Nature Happenings

• First brood of immature hummingbirds begin to show up at nectar feeders early in the month.
• Except for goldfinches and late bluebirds, most bird breeding and nesting season ends this month.
• Thistle plants begin to seed; goldfinches gather thistledown for nesting material.
• Mallards and Wood Ducks molt into "eclipse" plumage and are unable to fly for several weeks.
• Blackbirds begin to flock and appear at feeders.
• Listen for the feeding screeches of young Barred and Great Horned Owls.
• Delta Aquariids Meteor shower late-July and will continue into early August
  • Unfortunately Anyone living farther north than 45°N – i.e. Toronto – will struggle to observe the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, where the radiant never rises much above the horizon.