BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 11, 2025
Migrations are now tracked with powerful tools at our fingertips: The BirdCast Migration Dashboard uses radar to show in real time how many birds are flying overhead at night. eBird bar charts give a detailed record of when specific species usually depart, drawn from thousands of Maine birders submitting their sightings. The Motus Wildlife Tracking Network, supported locally by Maine Audubon, adds another layer — following individual radio-tagged birds across the continent. And the Bird Migration Explorer connects the dots between Maine birds and their wintering grounds in Central and South America. Together, these resources give us a clearer picture of when our birds come and go. Yet even with all the data, bird migration remains deeply personal. Perhaps the secret is to notice both ends of the migration journey — the joy of first arrivals and the bittersweet silence of final departures. ~ Bob Duchesne