Ask Ellen: Has there been a large migration of birds into Michigan recently?

Ellen Bacca
·1 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Temperatures have been warmer than usual and some migratory birds have taken the cue to head back to Michigan a few weeks earlier than usual.

According to BirdCast, a website powered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, more than 500 million birds migrated across the nation on the night of April 30.

Green Heron in Gun Lake by Cheryl Johnson
Green Heron in Gun Lake by Cheryl Johnson

Several viewers have noticed new migratory birds in their yards on the first day of May, ranging from hummingbirds to Green Heron and Baltimore Oriole.

Baltimore Oriole by Kay Klamer in Allendale
Baltimore Oriole by Kay Klamer in Allendale

The first hummingbird of the year was spotted and reported in Hillsdale back on April 10, according to Hummingbird central. This is much earlier than usual for our state. Now, hummingbirds are back in the Mitten at full force.

Birds typically migrate at night and often use weather patterns to maximize their performance as they head north. On the night of May 1, another 393 million more birds are expected to take flight and migrate across the contiguous U.S.

Warmer-than-usual temperatures in Michigan for the first week of May are expected to continue to foster migratory patterns over Michigan, meaning our skies will be getting even busier in the week ahead.

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