What's Happening In Nature

For The Birds... The Colors of Summer

August invites us to slow down and savor the season's final flourish.

August has a way of reminding us to slow down and savor summer. The days are still warm, gardens are bursting with color, and the backyard is alive with activity from sunrise until dusk. While it may feel like summer is in full swing, nature is already beginning to prepare for the changing seasons.

One of the highlights this month is the American Goldfinch. Unlike most songbirds that finished nesting weeks ago, goldfinches are just getting started. Their timing isn't by accident—they wait until midsummer when thistle and other seed-producing plants are plentiful to feed their young. Watch for brilliant yellow males and more subtly colored females making frequent trips between flowers and their nests.

Hummingbirds are also incredibly busy. Adult birds are feeding almost constantly, while this year's young are learning to navigate flowers and feeders on their own. Although migration won't peak until September, these tiny travelers are already building the energy reserves they'll need for their remarkable journey south. If you notice more hummingbirds than usual, you may be seeing young birds exploring new territories.

Butterflies continue to brighten fields and gardens throughout August. Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, and Painted Ladies can all be found visiting native wildflowers. Late-blooming plants such as coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, Joe-Pye weed, and goldenrod provide valuable nectar not only for butterflies but also for native bees and other important pollinators.

Listen carefully during an early morning walk and you'll notice bird songs have become quieter than they were in spring. Most birds have finished defending territories and are now focused on raising young, finding food, and preparing for migration. Flocks of swallows gathering on utility wires and mixed groups of songbirds moving through trees offer subtle hints that autumn is slowly approaching.

Take a few moments this month to enjoy the changing rhythm of nature. Whether you're watching goldfinches at the feeder, hummingbirds zipping through the garden, or butterflies dancing among late summer blooms, August offers a beautiful reminder that every season has its own unique wonders—and that some of the year's best wildlife watching is happening right now.