SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN • MILLER BEACH

Miller Beach
Migration Explorer

Follow fall migration at Indiana's corner of Lake Michigan. Explore iconic birds, discover the remarkable jaeger passage, and check the north wind before heading to the lakefront.

Explore Jaeger Passage ↓ 3-Day Migration Outlook
Parasitic Jaeger in flight at Miller Beach
Parasitic Jaeger • Miller Beach • Photo: John Cassady

CHECK THE NORTH WIND

Miller Beach Migration Outlook

North winds can push migrating birds toward the southern tip of Lake Michigan and make Miller Beach come alive.

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Live forecast supplied by Open-Meteo. View detailed forecast →

THE HEADLINERS

Indiana's Jaeger Passage

Long-tailed Jaegers lead the passage in late summer, Parasitics define the heart of the season, and Pomarines bring up the late flight. Jaeger passage spans mid-August through November. Many distant birds remain unidentified, so the full story includes every jaeger. Click a card below to see that species' migration timing.

All Jaegers

Percentage of Fall Waterbird Survey checklists that recorded the species each week

JulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovember

All Jaegers

The complete picture of Indiana's jaeger passage, including unidentified distant birds.

Long-tailed Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger

The early bird of Indiana's jaeger passage, with the strongest movement concentrated toward the front of the season.

Photo: John Cassady
Parasitic Jaeger

Parasitic Jaeger

The regular headliner, relatively speaking, and the species most likely to reward a well-timed Miller Beach lakewatch.

Photo: John Cassady
Pomarine Jaeger

Pomarine Jaeger

The late-season heavyweight. Pomarines tend to arrive after the main Long-tailed and Parasitic passage.

Photo: John Cassady

ICONIC FALL BIRDS

What else flies past?

Choose a Miller Beach specialty and see when Indiana Audubon's fall records put it on the move.

SPECIES EXPLORER

Sanderling

—peak window
—survey records

JulAugSepOctNov

WHY MILLER BEACH?

Where the lake funnels fall migration

At the southern tip of Lake Michigan, migrating birds moving down the lake meet Indiana's shoreline. When fall winds come out of the north, Miller Beach can offer a front-row seat to an extraordinary flight of jaegers, loons, grebes, ducks, gulls, terns, shorebirds and other migrants.

Explore the Kenneth J. Brock Fall Waterbird Survey → Lake Street Beach on eBird → Marquette Park on eBird →
Map showing Miller Beach and Marquette Park at the southern tip of Lake Michigan
Marquette Park, Gary — View on Google Maps

KEEP THE COUNT FLYING

See the migration. Support the science.

The Kenneth J. Brock Fall Waterbird Survey documents one of Indiana's most remarkable migration corridors. Help keep the count going.