Common Yellowthroats are among the early warbler species being observed among mixed songbird fallouts across the country. Early May is an interesting time to check on raptor count sites for daily totals of species. This first-year Red-tailed Hawk is making its first spring migration (photos by Paul Konrad).

During May it’s interesting to see what individual birders are reporting from east to west across North America with respect to on-going bird migrations. One of the most enjoyable locations to monitor the actions is the American Birding Association’s “Birding News” website that provides birder’s personal reports in real time. Most reporting sites are listed state by state, and province by province, and it’s particularly interesting to monitor some of the migration descriptions and species lists from people’s personal reports.

For example, consider a Saturday report of species of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other songbirds reported at Blendon Woods in Columbus, Ohio – see http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=1668765&MLID=OH&MLNM=Ohio and for a look at all recent birding reports from Ohio see http://birding.aba.org/maillist/OH and for any other state or province see http://birding.aba.org/

There is also an exciting report describing the birds in one New Jersey backyard last Thursday that includes orioles and warblers at http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=1668341&MLID=NJ01&MLNM=New%20Jersey and another interesting May 2nd account from an Atlantic County park in New Jersey at

http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=1669678&MLID=NJ01&MLNM=New%20Jersey

Also sounds like a very fruitful Saturday morning in Grafton, Wisconsin, by the description provided at http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=1669414&MLID=WI&MLNM=Wisconsin

You get the idea; try browsing the reports in states of greatest interest to you now that we shared a few reports that we ran across to get you started. You can also use these reports to see what birds are on their way to your area by checking out reports from states south of your location; and of course, you can see what birders in your state are reporting. eBird has taken center stage for reporting bird sightings, but the ABA’s Birding News web pages provide more personal accounts and interactions that add another element of fun to reporting and monitoring bird sightings.

Raptor Migrations Too

There have also been some standout raptor sightings and daily count totals recently that are documented at http://www.hawkcount.org/ as migrating birds of prey and vultures migrate north. For instance, check out the flight of raptors counted at Mackinaw Straights, in northern Michigan last Friday that included 20,763 Broad-winged Hawks and a variety of other raptors at http://www.hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=613&ryear=2020&rmonth=05&rday=01

In north-central New York, Derby Hill hawk counters tallied 13,204 Broad-wings and a variety of other raptors Saturday, which you can review at http://www.hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2020&rmonth=05&rday=02

For a change of pace, visit the Bensen Rio Grande count site in Texas; last Saturday 792 Mississippi Kites migrated overhead! See http://www.hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=468&ryear=2020&rmonth=04&rday=26

BirdCast Radar Migration Highlights

To tie migration sightings with bird migration forecasts, or to check on conditions for migration or a fallout in your area, check in with BirdCast periodically at https://birdcast.info/live-migration-maps/

There are many ways to enjoy spring migration, and we hope that by providing a variety of resources and ideas about how to monitor, anticipate, plan, and enjoy birding activities in your area, or areas you may visit in the future, your May birding experiences will be better than ever.