Nature Happenings

• Orioles return and begin nesting in the northern part of the region. Get feeders, nectar, fruit and jelly out early.

• 
• Baltimore Oriole

 

• Canada Geese goslings and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Duck and Mallard ducklings hatch and venture forth early in the month.

• 
• Canada Goose

 

• 
• Black Bellied Whistling Duck

 

• 
• Wood Duck

 

• 
• Mallard

 

• Peak of warbler migration away from the coast happens very early in the month.

• 
• Common Yellow Throat

 

• 
• Yellow Warbler

 

• 
• Yellow Rumped 

 

• Sub-adult Purple Martins return to establish new colonies early in the month.

• 
• Purple Martin

 

• Grassland species on territory (buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Dickcissels, Northern Bobwhite)

• 
• Indigo Bunting

 

• 
• Painted Bunting 

 

• 
• Blue Grosbeak

 

• 
• Dickcissel

 

• 
• Northern Bobwhite

 

• Cedar Waxwings finally depart.

• 
• Cedar Waxwing

 

• Yellow-billed Cuckoo are late to arrive and the first to leave; some individuals will spend less than a month at their breeding territory.

• 
• Yellow Billed Cuckoo

 

• Chickadees and titmice become scarce at feeders as they nest and raise their young.

• 
• Chickadee
• 
• Tufted Titmouse

 

• Bluebirds: first brood fledges, second nesting attempt begins.

• 
• Bluebird

 

• Eta Aquarids meteor shower is early-May.

• 

 

• International Migratory Bird Day is mid-May.