October Nature Happenings!

Happy "Spooky Season"! This is my favorite time of the year. The leaves are starting to turn color, the air is getting cooler, and Halloween is near! BOO! Visit A Trick or Treat... For Your Birds for recipes to create your own treat for the birds... a great activity for any age!!!

• Blue Jays bury acorns and other nuts to be eaten later. They have an excellent memory and know where most acorns are buried. As a result of uneaten, cached acorns, this species is responsible for "planting" some oak trees.
• Cormorants, geese, ducks, cranes, etc., usually fly in a "V" formation. Supposedly, all but the lead bird gain lift from wing-tipped vortices produced by the lead bird.
• This is the month to install and repair nest boxes for use next year.
• Pine Siskins return early this month and in late September.
• Sandhill Cranes return to the area.
• Autumn colors peak in the third week of October.
• Waterfowl migration continues to build.
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have departed by the 15th.
• Most Wood Ducks migrate south this month.
• White-tailed Deer bucks go into rut.
• Juncos and White-throated Sparrows become common at feeders.
• Orionids meteor shower is late October.

**Important Note for Halloween and Birds!** - Please refrain from using fake spider webbing in your yard! Birds can become entangled in this webbing and can get injured. Please call your local Wild Birds Unlimited or Humane Indiana Wildlife if you discover an injured bird.