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Using your eyes
You can see migration with your own eyes
At migration ‘hot spots’ such as Gibraltar, where thousands of birds of prey pass through every spring and autumn, observers record every one by sight. And you can do it anywhere: in London, from 24 September to 13 November 1960, a team of observers got up early every morning and recorded over 4 million migrants. Even oil rig workers have made some amazing observations, recording species such as quails and long-eared owls in the middle of the North sea!
Observatories
Observatories are special watch points set up at good migration spots where researchers can observe migrating birds. Most famous observatories in the UK are built on headlands and islands, such as Fair Isle, Dungeness and Portland Bill. Ornithologists who work at observatories also ring and study the birds that pass through.
At night
Moon watching’ is a traditional way of observing migration at night. The idea is to watch the moon during good migration conditions (a calm, clear night during spring or autumn) and to count the number of birds that you see flying across its face.
You won’t spot many, and it is hard to tell what they are. But the number gives a rough picture of the amount of migration from one night to the next. At night you can also listen out for the contact calls of flocks migrating overhead, such as the seep seep of redwings.
Last modified: 11 January 2005