June abounds with life and new babies
Now, we have June, the high tide of the year’s life, the month when the natural world seems most in harmony.
Georgia’s fields, meadows and woods -- even the roadsides -- are lush with new growth. Saxifrage, Turk’s cap lily, Queen Anne’s lace, tall meadow rue, coreopsis, whorled loosestrife and fleabane are just some of the many wildflowers blooming.
The world seems to literally vibrate now with the countless hummings, rustlings, singings and buzzings of living things. Among wild creatures, parenthood is the chief occupation. White-tailed deer, bats, bobcats, beavers, striped skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, rabbits -- all are giving birth this month.
Early June is prime bird nesting time. Even if you live in the city, you might be amazed at the number of species nesting in your yard or neighborhood. You may want to keep a June list of nesting birds in your area.
Chimney swifts may be nesting in the chimney. Barn swallows may be in an old outbuilding. Carolina wrens may be rearing their babies in the garage. Under the front porch roof, phoebes may be nesting.
In the trees and shrubs in your yard or somewhere close by you’re apt to find cardinals, robins, mockingbirds, brown thrashers, blue jays, gray catbirds and perhaps wood thrushes nesting. If you have fruit trees on your property, you might be hosting orchard orioles.
Bluebirds are nesting in bluebird boxes, but other cavity nesters such as titmice and Carolina chickadees also may be using the boxes. Woodpeckers may be tending babies in cavities in old snags, or still-standing dead trees. If you are near a stream or wetland, red-winged blackbirds may be nesting among the cattails; belted kingfishers may be in their burrow-like nests in stream banks.
June, in essence, has it all, whether you're most interested in wildflowers, birds, butterflies, trees, frogs, snakes, turtles or mammals.
In the sky: The moon will be full Monday -- the Green Corn Moon, as the Cherokee people called June's full moon, said David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer. Mercury is low in the west at dusk. Mars is high in the south just after dark and sets in the west after midnight. Jupiter is low in the east just before dawn. Saturn is high in the east at dark and is visible most of the night.
Venus is too close to the sun for easy observation. However, it will be visible as a tiny dot passing in front of the sun (Venus Transit) Tuesday beginning around 6:09 p.m. and continuing until sunset at 8:45 p.m. Since first predicted by the German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler in the 17th century, only six Venus Transits have been seen. The next one will occur in 2117. Note: Extreme precaution -- such as use of proper solar filters -- must be taken when observing the event or permanent eye damage can occur.
Tellus Museum’s Observatory in Cartersville will be open for this event. The Atlanta Astronomy Club also will have telescopes at various locations around the city to help the public safely view the transit. More information: http://atlantaastronomy.org.
