A Guide to Seasonal Nature Happenings for Philadelphia,
Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and
Delaware
General Happenings
Equinoxes, Solstices and Cross-Quarter Days
Keeping a Seasonal Nature Journal
January
Birds: Watching water birds, the Mating season for Great Horned Owls
Sky: Quadrantids meteor shower
February
Birds: Feeder watching, winter birds, Great Backyard Bird Count
Nature festival: Imbolc (February 1st), Groundhog Day (February 1st)
March
Nature in Spring: An Overview of the Season
Birds: Waterfowl migration peaks by mid-March; Early nesting species begin breeding; Great Horned Owl and Bald Eagles may already be nesting; A few raptors migrate early; keep your bird feeders out as food is scarce in spring and seeds won’t be ready until summer;
Flowers: In bloom – Skunk Cabbage
Trees: Tree buds swell, pollen released
Sky: Spring Equinox March 21st or 22nd
Holidays: Spring Equinox
April
Birds: Year-round resident birds begin nesting; Bird northward migration begins, early northward migration of shorebirds; fill hummingbird feeders by end of April; Waterfowl mostly moved northward;
Butterflies: Cabbage Whites in flight
Insects: In-flight – Bumblebees, Eastern Carpenter Bees,
Flowers: In bloom – Virginia Bluebells, Shadbush, Dogwoods, Rhododendrons, Violets, Columbines, Foamflowers, Bleeding Hearts
Invasive Species: In bloom – Garlic Mustard,
Sky: Lyrids meteor shower
Nature festival – Earth Day (April 22nd); National Arbor Day
May
Birds; Peak of Spring northward migration of land birds, Great Dawn Chorus begins
Flowers: In bloom – Coral Bells, Sweetspire
Sky: Eta Aquarids meteor shower
Nature festival: Beltane – May 1st
June
Nature in Summer: An Overview of the Season
Birds: Peak of Nesting Season
Sky: Summer solstice, June 21st or 22nd
Weather: When is Hurricane Season?
July
Birds: Young birds begin fledgling; Shorebirds begin their southward migration
Butterflies: Many butterflies in flight
Sky: S. Delta Aquarids meteor shower
Special days: Dog Days – July 3rd to August 11th
August
Birds: The autumn migration begins
Flowers: In bloom – Cardinal Flower, Pickerelweed, Rose Mallow, Giant Purple Hyssop, Summer Phlox
Trees: Leaves begin to change color
Sky: Perseids meteor shower
Nature festival: Lammas or Lughansadh (first fruits)
September
Nature in Autumn: An Overview of the Season
Birds: Peak time for the southward migration of land birds; Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have departed by October 15th
Hawks: Peak of migration for American Kestrel, Broad-winged Hawk, Osprey
Sky: Autumn Equinox, Harvest moon
Autumn Moons for Nature Journal Keeping
October
Birds: Peak of southward migration of waterfowl and hawks
Hawks: Peak of migration for Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawks, Northern Harrier, Osprey, Bald Eagle
Butterflies: Migration southward by Monarch and Buckeyes
Mammals: Squirrels are frantically gathering food for winter, they may dig in your flower pots. Male White-tailed deer are eager to mate (going into a rut)
Trees/Shrubs: Fall foliage peaks third week in October
Flowers: Asters and Goldenrods in bloom
Sky: Draconids meteor shower (Oct. 8-9); Orionids meteor shower (Oct. 21-22), Hunter’s Moon
Nature festival: All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween)
November
Birds: Winter birds arrive, shorebirds winter along the coast
Hawks: Peak of migration for Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Groshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture
Citizen Science: Project Feederwatch begins
Sky: S. Taurids meteor shower, Leonids meteor shower
Nature festival: All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween
December
Nature in Winter: An Overview of the Season
Birds: Watching winter birds, Eagles wintering at Conowingo Dam in Maryland
Citizen Science: Christmas Bird Counts
Sky: Winter Solstice, Geminids meteor shower, Ursids meteor shower