General
Spring Migration: During March, Nebraska hosts one of the most spectacular examples of migration, the Sandhill Crane, along the Platte River between Grand Island and Lexington. The waterfowl migration is also an exciting natural event, particularly the concentrations of a half million Snow Geese and 100,000 Greater White-fronted Geese in the Rainwater Basins.
Fall Migration: Fall migration begins in July with shorebirds (numbers peak in August). Hawk migration begins in mid-September and continues through October. Warbler migration begins in late August and peaks in early September.
Calendar
The following calendar includes information about bird migration. Data is included for the months of peak migration: March, April, May, September, October, November. Please note that arrival times can be affected by weather patterns.
For the latest sightings and locations by county, please click here
September Bird Migration
The following is a partial list of birds that migrate through our area and approximate times to see them. Arrival times can be affected by weather patterns.
All Month:
- American White Pelican (Lake Manawa, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes)
- Sora (Cunningham Lake; Jack Sinn Wildlife Area, Lancaster Co.)
- American Golden and Black-bellied Plover (Jack Sinn Wildlife Area or flooded fields)
- Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs (Jack Sinn Wildlife Area or flooded fields)
- Semi-palmated, Western, Least & Baird's Sandpipers (Jack Sinn Wildlife Area or flooded fields)
- Long-billed Dowitcher (Jack Sinn Wildlife Area or flooded fields)
Early - Mid Month:
- Wilson's Phalarope (Jack Sinn Wildlife Area, Papio Dam Sites)
- Caspian Tern (Lake Manawa; Mid-America Power Pond)
- Common Nighthawk (Evenings, migrating in flocks)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Fontenelle Forest: Jewelweed along railroad tracks)
- Solitary & Philadelphia Vireos (Fontenelle Forest, along Gifford Road & railroad tracks)
- Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Tennessee, Navshville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Bay-breasted, Black & White, Mourning, Wilson's & Canada Warblers (Fontenelle Forest, along Gifford Road & railroad tracks)
- American Redstart (Fontenelle Forest, along Gifford Road & railroad tracks)
- Northern Waterthrush (Fontenelle Forest, along Gifford Road & railroad tracks)
Mid - Late Month:
- Hawks (Hitchcock Nature Area, Crescent, Iowa; Neale Woods, Omaha)
- Sanderling (Mid-American Power pond, Iowa (MAPP); Lake North, Columbus)
- Franklin's Gull (Lake Manawa; MAPP; Cunningham Lake)
Late Month:
- Le Conte's Sparrow (Cunningham Lake; Wehrspann Lake; Jack Sinn Wildlife Area)
