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(Editor's Note: This is the first of a two-part series about "Migratory Birds," a program held at the April 9 meeting of the Towpath Naturalist Society of Juniata and Mifflin Counties).
LEWISTOWN -- Bird migration is a marvel that has captivated the biggest of watchers for centuries. Some of the earliest cave art tells the story of the comings and goings of birds through the seasons.
Waves of migratory herons, ibises and quail are depicted as symbols of renewal in ancient Egyptian art. Birds took on deep meaning in folklore, myth and religion across cultures.
Among Indigenous races, the arrival of waterfowl on the heels of the bitter cold months represents the first signs that winter is ending. In ancient Greece, the arrival of Barn Swallows was a sign for farms to begin planting.
For as long as watchers have seen in migratory birds the signs, symbols and seasons that mark their lives, they have also longed to explain the "how" and the "why" of migration.
That was also the focus of Kylie Orndorf's presentation on "Migratory Birds" at the Towpath Naturalist Society of Juniata and Mifflin Counties meeting on Tuesday, April 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lewistown.
"This is a very exciting time of year back at Poe Valley State Park," said Orndorf, an environmental education specialist at the Reeds Gap State Park Complex. "Mid-March - that's when all of these migratory birds are starting to come back.
"Migration implies the movement from one place to another, especially during certain times of the year," she added. "It's not always spring and fall, but it's most commonly spring and fall.
That's when we're going to see the most action with our birds that actually do migrate."
Orndorf said migratory birds are always on the move, searching for food resources, nesting sites and because of extreme weather conditions.
She also explained how there are various levels of migration as some birds are here for a noticeably brief period of time, while others stick around all year-round.
"They're the birds that you see on your feeders in December and January," Orndorf said of the year-round species. "Things like the Dark-Eyed Juncos, our Tufted Titmouse, our Cardinals, our Blue jays - all sorts of things - they have found ways to adapt and survive here in the wintertime."
Adaptation can mean a variety of different methods. "Whether it be things like our Black-Capped Chickadees, who change their diet every year," Orndorf explained. "In the summer, they're eating some bugs. They're eating flower seeds. They're eating insects, those sorts of things. Come winter, they turn to specifically seeds."
Cardinals have their own tricks, such as filling their feathers with pockets of air to keep warm, insulating themselves during the winter months.
Woodpeckers also live in tree cavities, not only to protect their young and themselves against the cold winds of January and February. "The only woodpecker that migrates is the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker," said Orndorf, who quizzed the audience with a round of migratory bird trivia. "They fly south to find a food source."
She talked about Canadian Geese, who go out in the spring for nesting purposes. "They might move in the winter, if it gets too cold," Orndorf said. "They can move a little bit (depending on the weather). We don't get as much snow as we used to."
There's the Common Merganser, who is a frequent visitor at Poe Lake, a 25-acre manmade lake built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on Big Poe Creek in Centre County during the Great Depression.
Orndorf also talked about the large birds of prey: Osprey and Bald Eagle, whose diets consist mostly of eating fish.
The Osprey, called the "fish hawk," sticks around but finds it harder to find food when waterways freeze over. "They look for easier ways to find fish," Orndorf said. "They usually come back to the same areas each year, but also move a few miles south or move further inland."
There are those species who are considered longer-distance travelers when it comes to migration. The Barn Swallows, which eat insects, migrate to South or Central America every year. Typically, they depart in late September and return in the spring. "I saw one a week or so ago," Orndorf said. "It's very early for them. We see them nesting in our beach house."
There are also the Hummingbirds, who feast on nectar, and must head south to Central America to find food sources during the winter. And, the Black-Throated Blue Warbler, who travels to the Caribbean where "it's nice and warm, it stays warm and there's lots of food to eat."
Magic of
migration
Orndorf offered bird watching tips to improve your chances of seeing migratory birds. "Go to larger bodies of water like Black Moshannon Park or Bald Eagle State Park between Milesburg and Lock Haven, Centre County. Hot spots, like Middle Creek, are also usually busy with activity.
She recommended bringing a nice pair of binoculars and some patience. Migratory birds are on their own schedule, so it might take some time. Attending a free state park program or watching with an experienced birder can also make the experience more rewarding.
And be mindful of the weather conditions.
"Cloudy days are best for bird watchers," Orndorf said. "It's ideal when you're not looking into the sun, so you can see all the colors of the birds."