Column: Something crazy happened during this spring’s bird migration in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 23, 2026

Food availability is the chief reason birds migrate. Maine hosts an abundance of insects in May, as you may have noticed, and the days are longer. Daylight length remains constant at the equator. At this time of year, there’s more daylight to feed hungry chicks in Maine than there is in Ecuador. Birds are anxious to reach their nesting destinations as quickly as possible so they can claim the best territory and woo a mate. Neotropical migrants arrive in spring and leave in autumn. That sounds simple. It’s anything but. There’s drama in the treetops for those who notice. ~ Bob Duchesne