You are browsing the archives of June.

School is out for summer! That may not be entirely accurate where you live, and even if it is, you may not care. But for so many of us, the end of the academic year opens up a whole host of opportunities and responsibilities. Here in the United States, bird migration may be over but [...]

I don’t know about you, but for me summer has always stood apart from the other seasons. No doubt, the cessation of school does a lot to distinguish summer, but of course those long, hot days promise so much more than just the absence of academics. This time of year might not mean much for [...]

The official start of summer hasn’t yet arrived, but those of you struggling through record-setting spikes in temperature may be in no mood for such technicalities. As far as birds are concerned, summer (or winter depending on where you live) has already set in. No longer on the move, most birds in the Northern Hemisphere [...]

The quote “What Is So Rare As A Day In June?” may be familiar to most readers (the sentiment certainly is!) but its source is fairly obscure. This line is but a snippet from the most famous work of the poet James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), a member of the gaggle of authors sometimes called the [...]

Ah, sweet June has arrived. Few months inspire more verse, and yet not all poets are of the same mind when it comes to this magical month. American writer Helen Hunt Jackson, for instance, took more than one unfair swipe at June in her (19th century) day: O May, sweet-voice one, going thus before, Forever [...]

It’s summertime and the birding is easy! Here in the U.S., school has let out for summer, which means that the next couple of months will be anything but business as usual. How will you celebrate “true summer” where you live? What are you doing this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in [...]

Spring has sailed and soon summer will begin in earnest. Get your birding kicks while you can. Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere can look out for cute, fuzzy baby birds while folks south of the Equator should start laying in supplies for winter! What are you doing this weekend and will you be [...]

The month of May has passed and with it the thrills of spring migration. Now is the time in the Northern Hemisphere to get excited about finding birds on their breeding territories. If you live in the more temperate zones of the Southern Hemisphere, I’m frankly not sure what you’re excited about right now! Where [...]

June is coming to an end; have you spend it wisely or squandered the longest (or shortest, depending on your hemisphere) days of the year? More important, have you watched birds battle high above the earth? More on that in a moment. For now, how will you be spending this weekend and is bird watching [...]

May might be the month for mothers but June is when most countries that choose to recognize fathers and male parenting celebrate Father’s Day. Ironically, many dads indulge themselves on Father’s Day by getting away from the kids. I’ll settle for sleeping in! How will you be celebrating Father’s Day or just the third weekend [...]

Have you noticed the change in the air around you? Chances are, if you’re an engaged nature observer, you’ve realized that the mass migrations of May are over. In their place, we have resident birds hunkering down for a few months before the mad dash begins all over again. On the bright side, many locations [...]

…And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays: Whether we look, or whether we listen, We hear life murmur, or see it glisten… What indeed is so rare as [...]

Summer is well and truly upon us, isn’t it? School’s out, heat’s on, and there’s a whole lot going on up above us. Too bad I’ll be moving this weekend and thus unable to appreciate what promises to be a lovely weekend. Corey and Charlie will probably be enjoying themselves, but since those bums aren’t helping me [...]

Ah, June… here in the Northern Hemisphere, we’re poised to enjoy the longest day of our year, the earliest summer solstice since 1896. South of the equator, the days will be proportionally petite. No matter how much daylight you’ve got, you’ve got to use it well.  So where are you going birding this weekend? Comment [...]

Is migration over already? Well, not completely but a lot of birds have hunkered down. One one side of the Earth, we’ve got winter birds while on the other side, we’re watching resident breeders… those chicks grow up so quickly, don’t they? So where are you going birding this weekend? Comment below on the excitement [...]

As May slips gracefully into June, many birds in the Northern Hemisphere have settled down to do those things that birds and bees traditionally do. While males are still a-courting, you’ll be able to use song to find the rarities. So where are you going birding this weekend? Comment below on the excitement you have [...]