Turners Falls in Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Songbirds
Neotropical Migrants
“Over increasingly large areas of the United States, spring now comes unheralded by the return of the birds, and the early mornings are now strangely silent, where once they were filled with the beauty of bird song”
Silent Spring, published in 1962 Rachel Carson
Every spring and fall, birds we call neotropical migrants fly thousands of miles between breeding areas in North America and wintering grounds in Central and South America. They migrate following cues such as the sun and stars, visual landmarks, the earth’s magnetic field, and gravity. Neotropcal migrants include some of the most common species such as warblers, vireos, hummingbirds, shorebirds, and some birds of prey.
Neotropical migrants show us how healthy our environment is. Populations of many of these birds have been declining because of habitat loss from forest destruction, wetland drainage, and urban growth—both in North America and in their wintering habitat in developing Latin American countries. Other factors include pollution, especially from pesticides, human disturbance, and predators, including the common house cat.
Recently, the plight of neotropical migrants has gained attention, and programs focusing on these birds have begun.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.
Location. 42° 36.567′ N, 72° 33.317′ W. Marker is in Montague, Massachusetts, in Franklin County. It is in Turners Falls. Marker is at the intersection of Avenue A and 1st Street on Avenue A. The marker is on the grounds of the Great Falls Discovery Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Avenue A, Turners Falls MA 01376, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Waterfowl Migration (here, next to this marker); Nature's Puzzle (within shouting distance of this marker); Riverside Village Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Captain William Turner (approx. 0.4 miles away); Factory Hollow (approx. half a mile away); U.S. Post Office (approx. 2.6 miles away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); Leavitt-Hovey House 1797 (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montague.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 446 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 8, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.