Nature Happenings

• Orioles return and begin nesting in the northern part of the region. Get feeders, nectar, fruit and jelly out early.
• Canada Geese goslings and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Duck and Mallard ducklings hatch and venture forth early in the month.
• Peak of warbler migration away from the coast happens very early in the month.
• Sub-adult Purple Martins return to establish new colonies early in the month.
• Grassland species on territory (buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Dickcissels, Northern Bobwhite)
• Cedar Waxwings finally depart.
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo are late to arrive and the first to leave; some individuals will spend less than a month at their breeding territory.
• Chickadees and titmice become scarce at feeders as they nest and raise their young.
• Bluebirds: first brood fledges, second nesting attempt begins.
• May is prime nesting season for birds and nearly every bird feeds their young a diet of insects for weeks, fill your feeders with foods that contain mealworms during this time.
• Global Big Day is May 13th! Global Big Day is an annual celebration of the birds around you. No matter where you are, join virtually on May 13th, help celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and share the birds you find on the Merlin or EBird app. Your observations help science understand global bird populations and find areas of conservation needs.

                                                              We will be closed May 28th and May 29th for the Memorial Day holiday.