Dog Days of Summer

Birding has been a bit slow these last couple of months, as I've been focussed on work and writing my doctoral dissertation on urban bird conservation. Most days, I only manage to see a couple bird species as I go to and from work...or more likely, I just see Mourning Doves on my commute, and am lucky to hear a couple other species as I get out of the car at work. This morning, several American Robins flew up out of the lawn as I got to work, and a White-breasted Nuthatch was calling behind the building.

However, the most important observation this morning was that first slight cool scent of fall in the morning air. I'm sure there are many hot days ahead, but that first feeling of fall came today...meaning autumn is just around the corner. Shorebirds have been migrating south for over a month, and landbirds are starting to move as well.

And they aren't the only ones on the move. I'll be doing a lot of traveling in the next month myself--Maine, Michigan, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, so birding opportunities are looking up.