I hate to say it, but I’m afraid that summer will soon start to wind down to a close, though that’s hard to believe on account of all of the hot and lazy summer days we have had of late. The other day, however, to my disbelief, I spotted a few trees whose leaves have already begun to turn from their dark green to a barely-noticeable orange.
Even the birds seem to sense a change; I have seen a significant spike in hummingbird activity since my last column. Instead of the customary single hummer, multiple hummers have visited my feeders and my flowers, often at the same time, which usually leads to a hummingbird showdown. They also seem to be putting on weight—strange to say about a creature the weight of a paper clip—that will eventually aid in their long journey down to Mexico.
In addition, I have also seen some other special visitors that generally only appear near the end of the summer: the Cedar Waxwings, some of my favourite birds, have made their customary yearly appearance in my yard, heralded by their customary high-pitched “zees”. Though I have only spotted a few, I’m sure that, in the weeks ahead, more and more will flock to my backyard.
In other news, I have some important updates on the Watch the Birds blog and e-mail. As of this week, I am happy to inaugurate the completely-refurbished and brand-spanking-new Watch the Birds website. Make sure to check us out on the web at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com for additional birding tips, tricks, and photos! Perhaps more importantly, my e-mail and contact information has changed. My former e-mail address will no longer function; please send all questions and comments to watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com, and I will be sure to send a prompt reply! Happy Birding, and enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
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