While most birds are active during the day, many species make their annual migrations at night. These birds then feed and rest during the day. Also, by moving at night, the birds may reduce their chance of predation. Some species of ducks and geeses, gulls, pelicans, hawks and swifts do migrate during the day. Since many species of wading and swimming birds can feed at all hours, they migrate either by day or night and do not seek places to hide from predators.
Many people believe that birds fly very fast, even a mile a minute.
While some birds do fly 60 miles per hour, most do not. Most birds have two ranges of flying speeds. The normal rate is for regular flying and the top speed is for escape from predators or for pursuing prey. Most species migrate at a rate somewhere between their normal and top speeds. Most shorebirds found at Sweetwater Marsh areas fly at about 45 mph during their migrations.