Why are there so many birds in Massachusetts during the winter?

EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Bird migrations back to the northeast are already underway.

While the major migration period is closer to May, certain species, like redwing blackbirds and turkey vultures, make the trek back to Massachusetts in the late winter. Some birds don’t migrate at all.

Patti Steinman with Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary outlines why some birds brave through the winter months, “It’s about food and protection. So if a bird doesn’t need food and protection it’s not going to migrate. Migration can be dangerous for them. There are a lot of obstacles and challenges that they do need to face.”

With over 500 species of birds in Massachusetts alone, not all of them migrate at once. It depends on a multitude of factors such as the weather and insects.

A NASA-led study suggests bird migration in the northeast is heavily affected by weather events, making it difficult to pinpoint an exact return date. Food is another issue. Birds can’t come back until their food source, whether it’s nuts, fruit, or insects, is plentifully available.

Bird feeders can help, but Anne Jensen from A.W. Brown’s Pet & Garden told 22News the most common mistake people make when setting up bird feeders, “They will buy the wrong seed to go in the wrong feeder, absolutely. It’s seasonal based a lot of the time, right now its robins, cardinals, blue jays, the bigger birds, and doves.” 

Weather events and lack of food supply force some birds to leave Massachusetts in search of food. Some birds, like the Baltimore oriole, have decreased in population by 20% in western Massachusetts. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, if this trend continues, birds may have to travel farther to see their winged friends.