Feathered friends on the move: catch the fall bird migration in Mississauga

As fall begins to settle over Mississauga, it’s the perfect time to dust off your binoculars and enjoy some birdwatching during the annual fall bird migration. Birds migrate across continents like North America, relying on safe stopovers in cities like Mississauga. This year, more than 200 bird species will be passing through Mississauga and its surrounding regions, heading south to their winter habitats in the southern United States, Caribbean, and even tropical regions.

Birds are extremely important to our ecosystems, serving as indicators of environmental health and contributing to the City’s biodiversity. They help with pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal and support and maintain the City’s natural areas. Birds are sensitive to environmental changes. A decline in bird populations often signals broader ecological problems. North America has lost nearly three billion birds since 1970 due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

Which birds migrate through Mississauga?

Mississauga boasts a vibrant ecosystem along the Credit River, numerous local creeks, and the expansive shoreline of Lake Ontario. This fall, keep an eye out for these notable migratory species:

• Baybreasted Warbler
• Scarlet Tanager
• Yellowrumped Warbler
• Redeyed Vireo
• Rubycrowned Kinglet
• Winter Wren

Birds typically begin their migration in the fall for several reasons. Their journey is influenced by innate signals:

• maturing young who can now fend for themselves
• shorter daylight hours and earlier sunsets
• cooler temperatures
• limited food supplies due to the fall harvest

Many birds migrate at night, using the stars and moonlight to guide them. For the best viewing experience, plan to observe the migration late at night, from early September through mid November.

Best parks for birdwatching in Mississauga

Mississauga offers several fantastic locations to witness these migrations up close. Here are some top spots to consider:

• Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
• Lakefront Promenade
• Riverwood
• Meadowvale Conservation
• Osprey Marsh
• Saigon Park

Tips to protect birds during the fall migration in Mississauga

Since Mississauga is a major flyway for many migrating bird species, here’s how you can help ensure a safe journey for them:

• Make windows bird-safe by using decals, screens, or patterned films to prevent birds from flying into windows.
• Keep cats indoors. In some cases, when they are let outdoors, cats can be threatening to birds, smaller animals and other wildlife like reptiles.
• Provide shelter by planting flowers and bushes to keep migrating birds safe from the weather and provide a place to hide from prey.
• Avoid pesticides on your gardens and lawns, as chemicals can be harmful to birds and their food sources (e.g. prey they eat like insects).
• Dim nighttime lights as bright lights can disorient migrating birds. If you can, try turning off outdoor lighting.
• Offer clean water in shallow dishes help birds stay hydrated.

Expand your bird knowledge

If you’re eager to learn more about our feathered friends, visit one of Mississauga’s local libraries, either in person or online. They provide an array of resources, including insightful books about birds and birdwatching techniques.

There are other insightful digital resources available that can help you learn more about birds in Canada.

• eBird – this is a great resource for tracking your bird sightings and accessing data about bird populations in parks and natural areas throughout the city.
• Merlin Bird ID app – developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this app helps you identify birds by photo, sound, or description.
• Birds Canada – offers citizen science programs, webinars, and conservation updates tailored to Canadian birders.
• iNaturalist – log your sightings and contribute to biodiversity research while connecting with a global community of nature lovers.

Should you encounter any birds that appear sick, injured, or distressed, please reach out to Animal Services at 905-869-5858 for assistance. Remember to avoid feeding birds, think twice before you toss that next breadcrumb as feeding birds can do more harm than good.

To learn more about City parks or to find a local green space near you, visit mississauga.ca/parks.

Tags

• Animal Services
• Wildlife and Pets