Keep a watch in September

Eastern Towhee

September has arrived. For all practical purposes, summer is over. Hummingbirds, orioles and tanagers are preparing to head south for the winter.

Continue feeding hummingbirds through the end of September. Most of the adults move on toward mid-month but the young ones are still around and need that boost of energy from your nectar. Also hummingbird migrants from the north will stop by to "refuel" as they continue southward.

Soon you may notice that Chipping Sparrows and Gray Catbirds are no longer around as they have moved on.

Don't remove the spent flower heads of cosmos, coneflowers of Black-eyed Susans. Instead watch chickadees and goldfinches devour the seeds.

Toward the end of the month, you might see the first Dark-eyed Junco appear. Increase the amount of white millet seed to attract these little birds. Use a platform or ground feeder to keep juncos in your yard.

Watch towhees and sparrows do the "Towhee shuffle" when they scratch forward and backward on the ground looking for insects or seeds in dry leaves and other plant material.

Northern Flickers may be rooting on the ground for tasty ants and bugs.

Yes, September brings changes. Keep a watch and you'll enjoy the changes the month brings.