Date: 8/23/25 4:23 pm From: Esther Stokes <00001df1e2c0634d-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [GABO-L] Fall migration timing in northern Georgia
Eran,
This is the best (the only!) summary of fall migration dates in Georgia
that I have seen! So helpful! Thank you for taking the time to assimilate
all this info and share it with fellow birders!
Bird on!
Esther
On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM Eran Tomer <
<00001de85cdc9338-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> I am replying to the list since others may be interested too.
>
> Fall migration is complex because different bird types migrate on different
> schedules. It is also more prolonged than spring migration as birds aren't
> rushing to compete for territories and mates.
>
> Your post suggests you live in the Atlanta region. Here is the fall
> migration sequence for this area, which would also apply to much of
> northern Georgia. The timing differs somewhat further south and east, and
> even more along the coast. The information comes from an analysis I did
> last year using eBird and other data.
>
> Some individuals of various species arrive earlier or linger later than
> most, but the following applies to the decisive majority. In chronological
> order:
>
> POST-BREEDING DISPERSAL - not truly migration but many species start
> wandering the landscape after nesting, in late summer and into fall.
> Immature birds especially. These include Mississippi Kite, Swallow-tailed
> Kite, various waders (e.g. herons & egrets, Anhinga, White Ibis, Wood
> Stork, Roseate Spoonbill) and some songbirds. Early arrivals aside, this
> dispersal begins in the first week of July, peaks between July 15 and
> August 31, and continues to September 7. A few individuals remain later.
>
> SHOREBIRDS (plovers, sandpipers & relatives) - fall migration starts in
> earnest during the first week of August, increases to a peak from the last
> week in August through the second week in September, then declines but
> continues through the third week therein. As always, some individuals
> arrive slightly earlier or later.
>
> TERNS - Caspian Tern, Black Tern and Forster's Tern start arriving in the
> second week of August and more prominently in the third. Black Tern
> continues to September 14 while Caspian and Forster's migrate through the
> end of the month. Common Tern has a narrower fall migration window,
> September 8-30.
>
> COMMON NIGHTHAWK - migration starts in the last week of August and peaks in
> the first 2 weeks of September, the first especially. Then it drops
> sharply. Typically nighthawks start appearing about 2 - 2.5 hours before
> sunset and numbers increase towards nightfall. Please report any nighthawks
> you may see on eBird since this species has declined heavily over the past
> c. 20-25 years.
>
> BLUE-WINGED TEAL - this duck migrates differently from other waterfowl (see
> below). Fall peak is a protracted August 22 to October 31.
>
> HURRICANE BIRDS - not migration but fall is hurricane season, mostly in
> September and October but sometimes early November. These storms blow
> various seabirds and others far inland and off-course. So do weaker
> tropical storms to a lesser extent. If such weather hits, check your local
> water bodies when it's safe to do so. Our largest lakes, Lanier and
> Allatoona / Acworth, are probably best. Hurricanes displace other types of
> birds too so it is worthwhile to check different birding sites.
>
> LANDBIRDS (mostly songbirds, also cuckoos, raptors etc.) - some start
> migrating as early as late July but fall migration begins "for real" in the
> last week of August, accelerates in the first week of September, increases
> to a peak during the 3rd and 4th weeks of September, then declines but
> continues to the end of October. A few species, like Cooper's Hawk, migrate
> for another week. Sharp-shinned Hawk movement extends to mid-November, and
> Merlin and Northern Harrier all the way to mid-December.
>
> A very few species migrate slightly outside of this time frame, e.g. Bank
> Swallow, Blue-headed Vireo and Vesper Sparrow. So with any target species
> check the bar chart link below for precise timing.
>
> TURKEY VULTURE (and to a lesser extent Black Vulture) - fall passage begins
> c. October 15, peaks between October 22 and November 14, then declines to
> an end by November 21. Always impressive but all the more so if you can
> find a roost (I can recommend one in Sandy Springs) - masses of vultures
> swirling & streaming low overhead.
>
> WATERFOWL / WATERBIRDS - some species migrate through and others overwinter
> but still have peak passage windows alongside the migrants. Species mostly
> migrating but scarce in winter include Ross' Goose, Snow Goose, Greater
> White-fronted Goose, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted
> Merganser, Red-throated Loon and Horned Grebe. Plus irregular species -
> very rare and not documented every year, e.g. Black Scoter and Eared Grebe.
>
> These species migrate from November 1, but especially November 15 through
> December 14, arriving with cold fronts pushing them south. Wintering
> waterfowl tend to arrive slightly earlier, from c. October 22 onwards, but
> arrivals increase much starting in mid-late November.
>
> SANDHILL CRANE - fall migration is concentrated from November 22 through
> December 14, but continues to December 21st. Some cranes occur later
> sporadically. Listen for their trademark, loud, rattling-trumpeting calls.
>
> ***
>
> For species-specific information, here is the greater Atlanta region's
> eBird bar chart:
>
>
> https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=1900&eyr=2025&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-GA-015,US-GA-057,US-GA-063,US-GA-067,US-GA-077,US-GA-089,US-GA-097,US-GA-113,US-GA-117,US-GA-121,US-GA-135,US-GA-139,US-GA-151,US-GA-223,US-GA-247 >
> Next to each species you can click the jagged line icon for a precise line
> graph (move the cursor across it for dates), and the teardrop-shape icon
> for a map. It is imperative to study the graphs & maps closely to find
> target species.
>
> ***
>
> Please note birds migrate broadly so Kennesaw Mountain, for all its
> well-deserved fame, is but one site to visit (see eBird's Explore Hotspots
> feature - https://ebird.org/hotspots). Migrants occur not only in parks
> and
> other (semi)-natural locations but also in many urban / suburban woodlots,
> back yards and ponds. Vultures, cranes and nighthawks fly over heavily
> urbanized areas too.
>
> Also, migrants' passage relates closely to weather patterns, notably cold
> fronts and winds. Some days are much better than others so don't despair if
> some outings are unproductive. Vultures and Sandhill Cranes especially
> prefer specific flying conditions so their movements are concentrated into
> a few, separate days within their migration windows. Explore the Cornell
> Lab's Birdcast website for migration forecasts and alerts:
>
> https://birdcast.info/ >
> Finally, in fall young birds abound and many species are in drab plumage,
> some resembling others. They also don't vocalize much or at all. This calls
> for extra caution with identification. For example, immature Yellow-billed
> Cuckoos can have dark bills like Black-billed Cuckoo and immature Tree
> Swallows are brownish and can have a cross-breast band resembling Bank
> Swallow. If reporting a rarity, please describe how you determined the ID
> versus similar species and / or include a diagnostic photo.
>
> Good luck ! And please share with GABO any tips on birding Bartow Co.
> hotspots.
>
> Best regards,
>
> - Eran Tomer
> Atlanta, GA
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM John Call <
> <00001d961ce29ab9-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> > This is my first fall migration. When should I start going to Kennesaw
> Mtn
> > and when does it fade out? I have some days during the third week of
> > September. Is that a good time to go? Are there any led trips there? I'm
> > noticing on eBird that birds are being spotted at Kennesaw but I didn't
> > figure they were coming through yet.
> >
> > Also, somebody mentioned a "Bartow Birding Loop." I'm not far from there.
> > What is that loop exactly and what is the best way to bird it?
> >
> >
>
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