Wild wonders await across North Carolina

Some amazing natural events take place just about daily in streams, fields and woods near our homes.
The NC Wildlife Federation produces a great calendar to keep us aware. For instance, I have visited Smoky Mountains National Park in July and never knew, until now, that within walking distance of park campgrounds and picnic areas, black bear males were on the prowl for black bear females. And I thought they only wanted my food! If you find this sort of thing interesting, too, you can get daily or monthly calendars from the NC Wildlife Federation. Here is July's calendar to get you started. Enjoy, and watch out for mating bears! – Michaelina

Nature's July calendar

• July 1: Black skimmers are nesting on our more remote beaches and barrier islands.
• July 4: Blackberries are ripe.
• July 5: Bobwhite eggs are hatching.
• July 7: Summer runs of white perch make for good fishing on the Chowan River.
• July 8: Bog turtles are nesting in mountain and foothill wetlands. Unlike most turtles, this rare species usually does not excavate a nest in soil, but instead conceals its small egg clutch in a moss or sedge clump.
• July 10: Squirrel treefrogs, eastern narrowmouth toads, and oak toads breed in temporary wetlands after heavy summer thunderstorms.
• July 12: American goldfinches are nesting. These familiar and colorful finches depend on mature thistles for food and nesting material, and are thus among our latest nesters, raising only one brood per year.
• July 15: Peak flight period for our largest butterfly, the giant swallowtail, in the outer Coastal Plain.

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