The official winter migration south begins today, August 1st. Although it may seem like we are still in the midst of summer, the food sources will soon get scarcer. Birds know this fact, and many species are already working their way south:

• Follow the migration / see forecasts: BirdCast
• Read my review with screenshots of BirdCast

Current migration conditions for today. Hummingbirds and Arctic Shorebirds are already well into their migrations. Birds that eat bugs will be next. While Spring migration is a quick affair, during the Fall, birds will pause their movements southward and linger if a good food source is apparent.

The latest to fledge in the Amity Woods are Blue Jays. Here are three photos … one of an adult flanked by two “begging kids”. Do these juvenile Blue Jays ever remind you of your own children?!