For birders who reside across central latitudes of the American Heartland, August brings hope that the birding doldrums of June and July will soon end. Now that their breeding season has come to a close, many northern species begin to drift southward while more southern birds may wander to the north, bringing some welcome diversity to our ponds, lakes and wetlands.
Highlighting the migrants from the north are shorebirds, joined by a mix of inland gulls and terns that breed across the Northern Plains; early white pelicans, cormorants and white-faced ibis might also make an appearance. Less common are southern waders such as little blue herons, white ibis and roseate spoonbills that may wander up the major river valleys in late summer.
In addition to these transient visitors, permanent and summer residents such as great blue herons, night herons and egrets (great, snowy and cattle) begin to congregate in large flocks, offering spectacles not observed since mid spring. Of course, longer nights and cooler mornings also fuel hope in summer-weary humans, foreshadowing the glorious weather and stirring sights of autumn.
Highlighting the migrants from the north are shorebirds, joined by a mix of inland gulls and terns that breed across the Northern Plains; early white pelicans, cormorants and white-faced ibis might also make an appearance. Less common are southern waders such as little blue herons, white ibis and roseate spoonbills that may wander up the major river valleys in late summer.
In addition to these transient visitors, permanent and summer residents such as great blue herons, night herons and egrets (great, snowy and cattle) begin to congregate in large flocks, offering spectacles not observed since mid spring. Of course, longer nights and cooler mornings also fuel hope in summer-weary humans, foreshadowing the glorious weather and stirring sights of autumn.
