October NATURE NOTES
By Katie Andersen

Autumn is now in full swing. The days are rapidly becoming shorter, insect songs are fading off, and the majority of migration for neotropical songbirds wraps up this month. Birds that may spend their winter with us begin increasing in numbers and we’ll start looking for potential irruptive species this month. Read on to see what else we can expect this month.

Migration numbers swell for Yellow-rumped Warblers, Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Golden-crowned Kinglets.

Early indicators suggest this may be an irruption year for Red-breasted Nuthatches. Watch for these diminutive nuthatches this fall and winter at your feeders.

Migrating Hermit, Swainson’s, and Gray-cheeked Thrushes can be seen feeding on wild grapes, crab apples, pokeweed, and other fall fruits.

• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have mostly left the area; occasional stragglers may be seen early in the month. Hummingbirds seen after October 10th should be carefully documented, as they may be either late Ruby-throated Hummingbirds or rare visitors from the west, such as Rufous Hummingbirds.

• First migrating owls, including Northern Saw-whet and Short-eared Owls, appear.

• Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and jays are caching acorns, seeds, and nuts for the winter.

• Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows become common. They may frequent your yard and bird feeders.

• Raptor migration peaks, especially in the eastern part of the state. Consider a trip to Hawk Mountain, PA: www.hawkmountain.org

• Fall colors peak this month.

• Monarch migration finishes early in the month.

• Chipmunks and squirrels are busy gathering and storing food for winter.

• Milkweed pods open and spread their seeds.

• Flowers open on witch-hazel, one of our latest blooming shrubs.

October 2024 Dates of Note

• Oct. 2: New Moon, Oct. 17: Full Moon.

• Oct. 7-8: Draconids meteor shower peaks.

• Oct. 20-21: Orionids meteor shower peaks.