Well, we’ve now progressed almost two months since the official beginning of summer, and we all know what is next. I’ve already noticed the sun rising later, setting earlier, and in turn nature has responded.

In a recent column I noted the mornings have become much quieter. Except for a few song sparrows, cardinals and mourning doves, most of our morning singing birds (robins in particular) have moved to more forested locales, feeding there until they migrate. The last bluebird brood is about to leave my backyard nest box, but hopefully, like last year, they will “hang around” a month or two feeding here.

You should pay attention now to the flocks of grackles, flocks totaling hundreds of birds. Their post breeding dispersal sends them to the company of others and the flocks grow in size. The flocks will feed throughout our area until late September when shrinking daylight signals them to move farther south.

About the time this column comes to print, the last of this year’s barn swallow young will feast heavily, begin gathering on utility wires, and then, about Aug. 22, they will be gone. They will begin the long migration back to wintering areas in Argentina. Just as amazing to me is how do these 1- or 2-month-old birds know when to leave and where to go?

The past week I went to a birding area near Lizard Creek and took a good look at the forest foliage. It already has the “used” look. The deep green leaves of May and June are now a bit paler, indicating some of the chlorophyll is already dying. In fact, you probably noticed that both black walnuts and black locusts are already dropping some of their leaves. Most of their food production is done for the year.

Along our streams and in damp areas, the pale jewelweed is in full bloom with its orange flowers; a sure sign summer is coming to an end. Towering next to them are some 8-foot-high Joe-pye weeds, now finished growing and showing off their lilac panicle of flowers waiting for bees, and especially swallowtail butterflies, to pollinate them. Milkweed stalks have risen above the pasture grasses and their seed pods are ripening. These are all hints of the impending end of growing season.

Songbirds will soon be on the move. My birding diary reminds me that I can start seeing the same warbler species that migrated north through the Times News region in May, will now be dropping into our forests on their return trip south, feeding in the trees after flying hundreds of miles each night. You can expect the songbird numbers (warblers, vireos, tanagers, etc.) to greatly increase beginning about Aug. 15-20.

Keep an eye out for great egrets at local ponds, or streams like Mahoning or Lizard creeks. They may already arrived in the past week. This is a regular occurrence after they finish breeding in our coastal marshes. Finally, the national hawk watching sites (Hawk Mountain and Bake Oven Knob) will begin their daily counts on Aug. 15, because they and I know that ospreys, Bald eagles, and some kestrels will begin their migrations just as they’ve done for centuries.

I’m not trying to rush the year along, just reminding you to expect changes, new birds, and anticipate all nature has in store for us. Get out there and enjoy.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Beginning in late September, which of these species will begin migrating through our area? A. Song sparrow, B. blue jay, C. tufted titmice, D. cardinal.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: The oppressive heat sends some reptiles and amphibians into a summer slumber. This is called estivation.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.