Some resident birds may get third brood out this season | Bird Notes

As the breeding season rolls on, more and more avian offspring appear all around us.

Some of our resident birds have already fledged their second broods, and may get a third done before the season ends. The confines where I live are once again an avian nursery of sorts with youngsters having been shown by their parents where food, water and shelter can be found, while many of the adults are already busy with their next nesting attempt.

It can be interesting and entertaining to observe the antics of these young birds as they begin to make their own way into the world beyond their nests.

A few folks have been happy to report seeing swallow-tailed kites recently in the south strand area.

These amazing birds of prey are primarily insectivores, and anywhere there might be a congregation of dragonflies (among their favorite food items) there’s always the possibility to see one of these elegant birds of prey plying its trade. A reminder, you can assist in the study of these wonderful Aves. If you should happen to observe a swallow-tailed kite, please report your sighting at: http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/swallowtail-kite.php The data collected helps biologists and others involved to know more about the habits of the kites and is helpful to conservation efforts on behalf of the species.

Our tiniest feathered friends, ruby-throated hummingbirds, continue to engage in their annual reproductive activities. Much of these minuscule marvels’ time is spent in search of tiny insect prey now, and the proliferation of flowering plants currently in bloom enables them to limit their visits to backyard feeders. Hummers are most likely to visit feeders early in the morning or late in the afternoon, spending the better part of their day bug-hunting, or merely trying to beat the heat on warmer days. As the youngsters continue to fledge and their numbers increase, there will be more noticeable activity at feeders. In just a few short weeks, our territorial males will be giving up their territories and starting to wander as they prepare for their arduous southward journeys.

As females finish with their nesting duties, they will begin to follow, and the vast majority of the birds we see from mid-July through August will be juveniles. The peak numbers of hummingbirds in our area occurs during the first two weeks of August, as birds from farther northern breeding areas make their way through on the way to their winter destinations.

This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Some resident birds may get third brood out this season | Bird Notes."