Historic Bird Migration Record Set Ahead of October Big Day

Mérida, Yucatán — A new bird migration record was registered this week by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the United States: 1.250 billion birds crossed the North American sky heading towards Mexico and South America in a spectacular nocturnal wave marking the start of the great fall migration season.

The phenomenon, known as the "Billion Bird Night Club," occurs every year during the transit of species towards warmer climates. However, this 2025 has broken the historic record for the second time, surpassing the previous record from September 25, when 1.200 billion birds were counted flying south.

According to records from the NEXRAD weather radar system, the world's largest network, the migratory current covered the entire United States territory, from New England to Texas, with a direction towards Mexico and Central America. A significant portion of these birds will arrive in the Yucatán Peninsula, including species such as the painted bunting, blue grosbeak, and the rose-breasted grosbeak.

Yucatán Joins Global Observation

In this context, Yucatán will participate this Saturday, October 11, in the October Big Day, a global day of bird observation and registration in which conservationists, researchers, and citizens document migratory and native species using the Merlin Bird ID and eBird applications.

The initiative, promoted by the Cornell Lab, is considered one of the largest citizen science events on the planet. In the state, the TOH Bird Festival, the Xocen Birding Trail Ecotourism Reserve, the Celestún Birding Club, the Cha'an Ch'íich' Association, as well as photographers, environmentalists, and independent observers will join.

With this participation, Yucatán reaffirms its role as one of the main bird watching points on the continent, in a migration season that this year promises to break all records.