by Lydia Holley September 1, 2025
Birds have begun their annual migration southward. More than nine million birds having passed over Henderson County since August 1, and that number will continue to rise in October and November. With over 30,000 birds flying over us each night, you may wonder what you can do to help our feathered friends.
Many gardeners feed the hummingbirds in the summer. Now that it is fall, you may notice more hummingbirds on your feeders. According to hummingbirdcentral.com, August and September are peak times for hummingbirds to visit feeders traveling southward. They fly during the day and eat in the early mornings and late afternoons. You can make certain you keep your feeders full. Plantings such as abelia, crossvine, flame acanthus, lantana, salvia, turk’s cap, and other plants that bloom during this period will also help replenish their energy needs.
As for other birds, it has been found that many do not stop here and there. The American Bird Conservancy states, “individual birds often take long, multi-day breaks at just three or four key points during their migration.” So, put out extra feed if it is being used, but the most helpful thing you can do for migrating birds is to turn off any unnecessary lights, both inside and out. That is because many birds migrate at night.
Some of the birds that fly over Henderson County while most people are sleeping include: Baltimore oriole, blue grosbeak, dickcissel, eastern kingbird, eastern wood-pewee, great crested flycatcher, green heron, summer tanager, yellow-billed cuckoo, and several warblers. For windows where light is necessary, place decals on the glass or cover it with stained glass or artwork. This is not a small problem. Up to one billion birds die from a window collision in the United States every year.
We share our landscapes with butterflies, moths, frogs, lizards, and birds. Many gardeners try to attract these creatures to our gardens. With many of our featured friends leaving us for the winter, it would be nice to do everything in our power to make their trip as safe as possible. Then, they can return to our gardens next year.
Henderson County Master Gardener Association provides multiple resources at its website: https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/ or direct questions by calling the county extension office at 903-675-6130.
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