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May Birding on Cape Cod

Many say witnessing the Spring songbird migration is a glimpse into one of the great mysteries of the universe. Throughout New England, May is the height of migration. The vast majority fly up from South America and the Caribbean through the Midwest, but a sufficient few pass through Massachusetts.

The warbler family, the most colorful of the passerine group, makes a stop in Massachusetts on their way to northern breeding grounds. The best place to observe these migrants is the Beech Forest in Provincetown. Because the birds are reluctant to fly over water, they travel up the arm of Cape Cod and mill around the end until the weather is favorable for a night flight north. Regrettably, most songbirds do not stay on the Cape for any length of time, but their short, regular visits beautifully highlight the season.

May is also breeding time for the majority of all birds on the Cape. This is an exciting time because the birds are singing. Each species has a distinctive song to attract a mate or establish territory.

Learning to identify calls is a fascinating challenge, requiring patience and time. First, select a habitat. We've list a few of the birds you may encounter in the area marshes, woods, beaches and ponds, but "backyard birding" is often fruitful, especially if you have a feeder. The early morning hours between down and 8:00 are best. Simply remain still and listen for a song. Then follow call to the singing bird, identify it visually and memorize the association. Soon you will be able to recognize robins, starlings and perhaps a dozen other species, by sound.

Some birds to look for in May are:

• Marsh Birds: Osprey, Red-winged Blackbird, Willet Killdeer, Sharp-tailed Sparrows
• Wood Birds: Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Black-capped Chickadee, Rufous sided Towhee, Carolina Wren, Northern Oriole
• Beach: Common Tern, Least Tern, Oystercatcher, Laughing Gull, Pond Tree Swallow, Common Grackle, Barn Swallow, Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron