Nothing Like a Road Trip to Appreciate Bird Migration
August 26, 2026
by Jeff and Allison Wells
Earlier this month, like early migrating birds, we traveled south from Maine to North Carolina—hardly the time of year when most Mainers head south. Despite what we told ourselves, nothing prepared us for the sweltering, high-nineties temperatures and swamp-like humidity in the Tar Heel State this time of year. But we made the trek to help our son move and settle in for the start of his education at Duke Law School.
Despite our complaints about the heat, we were impressed with how tree-covered that part of North Carolina appears to be. We could feel nature calling to us. Unfortunately, we didn’t have as much time as we’d hoped to look for birds. But we enjoyed what time we did have experiencing them in a new place.
Finding birds wasn’t easy, since very few birds are still singing in August. Those we heard were mostly the same species we see here in Maine—American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse.
On a late afternoon one day, we made time to wander the mixed woods near some containment ponds at Duke Law School, which is situated on a very leafy and beautiful part of the campus. Tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatchers wheezed from the sweetgums; Gray Catbirds mewed from the thickets, and overhead in a tall pine, nestling Great Blue Herons clattered noisily while an adult stood on the edge of their large, stick nest. Carolina Chickadees busied themselves among the leaves and branches of the forest, sounding quite similar to “our” Black-capped Chickadees, the nearest populations of which are hundreds of miles away in the mountains of western North Carolina.
We also spent part of an afternoon in the famous Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The lush flower blossoms were filled with butterflies as visitors from around the world marveled and at least one large wedding party assembled for photos. Amid the heat advisory in place for much of the nation, we were amazed to hear and see at least a few birds doing what they do despite the heat. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds buzzed around the gardens; a Northern Mockingbird flew into a bush and began picking off and swallowing the small berries. High above, an Osprey incessantly called—perhaps a young one learning to fly but still begging from its parents? American Robins squealed. We found a bench in the cool shade and sat for a few minutes listening to some more Carolina Chickadees.
Our migration back from North Carolina last week, made over two days, brought with it the typical trials and tribulations: traffic congestion and rainstorms causing slowdowns, confusing exit directions, lines at gas stations, traffic accidents (thankfully, not involving us!), bad food.
We were thrilled when we crossed the bridge into Maine and even more so when we arrived home soon after and have been loving the cooler weather since.
Since then, while walking our dog one late afternoon near our house, we heard the unmistakable “bink” calls of several Bobolinks heading south high overhead. That night, we heard the short, high-pitched night flight calls of migrating warblers.
Fall bird migration has begun.
Thinking back, the hardships of our “migration” back to Maine from North Carolina pale in comparison to what these migrating birds are facing.
Sure, they have the avian equivalent of restaurants along the way, but it’s got to be challenging for them to find them. For a warbler, that may be a forested park or even just a tree-lined street in heavily urbanized places like those we drove through in New York and New Jersey. For a Lesser Yellowlegs or a Solitary Sandpiper, the “restaurant” takes the form of a shallow wetland. A flock of Red Knots or Semipalmated Sandpipers must dine at a coastal mudflat or beach.
Chimney Swifts will need a place where there are lots of high-flying insects. What will be trickier, though, will be finding the avian equivalent of the good hotel. They spend their nights roosting in tall chimneys or tall, hollow trees, both of which could be harder to find than a room at a favorite hotel on a busy summer travel day. For the swift, not finding the right place could expose them to the elements or put them at risk from predators. They may even find that they have to keep flying into the night, without any rest whatsoever.
Our travel adventure made us appreciate how good we actually have it, even when we’re inconvenienced. Nothing like a road trip to deepen our respect for birds and their migration!
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