Nature Happenings

• Project FeederWatch ends this month, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• Early April migrants include the American Woodcock, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Snipe and Tree Swallow.
• Research stations affiliated to the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network open on April 1 to start spring passerine research
• Late April migrants include the Brown Thrasher, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, American Bittern, Chimney Swift, Chipping Sparrow, Barn Swallow and Caspian Tern.
• Great Horned Owls have their young.
• Hummingbirds and orioles arrive late April/early May. Be sure to have their feeders ready.
• The Common Loon finishes its northward migration by the end of April. Some late migrants arrive in May.
• Purple Martins (scouts) begin to arrive in mid April
• Cardinals begin nesting.
• White-throated Sparrows begin calling.
• Woodcocks continue their "sky dance" courtship flights.
• Bluebirds are nesting by end of the month. Be sure to have their houses ready.
• Lyrids: Wake up early! This meteor show is expected to peak in the pre-dawn hours of April 22. You’ll likely spot about 10 to 20 meteors per hour​ (keep in mind that the approaching sunrise will hinder the shower’s visibility). According to NASA, this is one of Earth’s oldest known meteor showers — the Lyrids have been observed for about 2,700 years!
• Earth Day, April 22.