Fall means time to welcome new flocks of birds

  • By Mike Benbow Special to The Herald
  • Friday, September 20, 2013 12:47pm
  • Life

I hate to jinx the spectacular summer we’ve been having, but the calendar says it’s about to come to an end.

Although we can get some great days in October, September is typically the last gasp of summer. And even if we don’t want to acknowledge it, the birds certainly are more pragmatic.

If you’re a birder, September signals that some big changes are afoot.

Herons, eagles and many other birds are year-round species, but others will be saying goodbye, and new ones will be saying hello during fall and winter.

Hummingbirds and many songbirds are among those that will be leaving this month. Ditto for some of the Canada geese, although more of them are becoming full-time residents.

A few of the hummingbirds have taken up residency in Western Washington as well, so it’s time to make a decision whether or not to continue to feed them through fall and winter. Experts at the Seattle Audubon Society say hummingbirds should be fine without supplemental food during our mild winters, but they note that if you do decide to feed them, be consistent about it.

While I hate to say goodbye to all the sunshi ne we’ve enjoyed, I’m actually looking forward to fall and winter from a bird-watching perspective.

We may lose some Canada geese this fall, but we’ll gain thousands of snow geese.

The Silvana-Stanwood area and farther north in the Skagit Valley is the fall and winter home to some 35,000 snow geese. They breed each summer on Russia’s Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia and then fly 3,000 miles to winter here.

Our area is also the winter home to thousands of trumpeter and tundra swans, the largest birds in North America. Trumpeters have wings that can span 8 feet and are truly majestic.

But the bird I really hope to see this fall and winter is the snowy owl.

With their golden, luminous eyes and mostly white feathers, snowy owls are among the most beautiful birds on the planet, as well as among the most mysterious.

Also denizens of the Arctic, there are some 400 breeding pairs on Wrangel Island, snowy owls survive there nearly entirely on lemmings.

They’re infrequent migrators, so most portions of the lower 48 states see them only every five to seven years or so. Experts used to believe snowy owls headed south only when there weren’t enough lemmings, a rodent whose population can fluctuate dramatically.

They now believe the opposite; that a surplus in lemmings causes owls to bear more young, forcing the youngsters to find new feeding territory.

Whatever the reason, Western Washington has seen good populations of snowy owls each fall in the past two years. They’ve shown up in urban and rural areas, but they seem more at home in farm fields along the shoreline.

Will they be here again this year?

That’ll be something to look forward to as we shift to a new season and a new lineup for bird species.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Lewis the cat weaves his way through a row of participants during Kitten Yoga at the Everett Animal Shelter on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Downward cat? At kitten yoga in Everett, it’s all paw-sitive vibes

It wasn’t a stretch for furry felines to distract participants. Some cats left with new families — including a reporter.

The Ford Maverick has seating for five passengers. Its cargo bed is 4.5 feet long. (Photo provided by Ford)
2024 Ford Maverick compact pickup undergoes a switch

The previous standard engine is now optional. The previous optional engine is now standard.

Lynnwood
New Jersey company acquires Lynnwood Land Rover dealership

Land Rover Seattle, now Land Rover Lynnwood, has been purchased by Holman, a 100-year-old company.

Matt Stewart, left, and Janice Ayala, right, spin during country dance lessons at Normanna Lodge on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. Normanna Lodge will be hosting country dance next Tuesday during PBR Stampede. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett Stampede aims to become a Western-themed tradition

The new weeklong event combines a popular Professional Bull Riders event with live music, two-step dancing and more.

Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Edmonds Center for the Arts plays host to comedian Don Friesen on Friday and Grammy-nominated vocal group säje on Sunday.

2024 Honda Civic Type R (Photo provided by Honda)
2024 Honda Civic Type R

Developed in Japan, and track-tested around the world, the Civic R Type delivers 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, making it Honda’s most powerful production vehicle in the U.S.

Suomenlinna
Soul sisters Helsinki and Tallinn are pearls of the Baltic

While they have their own stories to tell, these cities share a common heritage of Swedish and Russian influences.

My trip to Iraq was canceled, so why can’t I get my $7,590 back?

When Diane Gottlieb’s tour of Iraq is canceled, the tour operator offers her a voucher for a future trip. But she wants a refund.

How to help your youngster become a successful adult

Surprisingly, it has little to do with how early you learn the alphabet, start reading, or learn the capitals of every state.

The 2024 Kia Telluride midsize SUV is available in 10 trim levels, all sporting the same V6 engine. (Photo provided by Kia)
2024 Kia Telluride makes every drive a pleasure

The midsize SUV has more going for it than many others in its class.

The 2024 Subaru WRX is equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 271 horsepower. (Photo provided by Subaru)
2024 Subaru WRX lineup adds a new TR model

The TR trim performs like the other WRX models, only better.

Carrying the Newcomb College name, this rare sewing bag fetched a bundle

Who made this linen and silk bag featuring a Louisiana landscape is unknown. The quality of its craftmanship, however, is clear.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.