NSBS Sep 24, 2026: An Introduction to Nocturnal Bird Migration

An Introduction to Nocturnal Bird Migration, the Identification of Flight Calls, and the Conservation of Stopover Habitat. We are now experiencing perhaps the most exciting time of the year for birding: the autumn migration. Population numbers are at their peak; the species present change daily; the season runs from July to November; and the chances of finding a vagrant spike. Migration is also the most dangerous time of year for birds, with mortality rates 6 to 15 times higher than during the breeding and overwintering seasons. Migratory birds try to mitigate this risk by flying at night. Migration is hazardous, but we are making it even worse. In this month’s meeting of the Nova Scotia Bird Society, Dr. John Kearney will describe the phenomenon of nocturnal bird migration, its advantages and threats, how you can bird the night sky for common and vagrant birds with your ears and inexpensive equipment, and perhaps most importantly, how you can help birds flourish during this spectacular semiannual event. Dr. Kearney is a social anthropologist who spent 30 years working for the sustainable development of small fishing and Indigenous communities on Canada’s three coasts, and in Latin America, South Africa, and Asia. Upon retirement, he worked as a consultant to the wind energy industry, conducting avian risk assessments for proposed wind farms. He is responsible for making the use of acoustic nocturnal monitoring a required component of environmental assessments in the industry. From 2019 to 2026, he had a grant from the federal and provincial governments to advance the use of bioacoustics in biodiversity conservation. He is currently an adjunct professor in the Marine Affairs program at Dalhousie University and serves on its research ethics committee.