the form of a radar-based map, the Forecast maps offer a unique look into the future at Bird migration forecast maps - BirdCast

Local Bird Migration Alerts: You can also monitor local migration forecasts for the next 3 nights for your city or a city near you at Local bird migration alerts - BirdCast, in which each night is given a Low, Medium, or High migration forecast, and you can also subscribe to receive Free email alerts for your area.

Millions of birders appreciate the information provided by BirdCast during fall and spring migration periods each year, and it has become an important “tool” to expand our understanding of birds and bird migration, as well as finding out what to expect in coming days as you enjoy birding throughout the fall season. Enjoy all the birds that this fall migration brings your way!