JANUARY

• Project FeederWatch continues, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• Watch for mixed flocks of birds to feed on winter berries, poison ivy and cedar trees.
• Now through late March is a difficult time for birds; providing food and an open source of water is important.
• During the first or second week of January, the first returning Purple Martins will be seen along the coast.
• Squirrel mating season.
• Woodpeckers are easy to spot on leafless trees.
• Waterfowl are present on the coast or on deep-water lakes.
• Coastal states host many wintering hummingbirds that need a reliable source of nectar.
• During late January or early February, Great Horned Owls will be sitting on their eggs.
• Bald Eagles begin nesting behavior.
• Wood Stork colony formation begins.
• Barred Owl: (January - February) nesting peak (incubation 28-33 days).
• Quadrantid Meteor Shower early in the month. See up to 60 falling meteors per hour!

FEBRUARY

• Great Backyard Bird Count, mid-month, www.birdsource.org/gbbc
• Project FeederWatch continues, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• February is National Bird Feeding Month
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach the Gulf Coast in late February.
• Early migrant warblers, including the Northern Parula, start to arrive along the Gulf Coast.
• Have houses ready for Purple Martins that will return by end of the month.
• Be sure to have nesting boxes ready for bluebirds as they select their nesting territories this month.
• Barred Owls and Eastern Screech Owls are courting.
• As days lengthen, Tufted Titmice and cardinals begin to sing.
• American Robin spring migration begins in late February.
• Flocks of Cedar Waxwings can be seen feeding on berries.

MARCH

• Project FeederWatch continues, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• Hummingbirds arrive. Be sure to have their feeders ready.
• Goldfinches begin to molt into their brilliant yellow plumage.
• Bluebirds begin nesting by the end of the month. Be sure to have their houses ready, and begin monitoring them by the middle of the month (incubation 14 days; fledging in 18 days).
• Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Crows and Blue Jays begin nesting.
• Screech Owls are sitting on their eggs.
• Peak of Eastern Screech-Owl nesting.
• Osprey begin nesting.
• Tufted Titmice begin nesting at the end of the month.