Date: 07/25/2021

Number: 2

I hope that someone reads this: I normally have many monarchs by now, with first sightings coming earlier than this. Today, for the first time this year, I have observed two on my property. Please note that I own 5 acres, all of it turned over to monarch and pollinator habitat. I can provide a listing of the plants and flowers that I offer to them and other pollinators if requested.
I believe that we are no longer experiencing climate change -- it is clearly changed - it is now. I have very few birds, and those that I observe are struggling. My orioles did not raise a brood this year after three successful years in a row. They came to my feeders, so I know they were there. They brought no young to the feeders as they usually do, and have now disappeared -- very early for them Same of the barn shallows - no brood, whose nest sits on my porch, gone before their usual departure date. They usually grow a brood of 4 - none this year. I am reluctant to fill my bird bath and mister -- the heat makes the water hot, and I am afraid they will burn. I do not see many finches, sparrows, or cardinals, bluebirds, or other small songbird types. I do see many see blue jays and grackles. Despite draught, the native wildflowers are doing well, but the few pollinators I see are my neighbor's honey bees, some mason bees, humming bird moths, one yellow swallow tail butterfly, and one blue swallowtail that I usually see on dill that I plant for their caterpillars in the late spring, but am only seeing for the first time now. While I know there are more in my fields than I am seeing, this is not normal.
Is this happening elsewhere or am I just further off the migration highways this year?

Frederick, MD

Latitude: 39.5 Longitude: -77.4

Observed by: Ellen
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