Fall Birding on Kelleys Island: How to Look for Warblers

Here’s one of Kelleys Islands best kept secrets: you can see just as many migrating birds in the fall as you can in the spring – you just have to know where to look. And one of the most popular birds to take a rest on its way south are Warblers.

What are Warblers?

The National Audubon Society defines warblers as small, colorful songbirds. Colorful is an understatement. In the spring Warblers are famous for being tiny bursts of vivid color—often featuring bright yellows, oranges and blue. Warblers are tiny – smaller than most sparrows – and fast. They flit around in trees, some preferring the tops of tall trees, and in the spring they are loud. In the fall, Warblers are quieter and more subdued color-wise. Most will be olive, gray or yellowish-green.

Spotting Warblers on Kelleys Island

Consider these tips to look for Warblers across the island:

• Go birding after a cold front. Migrating birds cross Lake Erie overnight and frequently stop on the islands to rest and feed. The best birding often occurs the morning after a strong north or northwest wind.
• Start at sunrise. The first two to three hours after sunrise are usually the most active. Warblers feed low in shrubs and trees before retreating higher as temperatures rise.
• Look for mixed flocks. In the fall, Warblers often travel with other small birds like Chickadees. If you find one bird, stay with it—you may see a dozen species in a few minutes.
• Listen as much as you look. Many fall warblers give short “chip” calls rather than songs. Learning the common chip notes of species like Yellow-rumped, Blackpoll, and American Redstart can help you locate birds before you see them.
• Check out unexpected spots. Yellow-rumped Warblers are plentiful on the island in the fall and often travel in flocks. Look for them on driveways, decks or low in the trees.

Want to see some of these Warblers up close?

Come to fall bird banding. The Kelleys Island Audubon will be hosting its annual Feathers & Foliage event on September 13. Look for more information on KelleysIslandNature.org.