By Todd Burley
Every fall, thousands of residents in Seattle head south for the winter where warmer temperatures and sunnier weather greet them. There they find all they need to live in luxury – excellent dining choices, comfortable accommodations, and a chance to meet others from around the world. Yet when the winds shift and the smell of a Pacific Northwest spring wafts in their direction, these snowbirds head north to enjoy the amazing summers in Seattle.
An Osprey flies home with a fresh catch. Credit: Larry Stamm/Audubon Photography Awards
We aren’t talking about your human neighbors, but rather the many species of birds that are neotropical migrants, moving seasonally between the Northwest and Mexico or Central America. These often-colorful birds brighten up our parks and remind us of the importance of healthy habitat along their entire route and our interconnectedness with the rest of the world.
May 10th is World Migratory Bird Day, and Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is flocking with others to support these worldly avian residents. In 2024, Seattle joined Journeys for Life, an initiative by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, to collaborate with other cities along the Pacific Flyway and learn best practices from around the globe to support migratory species. Three species were selected to highlight: Osprey, Rufous Hummingbird, and Western Tanager.
OSPREY
The vocal and visible “fish-hawk” is not shy of people or urbanization. As long as Ospreys have healthy fish populations to eat and a nice perch to build their nest, these birds are quite resilient. Mated pairs return to the same nesting location each year – usually on a tall dead tree near water, or in many cases in Seattle, on top of a light pole at an athletic field. To support Ospreys and reduce impacts to infrastructure and recreation, SPR meets these birds where they are…literally. We have built several nesting platforms atop lights where ospreys have previously built nests, including replacing their nesting material. So far, all the Ospreys have returned each year!
A new Osprey nest platform at Genesee Park. Credit: Michael Ashford
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
Male Rufous Hummingbird in flight. Credit: Tania Simpson/Audubon Photography Awards
If you’ve ever been in the forest near a clearing and heard a wild “zzzzwooosh” like a hyper buzzing attack plane, then you’ve experienced the J-shaped mating dance of the male Rufous Hummingbird. These 3.2-gram nectar and insect-eating birds travel all the way back from central Mexico each year to breed and raise their young. They are facing challenges from the larger Ana’s Hummingbird, which has expanded its range due to floral plantings in urban areas and our region’s mild winter temperatures.
WESTERN TANAGER
Breeding adult male Western Tanager. Credit: David Francy/Audubon Photography Awards
No need to go to Costa Rica, let it come to you! Western Tanagers bring the color of the tropics to Seattle’s parks, if you’re lucky enough to see one. These robin-sized migrants usually fly through Seattle in the spring on their way to coniferous forests in the foothills and mountains. Catch them on their way back south in late summer by attracting them to your yard with suet featuring insects and berries.
As part of our commitment to a Thriving Environment SPR will create healthy habitats and do what we can to support these neotropical migrants. You, too, can support these snowbirds!
- Avoid pesticides in your yard care and pest management.
- Plant flowers for pollinators (such as hummingbirds!).
- Place multiple hummingbird feeders. Anna’s Hummingbirds can dominate a feeder, so consider placing two or more hummingbird feeders to allow opportunities for the smaller Rufous to find nectar. Follow these tips for hummingbird feeders!
- Hang suet feeders. Western Tanagers love fruit, insects, and berries. Suet feeders can be a great attractant for these colorful birds.
Curious about migration patterns and threats? The National Audubon Society has a great interactive map worth checking out. Learn what species migrate through our area and adopt practices to support them. Or learn more in person at the Seward Park Audubon Center, which has a celebration on May 10th from 12:00 – 3:30 pm. On this World Migratory Bird Day, we are reminded of the importance of habitat in our city to species that travel up and down the Western Hemisphere. We are all connected!