February NATURE NOTES
By Katie Andersen
Here are a few things happening in the natural world this month.
Barred Owl by Katie Andersen
Cardinals, Titmice, House Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, and Mourning Doves begin singing territorial songs in earnest. Now is a good time to learn these common songs, while there are few other competing bird songs to sort through.
Great Horned Owls are nesting.
Barred Owls begin calling.
Red-winged Blackbird by Katie Andersen
Migratory flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles return north mid to late Feb. These initial flocks will contain mostly adult males as well as some first year males looking to establish themselves on prime breeding territories before the females return.
Killdeer and Eastern Meadowlarks return late February.
Large flocks of American Robins are feeding from fruit-bearing plants, including sumacs, hollies, dogwoods, crab apples, mountain ash, and more.
Greater Scaup by Connor Vara
Some of the possible ducks on open waters in northwest PA include both Greater and Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, Canvasbacks, and Redheads.
Winter visitors such as Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskins, and Redpolls, may show up at feeders. This year, Pine Siskins are the most likely irruptive finch species to be visiting feeders.
Snowdrops by Michele Rundquist-Franz
Snow Drops are now in bloom.
Beavers are mating.
Returning adult Purple Martins (aka the “scouts”) have returned to the southern US and are beginning to make their way north. Follow their journey at the Purple Martin Conservation Association’s Scout Arrival Study HERE
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds make landfall along the southern US coast late February or early March. They will make their way north over the next several months, reaching our area about May 1st.
Male Purple Finches by LMKoitsch
February 2024 Dates Of Note:
Feb. 16-19 is the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Join in at www.birdcount.org
Feb. 9th: New Moon
Feb. 24th: Full Moon