It’s that time of the year again! Summer has passed us by, ending with hot scorching days, only to usher in cool crisp mornings and comfortable breezy days. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. We often enjoy the obvious benefits of this season, the colorful foliage and the abundance of the harvest. But have you noticed the transients? Yes, there are others besides Grandma and Grandpa who have southern climes on their minds.

More than half the bird species that breed in North America spend part of every year in warmer climates. That means that 350 species that nest in Canada and the U.S. make a long journey thousands of miles to their winter homes in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. These birds are known as Neotropical migrants. A growing number of these birds are in trouble! Some species populations have declined by as much as 75% in the last 25 years. Nineteen of these Neotropicals that nest in Midwestern states have been identified as endangered or threatened. Local Neotropicals include the Brown Thrasher and the Belles Vireo.

The Kickapoo River Watershed provides critical foraging, nesting and breeding habitat and is a part of the greater Upper Mississippi River bluffland region. These blufflands that tower over an abundant supply of water, provided by the regions many tributaries, are a key migratory route. With continual pressures from agriculture and development comes an increased impact on vital habitat. If we do not consider how we can improve or manage the remaining habitat, through sound environmental stewardship practices, we may lose an important part of these unique biological systems. The three primary threats include loss of existing habitat, fragmentation, and changes in quality.

But there is hope! Over 90% of the bluffland region is forested lands that are privately owned. That’s where we can make a difference as stewards of that which has been entrusted to us! Please consider what you can do to help these part-time residents of our backyards. For more information on how you can maintain or improve habitat on your property, contact Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Audubon Society, WI DNR, or myself at VSN.