Nature Happenings

January

• Project FeederWatch continues, feederwatch.org
• Watch for mixed flocks of birds to feed on winter berries, poison ivy and cedar trees.
• Now through late March is a difficult time for birds; providing food and an open source of water is important.
• During the first or second week of January, the first returning Purple Martins will be seen along the coast.
• Squirrel mating season.
• Woodpeckers are easy to spot on leafless trees.
• Waterfowl are present on the coast or on deep-water lakes.
• Coastal states host many wintering hummingbirds that need a reliable source of nectar.
• During late January or early February, Great Horned Owls will be sitting on their eggs.
• Bald Eagles begin nesting behavior.
• Black-crowned Night-Heron nesting begins.
• Wood Stork colony formation begins.
• Barred Owl: (January - February) nesting peak. They incubate the eggs about on month and they young fledge the nest about a month later.
• Aldo Leopold's (Father of Wildlife Conservation) birthday Jan. 11
• Quadrantid Meteor Shower early in the month. See up to 60 falling meteors per hour!

February

• Great Backyard Bird Count, mid-month, birdcount.org
• February is National Bird Feeding Month
• Project FeederWatch continues, feederwatch.org
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach the Gulf Coast in late February.
• Early migrant warblers, including the Northern Parula, start to arrive along the Gulf Coast.
• Have houses ready for Purple Martins that will return by end of the month.
• Be sure to have nesting boxes ready for bluebirds as they select their nesting territories this month.
• Barred Owls and Eastern Screech-Owls are courting.
• As days lengthen, Tufted Titmice and cardinals begin to sing.
• Sandhill Cranes can be seen migrating north in late February.
• Smith's Longspurs will be on their way back to the Arctic by the end of the month.
• American Robin spring migration begins in late February.
• Flocks of Cedar Waxwings can be seen feeding on berries.