Millions of birds are flying over Louisiana this week

The big picture: At least 20 million birds are expected to migrate through Louisiana the next few nights, BirdCast.org says.

• Spring migration is reaching its peak in New Orleans, with more than 100,000 birds in flight nightly, the site says.
• They usually start migrating 30 minutes after sunset and peak two to three hours later.

Zoom in: Louisiana sits within the Mississippi Flyway, which is used by 325 bird species, according to the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.

• Common nocturnal migrating birds in New Orleans right now include the veery, yellow-throated vireo and several varieties of warblers, BirdCast.org says.
• Elsewhere in the state, you'll see the eastern kingbird, the yellow-billed cuckoo and the great crested flycatcher.

Zoom out: Many birds rely on the Moon and stars to navigate, and artificial light can disorient them, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation says.

• To help, turn off exterior lights and close blinds from 11pm to 6am.
• Other options: Aim security lights downward, reduce floodlights and switch to warm-white LEDs. More tips here.

Meanwhile, it's nesting season for beach birds. Our colleagues at Axios Tampa Bay have an identification guide.

What's next: Check the daily forecast map and the migration alerts for New Orleans.