Carolina Bird Gardens and More: The Ecological Summer

Ecological Summer

Carolina Sunset with sherbet skies, "A Thomas Kinkade moment"

June marks a major transition period for the Cape Fear Region and much of North America. Temperatures become summer-like with highs between 30-32C (86-90F), nights are warmer with a humid feel, and thunderstorms may form on any given afternoon. The days are getting longer with sunrises as early 6am and dusk well-past 8pm in the Carolinas. While astronomical summer is still weeks away, many consider June the beginning of summer. In weather and climate "Meteorological Summer" begins on June 1st and reflects the changes in weather patterns and air masses. Unofficially, I have coined late May and early June as the beginning of the "Ecological Summer". From the end of May until early September, hot summer days, warm nights, and long days will allow plants to thrive and the peak of insect abundance occurs during this time. For birds this means plenty of food for themselves and nestlings. Summer is also a downturn for birding as spring migration has concluded, dawn choruses are thinning out, and bird table activity slows. This is a good time to take advantage of other wildlife and botanical wonders in our gardens, parks, and wildlands. Today I will explain how to enjoy nature during the summer months and why birds seem to vanish from our gardens.

Dates

Astronomical Summer: June 20th to September 22nd, 2020

Meteorological Summer: The months of June, July, and August

"Ecological Summer": 3rd Week in May to 1st Week in September (Unofficial)

Summer in the Carolinas

Silky Camellia at Ev Henwood Preserve

Summers in the Carolinas are long with warm or hot temperatures occurring from Mid-May to October regardless of the current season. Our geographic location, the sun's angle, and the weather patterns contribute to the hot and humid summers we experience in the Southeast. According to NOAA, Wilmington average highs in June, July, and August is between 30 and 32C (86-90F) with temperatures above 35C (95F) possible in any given week. With humidity and sometimes stale air masses, it could feel much hotter. Seabreezes and other weather features can affect the daily weather pattern and may give rise to isolated to widespread thunderstorms, as well as wide temperature variances. The seacoast is often a few degrees cooler than Wilmington, while interior counties are often warmer. With the exception of stalled fronts, tropical air-masses (not to be confused with tropical storms or cyclones), and other events that bring long periods of rain and clouds, the weather in the Cape Fear is rather consistent this time of year.

Ecology: Summer brings many changes to ecosystems in the temperate regions and is often associated with abundant food and resources. During this time, trees and shrubs are filled in, herbaceous plants and grasses are approaching their peak, and insects, or other small animals are prolific. This is also a stressful time for wildlife as high temperatures and spotty storms can lead to shortages of water. Just like us, birds and other animals need to take shelter during the hottest part of the day.

Birding and Nature Activities in Summer: The summer months are the time of year when people are outdoors the most. Under normal circumstances, schools and universities have finished their terms, family holidays to theme parks, beaches, and wilderness areas dominate travel, and backyard cookouts and parties are the norm. Even with the current situation, people are still finding ways to enjoy the outdoors. When we are outdoors, we come in contact with nature and it is easy to assume that birds and other animals are most abundant during these months. In reality, summer is one of the least productive times for nature activities. Animals harder to find due to vegetation or their focus on reproduction. Heat, unpredictable storms, and biting insects such as mosquitoes, biting midges, and deerflies can make summer hikes in woodlands or wetlands unbearable.

Red Spotted Purple

I often shift my attention to insects, reptiles, and wildflowers from May through early Autumn. My excitement for summer arrivals such as vireos, warblers, flycatchers, orioles, and hummingbirds wear off after a few weeks, similar to a few weeks after getting a new object for Christmas or starting a new term at university. Even the eye-catching Indigo Bunting or the beautiful voices of Grey Catbirds, Wood Thrushes, and American Robins becomes mundane after a while.

In the "absence" of birds, this is a perfect time to enjoy other wildlife. Butterflies and moths peak in abundance from midsummer to autumn, while bees, wasps, ants, beetles, and other wonderful insects and spider provide hours of entertainment once the birds retreat to the hedge. Also take time to observe reptiles or amphibians such as Green Anoles, skinks, fence lizards, and treefrogs in the garden, or observe snakes, turtles, and alligators from a respectful distance at a park or lake. Wildflowers are also another way of enjoying nature

Observations during the Summer Months

Birds

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Coral Honeysuckle

Orchard Oriole singing, a familiar sound of neighborhoods and parks

Most birds are raising young at this point, thus are more furtive

Birds begin to sing less frequently as nesting takes priority

Dawn choruses begin to thin out at this point: As of the morning of writing, I heard mainly Carolina Wrens, cardinals, mockingbirds, American Robins, Brown Thrashers, Yellow Throated Warblers, and Pine Warblers singing.

Nearly all birds that are present in an area at this point are summer residents or nonbreeders that are staying for the summer

A few stragglers from migration may linger into June but most migrants have passed through

Early nesters such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, starlings, grackles, and some woodpeckers are already finished breeding and have young out and about

Multi-brooded species like cardinals, Carolina Wrens, House Sparrows, and Eastern Bluebirds are on their second broods at this point

Bird activity dies down by midday (9-10am) and only a handful of birds sing during the summer. These include catbirds, mockingbirds, Red Eyed Vireos, some warblers, Indigo and Painted Buntings, and Orchard Orioles.

At our bird tables and feeders, we see significantly less activity although the lowest point for garden birds is between August and September.

Expect chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals, House Sparrows, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds to visit all summer long and bring their young. Also keep an eye out for Orchard Orioles, Grey Catbirds, warblers, Indigo Buntings, and near the coast Painted Buntings at the feeder

This is a good time to watch birds of prey, swallows, seabirds, shorebirds, and herons. Mississippi Kites, Red Tailed/Shouldered Hawks, Accipiter Sparrowhawks (esp Cooper's) Eagles, and Osprey are overhead, while swallows and swifts gather around lakes or rivers during hot summer days.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Cope's Grey Treefrog in our garden

Green Anoles, Eastern Fence Lizards and several skinks thrive in gardens

Summer is a peak time for herpetological activities as all reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded.

Skinks, anoles, fence lizards, and various snakes thrive in woodlands, meadows, and gardens and are often seen scurrying about in the morning or heat of the day

Alligators, pond turtles, and water-snakes are often seen in open water or even on land as they bask. On land look for Box Turtles as well as water turtles laying eggs

Treefrogs, aquatic frogs, and toads are most abundant and are easily heard during the nighttime hours or when storms approach

In a garden anoles, skinks, fence lizards, toads, Squirrel, Green, and Grey Treefrogs are easy to observe. Remember that snakes and their lizard lookalikes (Glass Lizards) are important parts of the ecosystem and are generally harmless

Insects

Skippers and Solitary Wasps on Stevia plant in our garden

American Bumblebee

Bees, wasps, flies, and other insects visit flowers in gardens, meadows or high in trees. A flowerbed can resemble an international airport.

Aside from our familiar honeybees, we have 7-8 bumblebee species, hundreds of solitary bees (including carpenter bees, sweat bees, digger bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees)

Paper Wasps (Polistes) are generally nonaggressive and are fun to watch when they create their open combs on awnings, shrubs, or trees. Away from the nest, Bald Faced Hornets, and most yellowjackets are also docile.

Solitary wasps such as mud daubers, mason wasps, potter wasps, Cicada Wasps, and various burrowing species control insect pests and visit flowers

Look for beautiful butterfly and moth species such as Red Spotted Purples, swallowtails, admirals, Painted Ladies, sulphurs, and skippers, while Monarchs are a summertime finale. At night the bird-sized Imperial Moth, Luna Moth, and smaller species like sphinx moths fly around streetlamps or visit flowers in gardens

Don't forget about the beetles, true-bugs (esp Assassin Bugs), various native ants (we have more than fire ants) and oddities such as mantises, robber flies, owlflies, and walking sticks

Orbwever spiders, wolf spiders, spitting spiders, and camouflaged flower spiders are important predators in any garden

Mammals

White Tailed Deer at Carolina Beach State Park

Grey and Fox Squirrels are mostly seen in the morning and evening hours with both species nesting/littering in tree holes or stick nests during the summer

Like squirrels, cottontail and marsh rabbits can be seen in lawns or meadows during the summer.

Keep an eye out of nocturnal flying squirrels and our native mouse/rat species (Golden Mice, Rice Rat, Woodrat, Deer Mice) when hiking in woodlands, or in wooded neighborhoods

Opossums are common visitors to gardens and have many benefits to the ecosystem, weasels, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and even bobcats may visit as well

Plant Life

A wet meadow in SE NC with orchids, milkwort, pitcher plants, and others

Southern Magnolia, Sweetbay, Red Bay, Loblolly Bay, Titi, Silky Camellia, Mountain Laurel, and Buttonbush are just some of the native trees that flower in the summer.

Crepe Myrtles, Hydrangeas and Gardenias provide the same insect resources in gardens

Trumpet Creeper, Coral Honeysuckle, Twin Vine, Cherokee Rose, and Climbing Hydrangea are examples of flowering vines. Many of these lure in bees, butterflies and hummingbirds

Common summer wildflowers include fleabane, wild petunia, mountain mint, beebalm, coreopsis, coneflower, thistles, lady's tresses orchards, and various lilies.

In wetlands and bogs look for spider lily, lizard tail, pickerelweed, splatterdock, and even pitcherplants as well as nonnative water primrose, and alligator weed

Our perennial borders should fill in shortly. Salvias, phlox, coreopsis, asters, swamp sunflowers, coneflowers, and countless other plants provide pollinator fuel, and bird habitat all summer long.

At the Seacoast

Distant shot of Skimmer Colony

Oystercatchers and Black Skimmers at nest sites

While many of our garden and woodland birds are out of sight, seabirds and shorebirds are always easy to find in the right habitat.

Many seabirds and shorebirds such as terns, skimmers, oystercatchers, and certain sandpipers nest on open beaches. Please respect postings and watch your step in dunes or coastal prairies. Some songbirds also nest in grassy areas near beaches

Pelicans, seagulls, certain terns, and even a osprey or eagle can be seen along beaches or the Cape Fear River all summer long

Saltmarshes and meadows are often breeding grounds for Red Winged Blackbirds, the exotic looking Boat Tailed Grackle, and the more furtive Clapper Rail, Seaside Sparrow and Marsh Wren.