April Nature Happenings 

• South winds bring major waves of migrating birds such as: Chimney Swifts, Kingbirds, Barn Swallows, Brown Thrashers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Orioles, Grasshopper Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows, to name just a few!

• Woodcocks continue their “sky dance” courtship flights.

• Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and others are establishing their territories; listen for their "drumming" on drainpipes and gutters along your house.

• Hummingbirds arrive; be sure to have their feeders ready. Many are still migrating and stopping for a drink of nectar.  Their final destination could be as far north as Mid-Canada.

• Purple Martins arrive by mid-month.

• White-throated Sparrows begin calling.

• Courtship activities begin for Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Mourning Doves and Chipping Sparrows.

• Gray Catbirds begin to arrive at end of the month. Listen as they string bird songs together finishing with a distinctive “meow”.

• Canada Geese are nesting and their first young hatch.

• Wood Ducks are nesting, if you live around water; try to attract these beautiful ducks with nesting boxes. 

• Begin to monitor nest boxes towards the end of the month.  Make sure they are protected from all predators; snakes, raccoons, squirrels, birds of prey and the next-door neighbors cat.

• Project FeederWatch ends this month, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw

• Plan a trip to Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, for Spring Hawkwatch. Peak viewing is middle to late April.  

• Pond turtles emerge from hibernation and bask in the sun.

• Dragonflies emerge.  Look for them skimming across bodies of water, consuming insects and depositing their eggs.

• American Toads and Spring Peepers are calling on warm nights.

• Eastern Box turtles begin breeding season.  They do not breed until they are 10 years old, living 50 to 100 years of age. See one crossing the road – stop and give him a hand!

• Black Bears emerging from their dens, do you need a bear-proof birdfeeder? We have them!

• Deer begin to grow antlers.  

• Maples, Redbud, Spicebush, Serviceberry, Black Cherry and Dogwood in bloom throughout the month.

• Spring wildflowers in bloom

• Buttercups, Lady’s Slipper and Trilliums join the Virginia Bluebells.

• Start looking for May apples at the end of the month.  

• Adult deer ticks become active in early April.

• Skunks are actively digging for grubs.

• Bats are emerging from their winter hibernation.  Great way to control insects around your property is to add Bat Houses.  Are yours up and ready?

• Coyote pups are born between now and May.

 

SPECIAL DATES

 • April 8, Full Moon “Supermoon” also known as the "Pink Moon" heralds the appearance of wild ground phlox, one of the first spring flowers. Early settlers knew this moon as the "Sprouting Grass Moon”, "Egg Moon" or the "Fish Moon" depending on where they lived.

 • April 12, Easter Sunday, Wild Birds Unlimited Closed. 

• April 22, Earth Day ~ 50th Anniversary.   Go to: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/ 

• April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak.  With the new moon, you should have a great show on the 23rd. 

• April 23, New Moon ~ coincides with Lyrids Meteor Shower! 

• April 24, Arbor Day, https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/

 

INTERESTING HISTORICAL DATES

• April 08, 2024, Next Total Solar Eclipse  over North America ~ Texas to Maine. 

• April 17, 1937, America’s craziest duck ~ Daffy Duck, Premiers in “Porky’s Duck Hunt”

• April 20, 2010, BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

• April 22, 1838, John Muirs Birthdate.

• April 22, 1970, First Earth Day celebrated.

• April 26, 1785, John James Audubon’s Birthdate.

• April 26, 1986, Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Ukraine.