Yesterday songbirds, but mainly migrating warblers were almost falling out of the sky … known as a bird fallout. I spent 90 minutes on a protected St. Louis Bay (Duluth Harbor) beach which had some small mud flats which screamed bugs (i.e. food) to the migrating birds. I saw hundreds and hundreds of warblers and most of the time they were within ten yards of me, if not closer (think a few feet). The warblers would move up and down the beach, and just ignore me … landing two feet in front of me, and then behind me. When birds are extremely hungry, almost starving, a big monster (i.e. me) is not a concern.
I discovered yesterday when I used the term “fallout” with birds many folks did not know what I was talking about. Here is my definition … others might describe a fallout better. The term refers to what happens when birds almost “fall out of the sky” during migration due to weather conditions and often a migration barrier (like a barrier of water … think Lake Superior). Here in Duluth warblers were running into dense fog, and fierce winds out of the NE off Lake Superior. The fog brings warblers out of the treetops towards the ground in their search for bugs, and the wind makes it almost impossible for them to continue their migration northwards. The beach where I was standing was protected from yesterday afternoon’s wind (35 mph as measured by a buoy just off shore), and the lower level of Lake Superior water this year also means there is a small mud flat against the harbor shore (St. Louis River Bay) with bugs. Food!
Here are some of the photographs I took yesterday during the fallout. Make certain to watch the videos! I also spent some time up at the Hartley Nature Center. There is a stream immediately next to the parking lot, and over the years I have discovered that during migration warblers love the large culvert right next to the parking lot. Once again, the protected stream as it flows through the culvert tends to have some of the first bug hatches in the area.
Hartley Nature Center Birds
American Redstart
Black and White Warbler
Veery
Park Point / Minnesota Point Birds
American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-Sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Palm Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Tennessee Warbler
And when I got home … this Scarlet Tanager was hanging out within a few feet of our living room windows … next to my feeders, on our deck’s Adirondack chairs and one of the trailcams!
2025 Minnesota Songbird / Warbler Fallout … the Movies! (video links for email subscribers: Scarlet Tanager Video | Blackburnian Warbler Video … speed reduced by a factor of two)
That’s all, folks!
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Wow! What a bonanza of warblers. We were camping at Tettegouche this weekend and found ourselves in a swarm of warblers just at dusk, foraging in the birches and big spruces around our site. Your perfect photos helped us ID several kinds! Thank you!
How exhilarating!! Beautiful! Thanks!!!
Thanks for the photos and info. I found a dead bird on the sidewalk a few days ago in downtown Duluth. Someone said it looked like a warbler. I see from your photos it was a Tennessee Warbler. Thanks for helping me identify this beautiful bird, that sadly didn’t make it.
Migration is very dangerous for birds … with widows and lights at night major dangers.
I was down at the Indian Point Campground area and it was much the same situation. We saw 22 species of warblers.
Amazing. They are “poster birds”–looking exactly like the photos in my laminated warbler pamphlet. What a joy for you! Thanks for sharing. How is the fire situation today? Are you getting any rain.
Last night there was some heavy rain, and showers today in the fire area. Things have stabilized and have not gotten worse, but there is a long way to go.
🙂
Congratulations on one of the best days in the birding year to experience. I have had the opportunity only once at Maggie Marsh in Ohio and it was like being in a domed space as the birds were just everywhere. I have never timed it just right again. Thanks for sharing Rich and have a beautiful and birdie weekend.
John
WOW, Rich! Great photos. I am sooo envious!
This is good to see. normally my oak trees in Minnetonka are full the first weeks in May and i have see a few yellow rumps and nothing else. I guess this year maybe we are not on their “path”. anyhow i’m glad to see they are showing up in the north land. I went to Vets Park in Richfield last Sunday and hardly any were there but it was also mid day and very hot.