The Indiana Dunes Longshore Flight Survey hit a new high this past Friday, marking the most impressive migration count of the season thus far. With warming temperatures and strong south winds, birds took full advantage of the favorable conditions, resulting in the highest species count and individual totals recorded this spring. Over 20,000 birds representing 63 species streamed past the Longshore Birding Platform, underscoring the spectacle of spring migration at the dunes.
Lapland Longspurs Put on a Show
Among the many highlights of the day was the movement of 371 Lapland Longspurs, the second-highest spring count ever recorded for the dunes. While flocks of over 1,000 are not uncommon further downstate, this number represents a significant flight for the lakeshore region. Longspurs, along with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, are emblematic of early-season migration, with their numbers peaking before the arrival of more colorful songbirds in April.
Blackbird Migration in Full Swing
Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Common Grackles dominated the day’s count, with tens of thousands funneling northward. The sheer volume of blackbird migration is always an impressive sight at this time of year, as massive flocks create an almost continuous stream over the dunes. Among the key numbers from Friday:
- 11,978 Red-winged Blackbirds
- 5,194 Common Grackles
- 592 Brown-headed Cowbirds
- 436 Rusty Blackbirds
While always difficult to count, a few Rusty Blackbirds could be heard in nearly every passing flock today.
Diverse Species and First-of-Season Arrivals
While blackbirds made up a large portion of the count, a variety of other species joined the migration push. Raptors, waterfowl, and early passerines all saw notable increases in numbers, including:
- 46 Killdeer – A sure sign that spring is advancing.
- 19 American Kestrels – One of the first big kestrel days of the season.
- 2 Merlin – These small but fierce falcons are always a treat to see in migration.
- 157 European Starlings – Boo!
Looking Ahead
With migration now fully underway, we anticipate more first-of-season arrivals in the coming week. Eastern Phoebes, Tree Swallows, and early warblers will begin filtering in, while waterfowl numbers should peak soon.
You can follow our daily tallies on the March eBird Trip Report, where we update our migration totals in real time. As always, we invite birders to join us at the Longshore Birding Platform to witness this migration spectacle firsthand.
Tags: longshore flight survey
