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September is the month when many of the birds that nest and remain here for the summer begin their migration to their winter homes. Pictured is a red-breasted nuthatch (Courtesy Photo).
If we observe animals at this time of year, we see the signs of the changing seasons. Creatures are acquiring winter coats, gathering and storing nuts or migrating.
September is the month when many of the birds that nest and remain here for the summer begin their migration to their winter homes. Of course a few birds in a species may leave earlier than the majority, and some may remain longer.
Credit: wikimedia.org - Cephas
A few species began their migrations in late August, including great-crested flycatchers, Eastern kingbirds, barn swallows, ruby-throated hummingbirds and blue-gray gnatcatchers. Some of the more common birds that generally leave our area this month are chimney swifts, Eastern wood pewees, house wrens, wood thrushes, catbirds, indigo buntings, phoebe, brown thrashers and many species of vireo and warbler.
Be on the lookout for cedar waxwings and juncos that will appear in larger numbers this fall. Many migrating hawks pass over our area from now through November, depending on the species. Broadwinged and sharp-shinned hawks, kestrels and eagles are in the air in good numbers these days. And, of course, Maryland is the winter grounds for many birds such as cardinals, titmice, chickadees, bluebirds, white-breasted nuthatch, mockingbirds, many woodpeckers, some sparrows, kingfishers, the white-throated sparrow, brown creeper, kinglets and some robins.
This information comes from the Field List of the Birds of Maryland published by the MD Ornithological Society, 1996 edition.
Articles by FCFCDB
Nature Notes for 9/16/2012
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