Formerly known as the “Spring Migration Dashboard,” the Illinois Audubon Society’s Migration Dashboard will continue to track the arrival of new species into the state this year.
After a two month drought, we have finally picked up another two species. The two new species are White Ibis, seen in Brown County on 8/4, and Swallow-tailed Kite, seen in Coles County on 8/5. The two are the first new species for the state this year since 30 May.
This is the first time over the last 6 years (2015-2020) that we have not seen a new species during June and July.
The two bring the state total to 322 species for the year, which is three species behind the 325 mark we were at in both 2019 and 2018 on this date and ahead of the 320 we were at in 2017 at this time of year. Over the last few years we have seen 336 to 342 species in Illinois on an annual basis, so we should have 15-20 more species to go yet this year.
Check the Migration Dashboard often to see what is moving through.