Migrating Birds in Spring

By Coggin Heeringa, Interpretive Naturalist, Crossroads at Big Creek, Inc.

At Crossroads, we observe birds almost daily, but the first few weeks of spring migration are different — special and  important. Each spring, we watch migrating birds not only for the joy it brings, but to contribute to the growing scientific understanding of migration patterns, critical stopover habitats, and the effects of climate change.

It is well known that during migration, birds tend to avoid large bodies of water. When fatigued or caught in storms, they require safe places to land — and over open water, such places are absent. As a result, birds often follow shorelines. Shorelines aid orientation, and at the edge of the lake, favorable wind patterns that make flight more efficient.  Over land, thermal updrafts assist soaring birds in gaining altitude.

Shoreline habitats — including mudflats, wetlands, swamps, and marshes — offer vital food sources in addition to providing safe resting areas. For these reasons, the Door Peninsula, its islands, and the Garden Peninsula form a  natural funnel, guiding birds  north beyond the Great Lakes.

Even more importantly, coastal wetlands and forests serve as essential stopover sites. While these areas may seem like  resting spots, their real value lies in their rich food resources – clouds of flying  insects, tiny aquatic plants and animals, and fish –enabling birds to “refuel” for the demanding journey to their breeding grounds.

Thanks to both direct observation and technologies like radar and the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System, we know that a wide variety of bird species pass through the Door Peninsula. Just last week, for example, the MOTUS tower at Crossroads detected a migrating Saw-whet Owl. But a key question remains: do these birds simply pass over, or do they stop? 

At Crossroads, we are particularly interested  in whether The Cove Estuary functions as a high-quality stopover site. Researchers believe that most  migrating birds hug the shoreline — but when they enter the Bay of Sturgeon Bay, do they make use of The Cove Estuary to rest and refuel?

Because the MOTUS tower detects only tagged birds, we rely on birders — citizen scientists — to help fill in the gaps. By submitting checklists to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird platform, birdwatchers contribute to a real-time global database that tracks bird movements and provides valuable insights into changing habitat and climate patterns.

The biggest day of the year for eBird is  the Global Big Day, taking place this year on May 10 — and Crossroads is proud to participate. Last year, our volunteers were among the 58,000 citizen scientists worldwide who submitted bird observations on the same day.

This year, Crossroads at Big Creek will host a guided bird hike to kick off Global Big Day, from 6:30 to 9:30 AM at The Cove Estuary Preserve. We hope participants will submit their bird observations from The Cove and then continue exploring other places such as our  Big Creek and Ida Bay Preserves and other favorite Door County birding sites. Loaner binoculars will be available. We encourage birders to download the eBird and Merlin apps to their smartphones ahead of time. And to remember — observations made before and after Global Big Day are just as important and help enrich the data.

While we advance bird conservation science, we’ll also be celebrating the return of the growing season. The Door County Master Gardener Association will sponsor  several  programs on preparing gardens. Our first wildflower hike of the year will focus on Marsh Marigolds along Big Creek. And families  invited to join our after-school Environmental Exploration program, during which we’ll explore water currents with rubber duck races between our bridges.

Spring migration, ephemeral wildflowers, the ever-changing Big Creek — we invite you to experience the season with us at Crossroads.

Saturday, May 10
6:30 AM – Global Big Day Bird Hike

Be a part of this international bird census with a morning hike at the Cove Estuary Preserve in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. Learn more at eBird.org.  No experience needed. Loaner binoculars available. Open to all ages. No registration required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Parking Lot of The Cove Estuary Preserve, 817 South 20th Place, Sturgeon Bay.

Monday, May 12
1:30 PM – DCMGA Growing Together Education Series: Soil Testing – When, Why & How
Get expert tips on soil testing before starting your garden or landscape design. This pre-recorded webinar will be followed by refreshments and time to socialize. Presented by the Door County Master Gardeners Association. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

3:00 PM – Marsh Marigold Guided Hike
Join a naturalist to search for Marsh Marigolds and other spring ephemerals along Big Creek. Registration not required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Tuesday, May 13
3:30 PM – Environmental Exploration: Rubber Ducky Races
Learn about water currents through hands-on fun. Geared toward elementary students, but open to all ages. Meet at the  Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

6:30 PM – Master Gardener  Lecture: Building Gardens, Not Collections
Nick Ternes, owner of Botanophilia LLC, will share design principles to help transform plant collections into cohesive gardens. Sponsored by the Door County Master Gardeners Association. Meet at the Collins Learning Center,  Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay .

Wednesday, May 14
Wandering Wednesday – Naturalist-Led Hike
Enjoy an easy, hour-long hike led by a Crossroads naturalist. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. No registration required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay