A Harris’s sparrow is shown. (Scot Stewart photo)

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward

Birds are ever the realists. During migration, the winds of the changing seasons always seem to keep birds at their best. This past week brought bold, steady winds for several days to remind even the most stubborn doubters autumn had arrived. Trees were readied for winter by lightening their branches load of unwanted leaves. Temperatures found their way back down to regions where they could find their frosty magic on early morning grasses and shrubs. Young birds were given lessons on how posture themselves and keep their balance and stand into the winds while resting on the beach.

No place is better for finding out how well young birds are weathering the blustery conditions than the beach, and in Marquette it is often at the mouth of the Dead River. Hundreds of gulls were there this past Tuesday as the storm winds combined with intermittent showers to making flying under control almost impossible. Birds settled in facing the west wind, so in the event of trouble they could rise up quickly into the gale and depart. They sat patiently in the wind, facing into it to avoid the flutter of wingtips caught in the gusts, knowing the wind would eventually gear back down to more manageable levels.

Along with hundreds of the summer-resident ring-billed and herring gulls there have been a few wandering gulls from other areas dropping in to join the throngs. A gorgeous adult lesers black-backed gull was seen at the Dead River this past week. When conditions challenge flight, some, like the lesser and greater black-backs, glaucous and iceland occasionally appear in the area, usually for just a day or two, then leave. There has been good reason to be at the ready as predators have been busy patrolling the area.

On the Lower Harbor breakwall the feathery remains of a young gull were found last Sunday. Both bald eagles and peregrine falcons have maintained regular hunting beats along the shore, and both are capable of taking unhealthy or careless birds. Inland, predators have been on patrol too. A Cooper’s hawk spent last Sunday cruising the areas where feeding stations have been busy on Marquette’s East Side, looking for careless songbirds. One mourning dove became a meal for the hawk in a vacant lot near some feeders.

There have been plenty of other songbirds moving through as the final waves of migrants of several groups start to wind down. Sparrows, particularly white-throated, white-crowned and dark-eyed juncos have descended into the Upper Peninsula this past week and always offer the joy of one last look a flocks of songbirds together, occasionally singing, and occasionally bring along a friend or two to liven things up.

Flocks of sparrows are frequently made of a few adults and lots of offspring from the summer. As they travel, feed, rest, and avoid trouble, they often communicate with short notes to let each other know what is happening. Young birds also practice songs they have heard during the summer, so occasionally there are short refrains of their songs, usually needing lots of work to sound like the adult version. The song fragments can be quite entertaining and can be difficult to identify if the young bird is not in view.

During migration, sparrows from Canada move through the Upper Peninsula , in groups, sometimes numbering into the hundreds at places like Whitefish Point. In the central U.P. flocks of 50 or more can be found where there is a significant amount of food available over a larger area with cover nearby. One of the best places in the fall is at Presque Isle Park in Marquette. The area between the bog and the old pool area has a number of weedy spots where sparrows, mostly ground feeders, can find seed.

Noting this favored spot, birders have added to the seed, establishing a feeding station at the edge of the parking lot near the ice cream stand and across from the larger marina parking lot. For a number of years, it has attracted the more common sparrow species but has from time to time included clay-colored, chipping, swamp, vesper, fox, Lincoln’s, song and American tree sparrows. Occasionally though a rarer species not normally seen in this flyway many follow a flock though, much to the delight of those fortunate enough to see it. Lark buntings, lark sparrow,s and Harris’s sparrows have all funneled through the area in different year. This week a Harris’s sparrow has been followed at Presque Isle with a large flock of the more common species.

Harris’s sparrow is a unique species, as it is the only bird with a summer range only in Canada. A larger sparrow with mostly gray and black markings in summer, it has a black “necklace” in nonbreeding plumage to help it stand out for identification.

Most frequently seen with white-crowned sparrows, it can sit low to the ground and forage carefully over a smaller area, making it easy to overlook. Several years ago, half a dozen were seen together at Presque Isle and several more were seen at other sites around town. Marquette can go several years though without a sighting. Other flocks were reported in Manistique on Tuesday. Large number of sandhill cranes, broad-winged hawks, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, blue jays and accipiters — mostly sharp-shins, were followed along the Lake Michigan shoreline, following favorable winds. So, find out what is in the wind near you!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Scot Stewart is a teacher at Bothwell Middle School in Marquette and a freelance photographer.