Nature Happenings

• NABA National Butterfly count.

• 
• Zebra Swallowtail, the Tennessee state bird

 

• Except for goldfinches and late bluebirds, bird breeding and nesting season ends this month.

• 
• Goldfinch

 

• 
• Bluebird

 

• Mississippi Kites begin fledging their young.

• 
• Mississippi Kite

 

• Mallards and Wood Ducks molt into their "eclipse" plumage and are unable to fly for several weeks.

• 
• Molting Mallard

 

• 
• Wood Duck Eclipse Plumage

 

• Watch local ponds for immature herons and bitterns.

• 
• Great Blue Heron

 

• Fall shorebird migration begins this month.

• 
• Shorebirds

 

• Blackbirds begin to flock and appear at feeders.

• 
• Red Winged Blackbirds

 

• 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.

• 
• Ruby Throated Hummingbird

 

• Keep your feeders and bird baths clean and your seed fresh through hot months.

• 
• Bluebird

 

• Barn Swallow fall migration begins.

• 
• Barn Swallow

 

• Delta Aquarids Meteor shower peaks in late-July.