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Towpath meeting features migratory birds presentation

By Greg Williams 9 min read

(Editor's Note: This is the second 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" for the Towpath Natural 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 different levels of migration as some birds are here a very short period of time, while others stick around all year-round.

"They're the birds that you see on your feeds 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, but also move further inland."

There are those species who are considered longer-distance travelers when it comes to migration. The Barn Swallows 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 find food sources during the winter. And, the Black-Throated Blue Warbler, who travels to the Caribbean where "it's nice."

Migratory birds are a 'very large group'

Orndorf focused mainly on waterfowl during her presentation. She spoke about a variety of species, offering descriptions and characteristics for each:

Common Mallard: They have webbed feet and a nice wide bill, with teeth that help keep food like plants in their mouths while filtering out water. "They're not having soup; they're just having salad," Orndorf joked of the mallards which stay in the area year-round.

Pied-Billed Grebe: Described as very loyal to the areas where they live, Orndorf said these birds can be identified by their small, compact brown bodies and puffy white undertail, The males and females look alike with a black stripe on their stocky beaks. During the fall, they lose the black on their beak with their non-breeding plumage. Orndorf called them, "Part bird and part submarine," as their heads often stick out of the water. "They can dive down but can also sink - submerging under water," she added. Like the Cardinal with air, Grebes can trap water in their feathers, which help them to control their buoyancy. She quipped they look like Lochness monsters on a much smaller scale when their heads emerge.

Grebes like larger bodies of water when searching for homes, such as ponds and lakes. "They eat smaller fish and plants, and they eat their own feathers to fill up," Orndorf said. Grebes also feed their feathers to their babies.

Horned Grebe: They have the same small, compact body, but are slightly larger than the Pied-Billed Grebe. They are also known for their red eyes and thinner, straighter bills. Horned Grebes also have more colorful breeding plumage and frequent ponds and lakes. "They go south in January then fly in a curve to get back to central and western Canada," said Orndorf, who has seen the Horned Grebes at Poe Lake in March and April the last few years.

Hood Merganser: The males have hoods which make them the more distinguished of the species. "They raise their crest when they are agitated or annoyed," Orndorf said. It's difficult to differentiate between the males and females, although the males have black and white stripes on their brown bodies. The females are more bland. Hood Merganser like wooded lakes, like Poe Lake, ponds and rivers. They visit in March and April.

Ring-Necked Duck: The males have glossy heads with an iridescent purplish tint, while the females have more peaked heads and rounded on top. Both are slightly smaller than Mallards. The Ring-Necked Ducks can be found in wooded lakes and ponds when they nest in Canada and the Western United States. They follow the warmer temperatures in large flocks, which can reach into the thousands. Orndorf said they visited Poe Lake in March.

Buffleheads: The males have a spot on their heads, which make them stand out. Their color is an iridescent purplish tint, and they are about the size of the Grebe and Ring-Necked Duck. The females have a darker body and smaller, rounded heads and darker tones. The Buffleheads prefer lakes, ponds and rivers and breed in Canada. "They'll stick around in the United States until migration, passing on by April," Orndorf said. She added they are also cavity nesters, using the holes of Northern Flickers to nest in.

Less Common Birds: Orndorf mentioned a few other birds, such as the Green Winged Teal, which don't stick around too long as they're mainly found in the North Central United States and Canada during breeding season. When irritated, they sound like a screaming child, Orndorf said.

The Lesser Scaup can be seen locally in March or April and can be identified by their yellow eyes and a white spot on their beak.

Many of the waterfowl mentioned have unique behavior, Orndorf said, such as "they twist their head and stick it into their wings behind them."

She also spoke about the American Wigeon, which can be easily identified by markings: the female has dark brown on top; the male white mark on their heads and black around their eyes.

The Common Loon sports a red eye during breeding season, with black heads and black and white stripes on their necks. The White-Breasted Merganser features an orange carrot-like bill, while the Red-Breasted Merganser has a white neck, and the Collared Merganser is known for its longer bill.

Additionally, there's the Snow Goose, which Ordorf deemed, "He's so ugly, he's pretty" with a white body, black wingtips and a wrinkly neck. There's also a signature black mark on their beaks and orange feet. "They fly south in the wintertime, so you'll see them in November and December," she added.

Finally, there are the Ruddy Turnstones, which visit hot spots like Willow Point at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County. Their white wings and black feet stand out when they fly over places like Middle Creek or Black Moshannon Park in Philipsburg, Centre County. "They hang out for awhile then move on," Orndorf said.

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."

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