Nature Happenings

  • NABA National Butterfly count.

  • 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.

 

Zebra Swallowtail, the Tennessee state bird

Molting Mallard

Wood Duck with eclipse plumage (molting)

 

Immature Great Blue Heron

Immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird at nectar feeder

Barn Swallow