Now that spring is on its way here in North America, what returning or new visitors could you see around your wildlife porch, patio, deck, balcony, or other small outdoor space?

Whether a long migration from equatorial regions to northern climes or regional migrations from Texas to Nebraska, migrations bring new species to watch.

Wild Birds

Although over 300 bird species are migratory, some species of birds have both migratory and local populations, like robins.

For those of us with smaller outdoor spaces, we're more likely to see small and medium-sized migrating birds, like the following:

• ruby-throated hummingbird
• rufous hummingbird
• robin
• various birds in the oriole family
• purple martin
• red-winged blackbird
• bluebird

Additionally, you may see returning swallows, swifts, tanagers, buntings, larks, thrushes, warblers, redpolls, waxwings, or others.

Larger migrating birds like geese and hawks are usually spotted in more rural areas, but the Canada goose is becoming more and more ubiquitous in urban areas.

More grandiose migrating birds - ones less likely to be seen in from a wildlife porch - include the sandhill crane, the trumpeter swan, and the endangered-but-recovering whooping crane. Of course, many species of migratory ducks are also winging their way north.

Other Critters

Aside from birds, perhaps the best-known migratory critter is the monarch butterfly. Most monarchs over-winter in Mexico then range north again in the spring.

Several other species of butterfly migrate, including the Zebra Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Cabbage White, Gulf Fritillary, and Common Buckeye.

Other lesser-known insects migrate, too, including certain dragonflies, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and beetles.