September Nature Happenings

  • It's migration month! More birds are in the area now than any other month.
  • Very large flocks of thousands of birds, made up of many different species, can be heard flying overhead on quiet nights.
  • Blackbird (grackles, cowbirds and redwings) flocks can number in the thousands.

Starling Murmuration                                   Source: Donald Macauley/Flickr Creative Commons

  • Fall migration peaks for warblers and others.
  • Peak Blue-winged Teal migration.

Blue-winged Teal Range Map                                                                           Source: Cornell

  • Robins are in large flocks, feeding on crab apples.
  • Fall flowers such as Asters and Goldenrod are in bloom.
  • Juvenile American Goldfinches can be seen and heard harassing adults for food at feeders.

Immature American Goldfinch                                                                    Source: Anonymous

  • Bats are busy feeding, building fat for hibernation and migration.
  • First juncos and White-throated Sparrows can appear by the end of this month.
  • The Autumn Equinox will occur on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 (to the relief of all of us waiting for the heat and humidity of summer to end!).