Bird watching by moonlight

Tonight is the night of the Hunter’s Moon and it looks lovely.

This is the full moon whose light hunters found ideal for shooting night-flying migrating birds in Northern Europe.  Native American Indians also called this the hunter’s moon when they could more easily stalk prey to stockpile provisions for the coming winter.

Spring and Autumn bird migrations are exciting times for birdwatchers.  They are made more fascinating by the knowledge that there are a great many bird species that fly at night navigating by the stars.

A full moon diminishes birds’ ability to orient to the stars since it lights the skies so brightly.  But a full moon offers bird watchers with the right telescopic equipment the opportunity to observe birds flying against its brightness as a backdrop.  In fact, there are formal studies and academic research papers written about bird counts observed against a full moon.  The best observations being during spring and fall full moons when birds migrate by the millions.

I could write on and on.  There is a lot to know about birding by the light of the full moon.  But rather than bore you with ramblings of what I’ve read, I selected a couple of sites I thought you would find of interest.

For your further reading pleasure:

 “Moon-Watching” Studying Birds that Migrate at Night

A Building Less Bright:  Chicago Skyscrapers Go Dark for Migratory Birds

And finally, for those who’ve reached a certain age, you may recall birdwatching by moonlight of a different kind when you take a listen here.

Whatever kind of birds you watch — happy moonlight birding!