Protecting Migratory Birds

Here on Martha’s Vineyard, we wake up to birdsong.

It’s easy to take that for granted—the warble of a songbird in the morning fog, the sudden flash of wings overhead at twilight, the silhouettes of geese cutting across a cranberry-colored sky. But behind those moments is a much bigger story—one of ancient migrations, fragile ecosystems, and a growing urgency to protect what’s slipping away.

At Woods & Waters MV, we’re not just cooks. We’re stewards of this land and coast. And that means paying close attention to the other lives that depend on it, especially the migratory birds who grace our skies for only part of the year—but whose survival is bound to what we do with the land every day.

A Delicate Journey

Each spring and fall, thousands of migratory birds travel through Martha’s Vineyard along the Atlantic Flyway—a route that has guided birds for millennia from breeding grounds in the north to wintering grounds in the south. Warblers, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds pass over or pause here, depending on native plants, healthy wetlands, and undisturbed habitat to rest and refuel.

But every year, their journey becomes more dangerous.

Light pollution disorients them. Coastal development eats away at their stopover points. Pesticides and habitat loss reduce the insects and seeds they need to survive. Climate change alters the very timing of their migration, creating mismatches between their needs and nature’s calendar.

Why It Matters to Us

We believe you can’t separate the health of the natural world from the food on your plate.

The same flowers that feed pollinators feed our herbs. The same trees that shelter migrating birds anchor our soil. The same quiet mornings that allow birds to rest and forage are the ones where we forage, too. This island—its fields, dunes, and woods—is not just our home base. It’s a shared space.

If we want to keep drawing inspiration from Martha’s Vineyard—the flavors, the stillness, the wildness—then we must also protect what makes it whole.

What We’re Doing (And What You Can Do Too)

We’re making small, meaningful changes:

• We plant native species that provide food and nesting material.

• We avoid pesticides, especially in our gardens.

• We keep outdoor lighting low during migration season.

• We support local land trusts that preserve critical habitat.

If you’re a guest, neighbor, or fellow steward, you can join us:

• Turn off unnecessary lights at night in the spring and fall.

• Ask your landscaper about native plants and bird-safe practices.

• Support conservation nonprofits doing the hard work behind the scenes.

• Slow down on country roads—many birds forage near the ground.

A Place for Everyone

When we say we want to make Martha’s Vineyard more accessible and sustainable, we mean for everyone—including the birds who only pass through for a night, a week, or a season. Their presence tells us something vital: that this place is still wild enough to support life in transit.

And that, to us, is worth protecting.

We hope you’ll help keep this island a safe haven—for people, for pollinators, and for the wings overhead.

– The Woods & Waters MV Team