Around 500 million migrant birds pass over southern Sweden in autumn on their way to their winter quarters. Some migrate during the daytime, others at night under the cover of darkness with yet others flying both day and night.  Their spectacular voyage has to be undertaken not just safely, but also as quick and fuel-efficient as possible if they are to return and reproduce next season. That is why migrating birds choose not to overfly dangerous and uncertain areas such as the Baltic Sea, but instead concentrate to where the sea passage is shortest, such as at Falsterbo, the south-western tip of Sweden.  The migration of birds of prey is significant. In no other place in Scandinavia can one spot larger numbers of raptors in a day than in Falsterbo.

Each autumn between one and three million individuals of 150 species are counted. The number of birds of prey amount to 409000 per autumn with Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and European Honey Buzzard being the most common. Over 350 bird species have been recorded at Falsterbo, and every autumn exciting rarities turn up such as large eagles from the border of south-eastern Asia or vagrant warblers from the Siberian taiga.