Bird Migration

A crowd gathers in a parking lot taking pictures of a huge flock of Purple Martins flying overhead.
Across the South, Purple Martin Parties Are the Hottest Ticket in Town
September 25, 2026 — Every summer, hundreds of thousands of roosting swallows draw eager crowds to urban parking lots for an unforgettable spectacle.
So Many Birds, So Little Time (or Bands)
September 23, 2026 — A morning of bird banding reveals the stories these tiny travelers carry and the questions they leave behind.
Flocks of Purple Martins fly over an urban scene at dusk.
Nearly Half of U.S. Bird Migration Hotspots Are in Cities—Here's Why That Matters
September 16, 2026 — A surprising number of migrating birds are choosing to stop in metropolitan areas, researchers found, raising the stakes for urban conservation efforts.
Rise and grind coffee shop exterior
Brewing Connection: How Crane Migration Benefits a Nebraska Small Business
June 11, 2026 — Rise and Grind! Learn about the impact of crane season beyond the dollar.
Two women installing boxes on a pole with an expansive green landscape behind them.
Meet the Students Roadtripping Across Canada to Install a New Generation of Bird-Tracking Tech
June 04, 2026 — Since April, Madison Bygrove and Natalie Emerick have been setting up a cutting-edge, continent-wide Motus Audio network to record migrating birds—and having a grand adventure.
A bright red male Scarlet Tanager takes off from a thin branch.
From Best Dressed to Class Clown, These 15 Birds Own Their Spring Migrant Superlatives
May 21, 2026 — Yep, we're doing this. And you'll probably have opinions.
Brown Thrasher. Photo: William Leaman/Alamy
Spring Migration is Aways Exciting
May 15, 2026
Birders on bridge
Spring Creek Prairie is Definitely for the Birders
May 14, 2026 — A spring migration story
A flock of geese flying overhead in a V-shaped formation.
Why Do Birds Fly in a V Formation? Breaking Down a Brilliant Migration Hack
May 01, 2026 — From geese and pelicans to cranes and cormorants, many birds use a V-shaped flock to master the aerodynamics of long-distance flight. Here is the science behind this clever energy-saving strategy.