April Nature Notes
May is the best month for viewing the greatest numbers and varieties of colorful warblers in full breeding plumage. Look for roughly 20 species of warblers including American redstart, black-throated green, black-throated blue, blackburnian, blackpoll, Canada, Cape May, chestnut-sided, common yellowthroat, golden-winged, magnolia, Nashville, northern parula, orange-crowned, palm, Tennessee, yellow and yellow-rumped warblers.
Check out the DNR's Songs of Spring video for information on 10 warblers to watch and listen for in Minnesota.
Also adding to the beauty of the season are the sweet spring songs of American robins, red-winged blackbirds, house finches, tufted titmice, hermit thrush and eastern phoebe.
Other stunning birds to watch for include Baltimore oriole, eastern bluebird, indigo bunting, rose-breasted grosbeak and scarlet tanager.
Did You Know?
It’s time to set out your jelly and nectar feeders since Baltimore orioles and ruby-throated hummingbirds are beginning to arrive. Please be sure to thoroughly clean your feeders before filling them, and try to hang them in shady areas. It is also important to clean your feeders every few days. Another way to attract these beautiful birds is to plant native nectar-producing flowers and flowering vines and shrubs. Consider colorful options such as bee balm, butterfly milkweed, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, honeysuckle, red columbine and wild blue phlox. Learn more on how to draw hummingbirds and orioles to your backyard through The Audubon Guide to Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles. So, when will they arrive? You can follow the migration of humminbirds, orioles and other species at JourneyNorth.org
Are you ready to plant your garden or spruce up your yard? If so, consider plants that benefit birds. The Audubon Society makes it easy via their Native Plants Database. Just type in your email address and zip code and you’ll discover a wide array of flowers, shrubs and trees best suited for species of birds in your neck of the woods.
Fun and Educational Activities
Bird migration is complex. Take a fun quiz at How Much Do You Know About Bird Migration from the Bird Watchers Digest.
Take part in the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union 2020 Photography Challenge. Learn more on page 15 of the MOU's May/June 2020 Minnesota Birding newsletter.
The International Owl Center is offering Online Owl Chats through Zoom on the amazing bodies of owls.
Check out the DNR's EagleCam to see how the young eagles are doing. They're growing fast!
The Three Rivers Park District offers interesting podcasts about the return of trumpeter swans at Swan Song To Trumpets of Success.
Print your very own copy of Bird Bingo, courtesy of the Bird Watchers Digest. Select the Midwest Region, and start marking your bird sightings!
Recent Bird Sightings
Check the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union web site for recent bird sightings and rare bird alerts.
For additional information, consider joining the Minnesota Birding community on Facebook.
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