Barn Swallows gather on telephone wires, and white-tailed deer begin their annual wardrobe change, shedding their sleek red summer coats in favor of thicker, ashy-brown winter fur (don’t worry, it looks a little patchy but it’s a sign of good health!). Cicadas are singing their famously loud songs using drum-like structures called tymbals. Late bloomers like goldenrod, Joe Pye weed, and buttonbush light up meadows and wetlands, while American Goldfinches nest among thistle as they wait for peak seed season. Keep an eye out for Sphinx Moth caterpillars in your garden (they especially love tomato leaves!), Red Chanterelles on trails, and nighthawks swooping at dusk. And don’t forget to look up: mid-August brings the Sturgeon Moon on August 9th, also known as the Green Corn Moon by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and the dazzling peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower on August 12.
