12.1 Million Birds Expected to Migrate Over Michigan on May 18
Michigan is set to witness a significant bird migration event on the night of Monday, May 18, 2026, with an estimated 12.1 million birds flying overhead. This marks a peak period in the spring migration season, as birds travel northward to their summer habitats. According to Purdue University's AeroEco Lab, much of Michigan is under a medium 'lights out' alert, with the western Upper Peninsula experiencing a high alert level. The alert encourages residents to turn off outdoor lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. to reduce skyglow, which can disorient migrating birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdCast Migration Dashboard reported that 16 million birds had already flown over the state the previous night, May 17. This migration is part of a broader seasonal movement that spans from March to June across the U.S. 
