Brown Thrasher | the Intown Hawk

April was a busy month with much nesting activity all over the neighborhood. Three of the four bird houses on the Nature Trail have occupants. Two neighbors on Darlington Commons had nests in shrubbery right outside their front door, and we counted at least four nests in our yard, including a Brown Thrasher pair who nested in the Carolina Jessamine vine on the side of the house.

Most trees have leafed out now. American Basswood, Pignut Hickory, Georgia Hackberry and Southern Sugar Maple along with eight other species were identified on the Nature Trail and will be marked. Hummers are here for sure, and flowering plants like Crossvine and Native Honeysuckle are in bloom for them.

And it looks like the Wild Turkey hen has moved on. We hope she’s safe and well.

American Basswood

Brown Thrasher in Carolina Jessamine

Carolina Chichadee

House Wren

Crossvine

Eastern Bluebird

Georgia Hackberry

House Finch

Northern Cardinal

Pignut Hickory

Sugarberry

Southern Red Oak

Southern Sugar Maple

Pipevine – Dutchman’s Pipe

Tulip Poplar

Wild Turkey

Plants are waking up and everybody’s nesting. The dawn chorus is especially loud and full of courtship and the claiming of territory. Frogs are beginning to call at night. Native bees are busy and there’s plenty in bloom to provide nectar and pollen. On warmer days the honey bees in the hive on the Nature Trail are active. No hummingbirds have been seen here yet, although there are reports of sightings close by, and butterflies are still scarce. This will change soon.