Nature Happenings

July

• Except for goldfinches and late bluebirds, bird breeding and nesting season ends this month.
• Mississippi Kites begin fledging their young.
• Mallards and Wood Ducks molt into their "eclipse" plumage and are unable to fly for several weeks.
• Watch local ponds for immature herons and bitterns.
• Fall shorebird migration begins this month.
• Blackbirds begin to flock and appear at feeders.
• First brood of immature hummingbirds begin to show up at nectar feeders early in the month.
• Hummingbirds begin staging south and start showing up more at feeders.
• Keep your feeders and bird baths clean and your seed fresh through hot months.
• Barn Swallow fall migration begins.
• Delta Aquarids Meteor shower peaks in late-July.

August

• Shorebird migration builds and waterfowl migration starts.
• Purple Martins begin heading south (adults by the start of the month, juveniles by the end of the month).
• Broad-winged Hawk migration begins.
• Chimney Swifts can be seen in large flocks over chimneys at dusk.
• Second brood of hummingbirds begin to appear at feeders early- to mid-month.
• American Goldfinches are fledging late this month.
• Migration begins for Ospreys and raptors.
• Early warblers (Cape May, Tennessee, Magnolia, Blackburnian) are migrating southward.
• The peak of Ruby-throated Hummingbird fall migration is mid-August.
• Carolina Chickadees may begin forming pairs now for next Spring's breeding season.
• Perseids Meteor shower is mid-month.