Article archive / October 2021
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 10. Source pages: 16.
With the autumn equinox behind us, thoughts turn to fall. A cozy fire, leaves changing color, and birds migrating south for the winter are classic symbols of the changing of the seasons. But with the Covid-19 pandemic still going strong, will those birds fly south the same way, or at all?
What effect does the pandemic have on migratory birds?
For some birds the lack of human activity has caused a surge in breeding. According to an article from Audubon, "the Kentish Plover, a small shorebird that breeds on the beaches of Venice’s Treporti peninsula, is typically very sensitive to the presence of people. In 2020, however, this shy species spread its nesting sites along the unusually quiet shorelines, laying eggs in spots where they had not been recorded in recent years.”
With less human activity, some birds have become more common in areas previously dominated by humans. With most city residents homebound, the noise and traffic levels have decreased greatly, helping the cities become more welcoming to birds.
According to a report by CBN news, “Warblers, hummingbirds, hawks and other migratory birds across Canada and the U.S. hung out in cities during the pandemic lockdowns in the spring of 2020, treating urban-dwelling humans to far more visits than usual, …”
The lack of human interference opened up many new habitats for the birds, which, in theory, can be expected to increase population size.
Not all birds have been lucky during Covid- 19, because volunteers who mark nesting sights, such as those protecting the Snowy Plover, were forced to stay home. With many of the volunteers and staff who monitor the nesting sites unavailable, and more people going outside, trespassing on nests become more common during Covid. This affects not only the Snowy Plover, but other birds who nest on the dunes. An article by the Audubon society, “With Monitoring Limited, Someone Drove Through a Snowy Plover Nesting Site,” recounts the unfortunate scenario.
Even without Covid, migration is a challenging time for birds. They must travel long distances, deal with predation, and lack of food or water. Dropping temperatures also take a toll. There are also modern obstacles, such as communication towers and tall buildings. Authors at All about bird.org, part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, explain “Many species are attracted to the lights of tall buildings and millions are killed each year in collisions with the structures.”
And with fall starting, the effect of the pandemic on this year's migration will soon become clear. Everyone can help.
According to Abcbirds.org, some of the best ways to help birds in their migration include: reducing plastic use, buying bird friendly coffee, and adding birdbaths or feeders to help birds re-fuel. And, keep those cats under control, the experts remind pet owners.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.