The 14 species of warblers seen this week shows that songbird migration has increased tremendously.

During their northward migration and the nesting season, we hear birds before we see them because birds are singing to defend their territory and attract mates.

It is August and the nesting season is winding down.

The excitement started on a Thursday afternoon, July 25, when John Nelson texted me about his sighting of a ferruginous hawk that he just saw at Katama Farm.

A white-throated sparrow had never been seen before in July.

It is the baby bird time of the year. Many of these youngsters do not look like their parents and may not have grown all their feathers yet.

The generosity and compassion of the late reknowned Island naturalist and teacher Gus BenDavid had a huge impact on the people and natural history of the Vineyard. Gus always seemed to be interested in sharing his natural history knowledge and experience with any and all.

There are young birds in our yards, woods, fields and on our beaches. Their antics are fun to watch and their presence confirms that this species has indeed nested here.

A fork-tailed flycatcher is not supposed to be here, as their northernmost population is in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

The northward migration is over for all practical purposes and now all birds in the northern hemisphere are nesting and raising their next generation.