Nature Happenings - June

• Luna moths can be seen at night.
• Garter snakes are seen in yards.
• Viceroy, Fritillary and Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly mating seasons.
• Listen for the sound of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird's wings as it darts about in search of insects and nectar.
• Keep nectar feeders fresh and change sugar solutions every three days as the temperature rises.
• Many summer birds are not frequent feeder visitors but will seek out fresh water to beat the summer heat.
• In new open space, watch for Say's Phoebes, Western Kingbirds, shrikes and various flycatchers to search for flying insects and water to wash them down.
• Some cavity-dwelling species may attempt to start a second brood, so check your nest boxes to clean out sterile eggs, spiders, wasps or other debris and consider adding fresh cedar shavings. 
• This is the ideal time for bird watching. Many birds can be identified by their song because they are on their nesting territories and are very vocal, especially during the early morning.
• Its resounding Te-Cher, Te-Cher, Te-Cher song is often the only indication of the elusive ovenbird.
• June 5 is World Environment Day.
• Tune into the Peregrine Web Cams on the Alberta Conservation Association website to see the first young peregrine chicks hatching.
• You have an excellent chance of seeing grizzly bears foraging on vegetation along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper.
• Baltimore orioles have established territories in many parkland forest locations near Buffalo and Miquelon Lakes. Listen for their strident calls and watch for a flash of orange and black of the male oriole in the treetops.
• Wood lillies are blooming in the aspen stands at lower elevations in the mountains.
• Wild flower blooms on the Blakiston fan in Waterton Lakes National Park are at their peak.
• See the white flowers of Labrador tea in the boreal forest of northern Alberta.
• The flutelike song of the hermit thrush is heard in the boreal zone.
• In late June, Ferruginous Hawks begin to fledge from their tree nests or artificial nesting platforms on poles.
• June 21 is Summer Solstice - longest day of the year. Have fun reading your newspaper outside at 11pm! In Central Alberta, and north, at this time of year we are in perpetual twilight. Through the year, the Sun's apparent position in the sky from south to north and back again changes by approximately 46 degrees.
• Full Moon is June 3, dubbed Strawberry Moon.