
October is the tail end of bird migration. There is still time to go out and watch raptor migration (hawks and owls).
Events October 2019
- 2nd – Watch for Banded Woolly Bear Caterpillar now
- 5th – First Quarter Moon – waxing to full
- 11th – Little Brown Bats hibernate now
- 13th – Full Moon – Hunter’s Moon, Drying Grass Moon (Indian Moon Names)
- 21st – Last Quarter Moon – waning toward new
- 25th – Timber rattlesnakes winter in their dens
- 27th – New Moon
In The Night Sky, October 2019
- New Moon always rises near sunrise
- First Quarter rises near noon
- Full Moon always rises near sunset
- Last Quarter rises near midnight
- Moonrise occurs about 50 minutes later each day.
- Draconid Meteor Showers, Peak date is October 9th, 6 meteors per hour. Meteors originate in the northwest section of the sky. You can see the meteor best in the late evening.

Birds
- Young Barn Owls are establishing their own territories
- Sparrows and other seed-eating birds begin to migrate
- Keep hummingbirds feeders full and out until late fall. In the east, you may see a western species such as Rufus Hummingbird
- First Tree Sparrows usually are seen in early October
- Hawk migration is still taking place –
- Kestrels, Merlins, Peregrines migration peaks in early October see Hawk migration
- Broadwing Buteos (Red-tails, Red-shoulder Hawks) dominate in late October through November
Animals
- Northern brown bears begin hibernation as early as October
- Best fishing 1st through 13th, 27th through 31

Plants
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- The last of the native flowers are blooming or shutting down now.
- Sedums, asters, and goldenrods may be still blooming depending on where you are.
- New England Asters are still blooming and supplying nectar.
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In the Garden
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- During the cool days of October, I focus on the tasks that make you sweat. I work on the structure of the garden such as fences, gates, raised beds, and rain barrels, etc.
- Don’t prune your plants now. Pruning promotes growth. If you prune now, the tender new growth may freeze in the coming months and damage the plant.
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Related Posts
Bird of Prey Facts: What makes a Raptor a Raptor?
2019 Nature Almanacs
Nature Almanac: September 2019