Nature Happenings

• Project FeederWatch ends this month, feederwatch.org
• Minnesota trout fishing season opens mid-month
• Woodcocks continue their "sky dance" courtship flights.
• Canada Geese and Bald Eagles are nesting.
• Great Horned Owls have their young.
• Ring-necked Pheasants are crowing and displaying to attract mates.
• Purple Martins arrive in our southern areas.
• April arrivals: Wilson's Snipe, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, American Bittern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Sora Rail, Hermit Thrush, Brown-headed Cowbird, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Forster's Tern, Green-backed Heron, Pectoral Sandpiper, White Pelican, Broad-winged Hawk, Whip-poor-will, Chimney Swift, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
• Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Winter Wrens and Brown Creepers pass through the area.
• Juncos are forming flocks to migrate north.
• The first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Baltimore Orioles arrive late April/early May. Be sure to have their feeders ready - we suggest putting out feeders around April 15th.
• The Common Loon finishes its northward migration by the end of April. Some late migrants arrive in May.
• Cardinals begin nesting late April.
• Bluebirds are nesting by end of the month. Be sure to have their houses ready.
• Lyrids meteor shower in late April.
• Earth Day, April 22nd.