Starting the day we arrived on the island, we have been keeping track of all the bird species that we’ve seen. In just over two weeks, our list has exceeded fifty different bird species! The majority of them are migrants — birds that are passing through on their way to their summer homes. Offshore islands provide valuable stopover points for migrating birds to rest and refuel during their long journeys to or from breeding grounds. Oftentimes birds also get blown off course by foul weather and will spend several days on Petit Manan Island waiting out storms, high winds, or fog.
Migration season is a fun and exciting time of year because it is possible to observe birds that might otherwise be difficult to spot (like the Brown Thrasher), birds that are outside their normal habitats (like the Red-Breasted Nuthatch), and birds flocking together during their travels that would not normally be in close association (like the White-throated and Chipping Sparrows).
Don’t let us make you think that Petit Manan gets all the cool birds — keep an eye out on the mainland, even in your own backyard, for colorful and interesting migrants!
Photos of Migrant Birds Spotted on Petit Manan Island
