DETROIT – The BirdCast model predicts the intensity of bird migration for specific areas.
Monday night will be a big night for migration with around 5.1 million birds expected to fly over Michigan. Over 8 thousand are expected to fly over Metro Detroit.
Recommended Videos
380 million birds will be flying across the country.
Birds typically begin to migrate 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, with the greatest number in flight two to three hours later. Therefore, you can play a role in helping the birds migrate by turning out any non-essential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
This helps to reduce skyglow, which can confuse birds. Lowering skyglow will in turn lower the number of birds attracted to brighter urban cores, and also reduces collisions. In addition, it keeps nocturnal environments darker for resting birds near stopover hotspots.
According to Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology approximately 945,000 birds flew over Michigan Sunday night. With numbers expected to be much higher tonight, the Purdue University’s AeroEco Lab has issued a medium lights out alert for most of the state.
Around 2.5 million birds are expected to fly over Michigan Tuesday night.
At least a small number of birds fly almost every night of the migration season, but you can check the migration level to see if the BirdCast model is projecting small or medium amounts.
Peak Spring migration in Michigan is in early to late May.