H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

As soon as we officially started the Summer, the weather temperature began climbing into the 90ºs right on cue. Birds stay under shade as long as possible during the late morning and early afternoon, those are peak hours for the high heat. They raid the feeders early in the morning and late afternoon. Blackbirds are the ones that land in large groups and create havoc spilling deliberately all seeds to the ground.

Smaller birds show up to feed if we happen to get a summer shower, which are intense but short in duration. Also attract ground feeders birds like Starlings, BrownThrashers, Northern Mockingbirds that pick invertebrates from the wet ground.

Midas ( little goldfinch) hides while the blackbirds eat and when the heat is too harsh he flies to the pine trees by the creek where’s shady and a few degrees fresher and safer, he’s smart bird!

I was outdoors to do some lawn trim work and I lasted for one hour then I had to stop because the heat was unbearable. The humidity was above 80% most of the day!

Summers are hot in Georgia generally, and humid days are not rare.

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Juvenile Song Sparrow

Juvenile Song Sparrow

Juvenile Song Sparrow

Juvenile Song Sparrow

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101