Nature Happenings

  • Canada Geese goslings and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Duck and Mallard ducklings hatch and venture forth early in the month.
  • Peak of warbler migration away from the coast happens very early in the month.
  • Sub-adult Purple Martins return to establish new colonies early in the month.
  • Grassland species on territory (buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Dickcissels, Northern Bobwhite)
  • Cedar Waxwings finally depart.
  • Yellow-billed Cuckoo are late to arrive and the first to leave; some individuals will spend less than a month at their breeding territory.
  • Chickadees and titmice become scarce at feeders as they nest and raise their young.
  • Bluebirds: first brood fledges, second nesting attempt begins.
  • Eta Aquarids meteor shower is early-May.
  • International Migratory Bird Day is mid-May.

From our Friends at UF IFAS

Birds
Brown pelican and white ibis young are now visible in nests.
Painted Buntings nest through summer in northeast Florida.
Least terns and snowy plovers nest on Panhandle beaches.
Bald eagles begin migrating north
Breeding begins for many resident and summer songbirds
The last of the cedar waxwings and goldfinches head for their northern breeding grounds.
Least terns and Snowy Plovers nest on beaches and sandy flats of the Panhandle.

Mammals
Gray Bats congregate at maternity caves now through mid-July.

Reptiles
Alligators begin to court and make loud resounding 'bellows'.
The height of crocodile nesting in the Keys happens at the beginning of the month as well.
Loggerhead sea turtles begin nesting on summer nights.
Soft-shell and alligator snapping turtles complete egg laying.

Fish
Bluegill are bedding at the full moon.
Redbreast sunfish and spotted sunfish begin spawning in rivers
Pompano running in the surf in north Florida

Insects
Peak flight month for Schaus' swallowtail butterfly in the Keys.

Plants
White swamp lillies dot wet prairies of the Everglades
American lotus bloom at Paynes Prairies State Preserve