Turning Your Backyard into Wildbird Habitat: Stopover Sites for Neotropical Migrants

Of the nearly 700 species of birds that breed on the North American continent, 160 are neotropical migrants that nest in the US. Neotropical migrants are birds that breed in the United States and Canada during spring/summer and winter in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Some neotropicals that nest in or pass through the Cincinnati area are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Indigo Buntings, Purple Martins, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orioles, Warblers, Thrushes, Vireos and Tanagers.

Scientists have detected a decline in the numbers of our neotropical migrants during the past few decades. About half the birds that migrate south in the fall don’t return to their breeding grounds the following spring. This population decline has been blamed on the destruction of tropical forests, predation, bad weather during migration, collisions with man made structures, and being shot or trapped by hunters. Recently, however, more attention is being given to the loss of what is called “stopover habitat”— places where migrating birds can rest and refuel during their long journey.

Migrating birds, often traveling more than one thousand miles, must put on enormous amounts of fat, sometimes doubling their weight. Most of them can’t accumulate enough fat to make the trip in a non-stop flight; they must stop along the way to find shelter and food. Suitable stopover habitat must be rich with insects, fruits, seeds, and flower buds; it must provide adequate cover from predators and a source of water. Much of the natural habitat along migration routes has been destroyed for development. Since migrating species spend almost half of the year on the move—heading north in the spring, south in the fall—the habitat they depend on for their stopovers is critical for their survival.

We can help the neotropical migrants by turning our backyards into stopover habitat. Landscape with layers of plants—tall trees, small understory trees, berry bushes, vines, briers, brambles, nectar rich flowers, and groundcover. Maintain a year round water source—a bird bath or pond—and keep your bird feeders well stocked especially during migration in spring and fall. Provide these travelers with food, water, and shelter; maybe next spring more than 50% will make their way back to us!