Nature never ceases to amaze me. NEVER!
Just when I think I have witnessed something extraordinary, nature reminds me that there is always more to discover.
During my visits to the refuge in late summer, I began noticing changes. Shorebirds were appearing along the water's edge, and egrets were gathering in numbers I had never witnessed before. It was AMAZING!
Egrets migrating thru the refuge.
And then there were the Tree Swallows.
I had my action camera recording as I drove through the refuge, hoping to see them. And suddenly, there they were! So many swallows were flying across the road that I actually stopped my car. I sat there watching, completely in awe of their movements, their sounds, and the sheer number of them.
It was a reminder that something remarkable was taking place. Fall migration had begun.
Thousands of Tree Swallows migrating thru the refuge.
But what fascinates me even more is why and how birds make these incredible journeys.
Every year, millions of birds travel hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds.
While we are sleeping, the skies above us are filled with birds making their way across the country, guided by instincts that have developed over countless generations.
This is incredible, when you think about it.
For many birds, migration is a matter of survival. As the seasons change, so do their food sources and the conditions they need to thrive. Changes in daylight help signal when it is time to begin their journeys.
Scientists and conservationists encourage us to turn off unnecessary outdoor lights during migration season. These lights can disorient birds traveling at night, and something as simple as turning off a light can help them on their incredible journey.
I find that absolutely fascinating.
What I have come to appreciate through wildlife photography and filmmaking is that nature is constantly telling a story. Sometimes the changes are subtle. Other times, as with thousands of Tree Swallows gathering above the refuge, they are impossible to miss.
But we have to be willing to slow down, observe, and pay attention.
The more time I spend in nature, the more I realize how much there is still to learn.
I recently created a short film, Fall Migration Begins at the Refuge | Egrets,Tree Swallows & More, sharing some of these remarkable moments. I also included the natural sounds of the egrets, recorded right there at the refuge.
I hope you will take a few moments to watch, listen, and experience a little of what I was so fortunate to witness.
Nature never stops amazing me. And I hope it never does.
Watch my latest film: Fall Migration Begins at the Refuge | Egrets and Tree Swallows