Matt Salerno, Headwaters Bird Alliance

September brings peak raptor and songbird migration to the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau, highlighted by Hawk Migration Week from September 12–20, when Broad‑winged Hawks, warblers, and other species move through the region.

Chimney Swifts, once reliant on old‑growth forests, now seek refuge in chimneys and conservation‑built towers, a story highlighted by the Headwaters Bird Alliance’s Swift Soiree on August 29.

On spring and summer nights, the elusive eastern whippoorwill fills the Highlands‑Cashiers air with its namesake call, a reminder of a species both magical and increasingly at risk. Conservation groups like the Headwaters Bird Alliance rely on local sightings to help protect this declining bird.

A master of the high canopy, the Scarlet Tanager brings color, song, and a touch of mystery to our summer woods.