December 6, 2023 12:24 am

Local News

Birds Depart the Chilly Weather, While Other Birds Return During the Winter

Credit: iStock

Mohamed Bughrara

Autumn is a terrific time to see the numerous types of birds that spend their life along Georgia’s coast, that now migrate south in droves.

A total of 300 bird species have been sighted along Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding Trail, which covers 122 miles and includes 17 stations.

Most of Georgia’s 54 neotropical bird species, including tanagers, thrushes, buntings, swallows, vireos, warblers, and others who bred here in the spring, have already moved to or are on their way to Latin America for the winter.

Simultaneously, several species will arrive in Georgia to remain for the winter, effectively replacing the departing birds. The majority of the arriving winter birds nested in the north throughout the spring and summer. There are kinglets, various sparrow species, yellow-rumped warblers, cedar waxwings, over 15 duck species, and more.

We can’t witness mass songbird journeys because the birds fly nearly entirely at nighttime, while conditions are cooler and predator dangers are lower.

Visit www.georgiabirdingtrails.com for additional information on which species to watch for and how to get to the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.