Announcing the Results of the Fall 2025 Migratory Bird Count
We are excited to share the results of this year’s Fall 2025 Migratory Bird Count. With the help of our wonderful volunteers, we recorded 41 bird species, which is right in line with the long-term average of about 40 species for the fall season.
This year’s count had some exciting highlights. A bobolink was recorded calling in flight over the Parade Grounds, and we saw more ruby-throated hummingbirds and northern harriers than in previous years. At the same time, a few species were noticeably absent, including yellow warblers, most sparrows aside from the song sparrow, and the swallows that are usually common on the island.
The slightly lower number compared to last year’s 45 species and 50 species in 2023 may be explained by a few different factors. As many participants noted, the season felt quieter overall, since birds are less vocal during fall migration than they are in the spring. Weather and climate patterns also play a role. Prolonged summer temperatures, drought in New England, and the effects of El Niño across North America can all influence when different species decide to move south.
In addition to the official count, we also kept a running count throughout the weekend, which brought our total up to 52 species. Beyond the birds, we recorded around 26 monarch butterflies and were greeted by fields of goldenrod, both promising signs of migration still to come.
One of the best parts of this year’s event was the community that came together! We were thrilled to welcome 13 participants on Saturday, which was our largest turnout yet. Thank you to everyone who joined us and brought such energy and enthusiasm to the day. And to our regulars who couldn’t make it this year, you were missed!
Why Bird Counts Matter
Annual bird counts give us a chance to connect with nature while also helping us better understand the rhythms of migration and the health of our local ecosystems. Each year of observations adds to a long-term record that supports conservation efforts and deepens our appreciation for the island’s biodiversity.
Here is the list of species we encountered in our Fall 2025 Migratory Bird Count.
| Fall 2025 Bird Count |
|---|
| American crow |
| American goldfinch |
| American kestrel* |
| American robin |
| Bald eagle* |
| Baltimore oriole |
| Black-and-white warbler |
| Black-capped chickadee |
| Blue jay |
| Bobolink |
| Brant* |
| Canada goose* |
| Carolina wren |
| Cedar waxwing |
| Common eider |
| Common raven |
| Common tern* |
| Common yellowthroat |
| Double-crested cormorant |
| Downy woodpecker |
| Eastern phoebe |
| Eastern towhee |
| European starling |
| Gray catbird |
| Great black-backed gull* |
| Great blue heron |
| Great-crested flycatcher |
| Great egret |
| Green heron |
| Herring gull |
| House wren |
| Laughing gull* |
| Mallard* |
| Mourning dove |
| Mute swan |
| Northern cardinal |
| Northern flicker |
| Northern harrier |
| Northern mockingbird |
| Northern parula |
| Osprey |
| Palm warbler |
| Pine warbler* |
| Red-bellied woodpecker |
| Rock dove* |
| Ruby-throated hummingbird |
| Snowy egret* |
| Song sparrow |
| Tufted titmouse |
| Veery |
| White-breasted nuthatch |
| White-eyed vireo |
Bluebird Boxes
This shallow pool of water shows the kind of environment where mosquitoes thrive. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs on still water, and larvae hatch and develop there. While Suffolk County Vector Control monitors natural wetlands, in backyards the biggest problem often comes from containers like buckets, flowerpots, clogged gutters, and even bottlecaps.
In this dipper sample, you can see mosquito larvae (sometimes called “wigglers”). They spend their early life in water, feeding on organic matter and surfacing to breathe. By sampling larvae, Vector Control can determine where mosquitoes are breeding and act early to prevent them from maturing into biting adults.
