Nature Happenings

November

• Project Feeder Watch starts and extends until April, feederwatch.org
• Feeders get busier as the month progresses.
• Open water is important if there's an early freeze. Put out heated bird baths for a winter water source.
• American Goldfinches arrive in large numbers. Keep those finch feeders clean and filled!
• Wintering hummingbird numbers and variety build on the Coast.
• Resident birds that may have left their home territory return for the winter.
• Waterfowl migration peaks this month.
• Franklin's Gulls pass through in large numbers on their way to wintering grounds of the coast of Chile.
• Common Loons and Bald Eagles arrive from the north.
• Northern Gannets arrive along the SE coast.
• Fall migratory waterfowl arrive.
• The fall migratory population of the Sandhill Crane peaks in mid-November.
• Leonid meteor shower is mid-month.

December

• Project Feeder Watch continues, feederwatch.org
• Audubon's Christmas Bird Count is this month
• Great Horned Owls are pairing up this month ñ listen for their "who" calls.
• This is a great time to teach chickadees and titmice to feed from your hand.
• Watch for late waterfowl migrants such as Northern Shovelers, mergansers, Ruddy Ducks and Common Goldeneyes.
• Tundra Swans arrive.
• Purple Finches can be seen at feeders.
• Smith's Longspurs arrive for their brief visit to the north-central part of our region.
• Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels have arrived for winter.
• Geminid Meteor Shower is mid-month.