Despite the hoopla surrounding the Fourth, July is one of the least exciting months for a Midwestern naturalist. The glory of spring has faded and the spectacles of autumn lie ahead. Thunderstorm season is winding down and the snows of winter are but a distant memory. Other than the earliest shorebirds, migrants are content to remain in their summer haunts, not yet dreaming of winter vacations.
While naturalists with a special interest in amphibians or insects might enjoy the mid summer heat, most of us, like the birds and mammals themselves, retreat from the afternoon sun, confining outdoor activities to the early morning and late evening hours. Unlike the colder months, when wild creatures are forced to hunt throughout the day, July encourages many of them to adopt a crepuscular or nocturnal lifestyle, making them less visible to the casual naturalist.
Of course, there are the summer wildflowers to brighten our days and the prolonged sunlight invites late evening walks. July is also a good time to explore caves or to observe nocturnal wildlife in our forests and fields. But, for many of us in the hot, muggy Midwest, this month is the nadir of our natural year.
