Birds migrate for a couple of reasons: Since most birds use water, they must move to a place where water is not frozen. Shorebirds skating on sheet ice is not nearly entertaining as you think it might be...it's about as entertaining as watching a goose swim through a glacier.
The annual cycle of a bird goes like this (starting in January for a 2 year old bird). We will use a Northern Pintail as an example. Many Northern Pintails "winter" on Lake Mattamuskeet. The bird we will discuss in this timeline has a name...it's name is Barry.
January - Barry is wintering in Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County, North Carolina. Barry chose this area because it has a lot of food and water and lots of food growing in the water. Pintails like Barry will eat cut corn or "waste grain" from big fields in Hyde County. Pintails will also fly into "impoundments" which are essentially flooded fields with waste grain. Barry has to eat a lot of grain to gear up for breeding season and to make his return flight to the north.
February - Barry has found a lady Pintail (her name is Agnes) near Mattamuskeet. He had to win her over by having extra-pretty plumage (feathers) and by having the loudest vocalization (pintails whistle at each other). Barry and his girlfriend are eating a lot of food so that Barry can take her back up north where they can start a family.
March - Barry and Agnes are taking flight...they're headed north. This is where they will build a nest, lay eggs, and try not to be eaten by predators like a fox. Also, Barry and Agnes will wait until the rest of their pintail friends are all partnered up...they'll all fly together in the "V" formation. Why a "V"? The "V" allows each duck to take turns leading while the others "draft" behind it...just like in NASCAR races.
April - Barry and Agnes have made it to the Canadian prairie. They flew right over Border Patrol and made a nest on the ground, about 200 yards from the water. Agnes lays her eggs, while Barry flies around to ward off other pintails. Agnes plumage isn't as colorful as Barry's, her feathers blend in well with the grass.
May - After waiting about 24 days, Agnes can stop incubating her eggs...they are all ready to hatch. After they have all hatched, Agnes discovers that one duckling didn't make it...she leads the rest away from the nest quickly...and since they are "precocious" (they can swim and walk) this task is easy. If she stays near the nest, their constant chirping will bring raccoons and foxes. When they make it to the water, they are pretty safe.
June - Agnes' ducklings are growing quick...Barry is around, but he's not much of a father, he is going through "eclipse", which is a period of time where he sheds feathers and regrows stronger ones...he loses his beautiful plumage and turns a drab brown - this helps him stay camouflaged, which is a good thing since he can't fly. Agnes will keep her ducklings near clumps of grass in the pond. About 45 days after hatching, the ducklings will be ready to fly.
July - Agnes, her ducklings, and Barry can all fly by the end of July...they'll all start eating as much aquatic vegetation as possible...they can't wait for the Canadian farmers to cut their corn crops.
August - By late August, Canadian farmers have cut their corn fields, and Barry and his family, along with millions of other ducks like mallards and gadwalls will fly into these fields to eat the leftover kernels. Geese also join in the buffet. All of the birds are loading up on the golden carbohydrates to prepare for their migration.
September - By now, the entire family has grown to full size. Some of the "ducklings" have gone their own way. Even Barry has gone his own way. Barry enjoys flying to all of the cornfields in the day time and resting on the pond at night. One morning, Barry and all of his guy friends, and a couple of lady friends, too, cross the Canadian border, heading south.
October - Barry remembers the way to Lake Mattamuskeet...so do the others. They will use rivers as their guideposts...They'll fly through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia before they reach Lake Mattamuskeet. They'll stop in each state to "refuel" on corn. They'll eventually make it to Chesapeake Bay, America's largest estuary. After arriving in the Bay, Barry and his friends will all wait for each other.
November - While on the Chesapeake Bay, Barry encounters lots of other birds...he waits for his other pintail friends - and a severe cold front to "blow" him south to Lake Mattamuskeet. The pintails will coast down with the wind at their backs...this saves energy.
December - Barry is on Lake Mattamuskeet. Every day he hears gunshots from hunters. Barry stays safe on the Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. Barry begins to look for a replacement "Agnes". After looking for quite a while, he discovers that Agnes has told all of the other lady pintails what a lousy father he has been...she even told them that he had shed more feathers than normal! Alas, the only one that will take Barry back is Agnes...but that's not uncommon. Many pintails are monogamous...most return to the same place to "winter" every year, too. Lucky for Barry!
This is a picture of a pintail drake (like Barry)...aren't they pretty!
Enjoy the day...
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