You are browsing the archives of October.

The shadow of Halloween is falling over the United States as we speak, foreboding haunted hijinks for celebrants, especially the junior set. Have you ever seen anyone birding in costume or even done it yourself? Wearing camo while busting the ghosts of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers doesn’t count, but otherwise we’d all love to hear stories and see [...]

This last week has provided me a stark reminder of how volatile October weather can be in some places. Much of Central America, for example, has been fairly inundated by endless rain. That information doesn’t usually impact a New Yorker like me, but since I just got back from Costa Rica I found the inclement [...]

Do you know what I love about October? Pumpkins! Everywhere you look in the United States around this time of year, giant orange squashes are just loafing around, killing time until their inevitable trip to the mulch pile on November 1. Pumpkins feature in some pretty tasty dishes, but once I discovered how much better [...]

Whatever you’ve been waiting for, this weekend may be it. I’m hardly attuned to the specific interests of residents of the other continents, but I know my North Americans pretty well and the United States  has much to appreciate right now. We’ve got thrilling competition scheduled in our most awesome sport, while playoffs rage in [...]

Is it still September? Only a bit more of the ninth month remains, which is probably for the best. September is a month of massive flux in both social and climatic terms. While saying so long to summer hurts, autumn in the Northern Hemisphere deserves our full attention. Anyway, October still boasts some excellent migrations! What [...]

In the United States, the last nights of October mark Devil’s Night, which we celebrate with vicious vandalism and arson.  Oh wait, that’s just in Detroit! The rest of celebrate Halloween with costumes, candy, and sometimes vandalism and arson. How will you be spending this ghastly weekend? Will you be able to balance the natural with [...]

Now that October is on the wane, we’re sliding towards winter holidays and winter weather (some of us faster than others!) Good thing those events are attended by winter birds. Still, we would be wise to savor the last birds of the season, the ones coming and the ones going. What are you up to [...]

In the middle of October, most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the turning of the leaves and onset of full fall weather. How quickly that can turn to frost in my neck of the woods! Still, pumpkins are on the vine and birds on the wing… what more could you want? How are [...]

My, but August seems far away right now! Fall has fallen upon the Northern Hemisphere, while spring is springing in the Southern. This is a time of transformation and peregrination. Birds are on the move… are you? Fall is fully upon the Northern Hemisphere, which means that birds are well and truly on the move. How [...]

Notice the change in the length of days? Fall has fallen upon the Northern Hemisphere, while spring is springing in the Southern. This is a time of transformation and peregrination. Birds are on the move… are you? Fall is fully upon the Northern Hemisphere, which means that birds are well and truly on the move. How [...]

Here in the United States, we commemorate the last night of October with costumes, candy, and creepy, if not downright questionable behavior. Oh yeah, Halloween is here! Considering that All Hallow’s Eve is followed by El Día de los Muertos or All Souls’ Day, everyone should have something interesting planned, right? How will you be [...]

Wow, the fall foliage is full on where I happen to live. If your environment is anywhere near as enticing, you should have plenty to do this weekend! On that topic, what will you be doing this weekend? Will you be watching birds? Share your plans in the comments below. The family and I are [...]

Is autumn over already? My latitude seems to be suffering through an undesirable, though hardly unexpected early cold snap. What could be worse than winter weather without winter birds? Well, I’m sure you can think of some things but in any case, this situation is a drag. At least the weekend is on its way! [...]

As the world wafts into the heart of October, nature lovers at my latitude start paying attention to leaves. Actually, even those who foster the quaint notion that everything outside their car window is mere scenery get excited about trees and their teeming engines of photosynthesis because fall is all about FOLIAGE! Leaf peepers of [...]

Feel the chill in the air? See those leaves changing? These are signs of autumnal onset in the Northern Hemisphere. If you live in the United States, you’ve probably noticed a more reliable indicator: an insidious aggregation of Halloween candy and costumes in every single retail store. Scary! What will you be doing on this [...]

October is screaming to an end, which means that for many of us, fall migration is drawing to a close. If you’re closer to the equator than I am, you may still have a shot at interesting birds. At my latitude, however, the skies are filled mostly with falling leaves and errant snowflakes. What are [...]

Do you feel it in the air? The last whispers of summer are slipping away. Many of us grow wistful this time of year, and dear Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was no exception. Fortunately, she could find words for the sense of loss that accompanies the passing of a cherished season. One of the greatest of [...]

In the middle of October, nearly every migrant in on the move. Raptors and songbirds and butterflies and who knows what else are all winging their way closer to the equator. If you’re not on the move yourself, you could do worse that to lift your head to see the streams of birds sailing south [...]

Mid-October is a beautiful time of year in most parts of the world. Whatever you plan to do, do it in style. The 3-day weekend many of us in the United States will enjoy should inspire you to go big. You can dream big, play big, even sit big! Whatever you expect to do this [...]

The month of March gets great press for ending more placidly than it begins. Why isn’t October acknowledged, at least in the temperate zones above the equator, for coming in like a lamb but going out like a lion? Perhaps we’re too distracted by all that Halloween candy. What does this rather random point have [...]