Many birds will be more active in July

June is a relatively sedentary month for local bird species. Most are settled into nesting territories, not just locally but across the continent. But as we head into July we will start to see some subtle changes in bird behaviors. Some species will begin to show signs of restlessness in anticipation of long journeys ahead. Birds that have been absent from view in our backyards may suddenly reappear. The reasons? Family groups are now on the wing together for the first time, and fall migration may actually have begun for some species and individuals.

Hummingbirds will reclaim feeders as their own and engage in aerial warfare in defense of their stake against the increasing numbers of southbound birds. Various woodpecker species, Carolina wrens, Eastern bluebirds, Northern cardinals and others will bring their recently fledged young to feeders, especially if suet dough is offered.

I noticed a family group of four barn swallows gliding through my neighborhood this week. They will be departing sometime this month. Purple martins are also close to abandoning the houses and gourds where they raised their chicks, if they haven’t already. They will join other colonies to form large flocks into August. Indeed, some local nesters may have already departed. Louisiana waterthrushes, among the earliest spring arrivals, are likewise the earliest to move out. Orchard orioles won’t be far behind.

Many shorebirds have already left their Arctic breeding grounds and will begin passing through in a week or two. They will be adults; the young will follow later in the summer. If dry conditions continue to create low water levels at area ponds, this could be a very good shorebird year in Mecklenburg County. Check exposed muddy shores and bars to find them.

It’s not just the small shorebirds and songbirds that we will notice being in a restless mood. Large waders such as little blue herons, snowy egrets and great egrets actually disperse north and west in summer. Look now for large white birds along the edges of lakes and ponds. Some raptors wander north, too. If you are really, really, really lucky you might spot a swallow-tailed kite passing overhead.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 2:49 PM with the headline "Many birds will be more active in July."