Here’s When Michigan Will Start Sounding Like Spring Again

This morning, when I heard that it was going to be nearly 70°, I sort of just shrugged because I didn't want to get my hopes up. Michigan is known for its "false springs", where it gets very warm, warm enough to give you hope that winter is over, before temperatures come crashing down as a bitter reminder that it is, indeed, still winter.

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But today wasn't one of those days. Grass is getting greener, and I turned my heat off, and I'm driving with the windows down. But one thing is missing: birdsong. 

Thankfully, we don't need to wait too long: bird migration has already begun, and it won't be long until all birds return. Here are the dates for spring migration in Michigan.

Michigan Spring Bird Migration: What To Know

As temperatures begin to rise, birds that migrated south follow the heat and their prey back up north. According to the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), migration begins around early March with waterfowl (ducks, geese, etc.) and raptors like the Red-shouldered Hawk, and progresses through mid-April.

READ MORE: These Birds Are Returning to Michigan for Spring 2025

However, you'll need to wait a bit still to be woken up by birdsongs. The bird species that are most known for their singing, warblers, orioles, and vireos, don't begin arriving until mid-April, but really start showing up in droves in the first two weeks of May. 

But the thing about bird migration is that millions of birds migrate every night, and websites like Birdcast provide real-time maps showing migration across the country.

So in some migrations, once you notice one species of bird, you'll quickly notice many more. If there is a specific bird species you're wondering about, the BSBO has full bird profiles available for free.

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