CHENANGO COUNTY — The evening sky may have seemed quiet earlier this week but within the shadows of the night's glimmering stars and moon, the fall bird migration started with about 440,000,000 birds headed south.

According to BirdCast, a bird migration tracking platform, from 7 p.m., September 2, until 6:30 a.m., September 3, there were 81,900 birds migrating through Chenango County.

Meteorologists noted peak migration was at 12:00 a.m, September 3, with 56,700 birds in flight. Their speed was clocked at 11 miles per hour at an altitude at 2,600 feet.

The largest number of nocturnal bird migration happens about two to three hours after sunset and includes a variety of Warblers, the Eastern Kingbird, Baltimore Orioles, Bobolink, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and more.

“Fall migration is an amazing time of the year as millions of neotropical migrants stream overhead southward at night using a combination of the setting sun, constellations, and magnetic north on their way back to their wintering grounds,” said Matthew A. Young, Cornell Instructor, Conservation Ecologist and Author.

Young said the magical seasonal spectacle happens every year in both spring and fall.

"It is peak season now for the neotropical migrants, and later in the season, near when fall migration winds down in November and December, the finches, which are diurnal migrants, start to head southward as they leave the boreal forest," said Young.

SUNY Morrisville English Teacher and Chenango County Bird Club member Michael Foor-Pessin said in South Otselic, bird migration is well under way.

"Shortly after dusk, I'm hearing flocks of Canada Geese fly over," said Foor-Pessin. "For the most part, my Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have just left."

He said the number of hummingbirds have also greatly reduced, yet currently new birds are arriving.

"Today I had a Palm Warbler," Foor-Pessin said. "Some other varieties of Warblers will be moving through as well."

Foor-Pessin noted he saw the first Chipping Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows and soon envisions the arrival of the first White-crowned Sparrows.

He said another interesting feature of birding at this time of year is watching the number of juvenile birds and birds that are molting.

"My Bluejays and Northern Cardinals are still molting and looking rough," Foor-Pessin said.

Foor-Pessin mentioned he has a lot of juvenile Mourning Doves and Grackles and is enjoying the antics of his four juvenile House Finches that hang together all day.

With the increase of American Goldfinch and Purple Finches, he is reminded that although he is saddened by the departure of the spring and summer species, he is also excited about the new arrivals. 

"This pattern of leaving and arriving is reassuring to me that the cycle and rhythm of nature continue unabated," he added.

To track bird migration, visit BirdCast Live on Facebook.

For additional bird information, visit the Cornell Lab All About Birds website at www.allaboutbirds.org/news/.