Indiana is for the Birds
Indiana’s skies are for the birds (literally). Each spring, Indiana becomes a highway in the sky. From late April through May, millions of birds fly over the state at night. They are heading north to their summer homes near the Great Lakes and Canada.
Feathered friends like sparrows, buntings, and herons make this long journey. Some stop to rest at Lake Michigan. A few stay in Indiana to nest. Most continue north.
The second weekend of May is usually the peak of migration. On average, about 6 million birds pass over Indiana each night. Some nights, the number can be as high as 11 million.
Birds fly at night because it’s safer. It’s cooler, calmer, and there are fewer predators. Strong tailwinds help them travel faster and save energy. Most begin flying just after sunset and stay in the air until morning.
To find their way, birds use the stars and the moon. But bright city lights can confuse them and lead to crashes.
Tracking Them in Real Time
You can watch migration live with a tool called BirdCast. It uses radar to track birds in the sky. It shows how many of them are flying, how high they are, and which way they’re going.
So far this spring, nearly 49 million birds have flown north—many came through Indiana first.
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