The US is approaching peak bird migration season, and CornellLab's BirdCast migration tracker offers an interesting peek at just how many birds are flying through local skies each night.

When is peak migration in Knoxville?

CornellLab calculates that Sept. 17 through Oct. 13 are the peak migration dates for Knox County in particular.

Currently, the BirdCast model is predicting low or medium migration intensities overnight in Knoxville — you can keep updated on the migration forecast online, or sign up for local email alerts to notify you when the migration forecast is high.

By the numbers

13+ million | Estimated number of total birds that have crossed Knox County this season, as of Sept. 10
458,000 | Estimated number of birds that crossed Knox County the night of Sept. 10

Using the data

For birders in the area, this data can help plan trips — the mornings following heavy overnight migration are often best for birding. This Fall Migration Birding Walk at Seven Islands State Birding Park will take place in the middle of peak migration season, for instance.

Others can keep migration in mind when the clock strikes nighttime; from roughly 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during peak migration season, you're encouraged to turn out the lights to protect migratory birds.