What to look for in May

American Crow

nests high in tall pines; crows go quiet and secretive near the nest

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Osprey

Georgia nest cam: eggs early-mid March, hatch mid-April, young fledge mid-June

Pandion haliaetus carolinensis

Bald Eagle

Georgia: eggs Nov-Feb, hatch Jan-Feb, young fledge late March to early May

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Black Vulture

lays 2 eggs on bare ground in old barns or thickets; no nest is built

Coragyps atratus

Blue Jay

unusually quiet near the nest; some young fledge as late as July or August

Cyanocitta cristata

Brown Anole

one egg about every 14 days in moist soil or rotten wood; hatches in 30-45 days

Anolis sagrei

Canada Goose

Georgia resident flock: nesting began late February and ended early June

Branta canadensis

Carolina Chickadee

pairs check cavities late January, build late Feb-March; clutches start about mid-April

Poecile carolinensis

Carolina Wren

often raises a second brood; nests in odd spots such as mailboxes and flower pots

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Chipping Sparrow

two, sometimes three broods; the flimsy cup nest is often lined with hair

Spizella passerina

Common Snapping Turtle

female digs a nest for 20-40 eggs; hatchlings appear in August

Chelydra serpentina

Coyote

pups are born in dug-out dens or brush piles; they first come out at 3-4 weeks old

Canis latrans

Downy Woodpecker

pairs excavate nest holes from mid-January; nestlings by early May

Dryobates pubescens

Eastern Bluebird

typically two broods a year in cavities and nest boxes

Sialia sialis

Eastern Box Turtle

3-6 eggs in a shallow nest; hatchlings appear in late summer or early fall

Terrapene carolina carolina

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

about 80% of the young are born April-July

Sylvilagus floridanus

Eastern Fence Lizard

3-16 eggs in late spring or early summer; young hatch in summer and fall

Sceloporus undulatus

Eastern Musk Turtle

up to 2 clutches of 1-9 eggs under debris or in rotten logs; hatch Aug-Sep

Sternotherus odoratus

Eastern Phoebe

mud-and-moss nests under bridges and eaves; eggs by early April

Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Screech-Owl

uses tree cavities and nest boxes; eggs found late March to mid-April

Megascops asio

Eurasian Collared-Dove

3-4 broods a year; can nest in any month with enough food

Streptopelia decaocto

Fish Crow

listen for the nasal 'uh-uh' call; nests 1-2 months later than American Crow

Corvus ossifragus

Great Blue Heron

colonial nests high in treetops; building from mid-January, hatching late March-April

Ardea herodias

Great Horned Owl

eggs from December, hatch late Jan to Feb; young leave the nest early April to May

Bubo virginianus

Green Anole

one egg every two weeks in moist soil or rotten wood; hatches in 5-7 weeks

Anolis carolinensis

Green Heron

solitary nester; a Carolina Piedmont nest held four young on 11 May

Butorides virescens

House Finch

may raise 1-6 broods a year

Haemorhous mexicanus

Mourning Dove

peaks May into July; Georgia doves average three nestings a year

Zenaida macroura

Northern Cardinal

first nests built early to mid-March; three or more broods in the Carolina Piedmont

Cardinalis cardinalis

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

Pileated Woodpecker

one brood; a Catawba River nest had nestlings 7 May and fledged by 21 May

Dryocopus pileatus

Pine Warbler

nest building from mid-March, eggs by late March, high on pine limbs

Setophaga pinus

Pond Slider

some hatchlings stay in the nest over winter and emerge the next spring

Trachemys scripta

Red-bellied Woodpecker

excavation seen from late January; 1-3 broods; one Carolina nest fledged on 15 July

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-shouldered Hawk

active nests from February; most flightless young are found May-June

Buteo lineatus

Red-tailed Hawk

nest building February-March; nestlings April to early July

Buteo jamaicensis

River Cooter

hatchlings often stay in the nest over winter and emerge in spring

Pseudemys concinna

Rock Pigeon

can nest in every month of the year

Columba livia

Southeastern Mud Turtle

2-5 eggs; hatchlings often stay underground until the next spring

Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum

Southern Painted Turtle

females nest by day; hatchlings usually stay in the nest until spring

Chrysemys dorsalis

Striped Skunk

births are bunched in May and June; litters average six kits

Mephitis mephitis

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

Turkey Vulture

eggs found mid-April to early May; young take 60-84 days to fledge

Cathartes aura

White-tailed Deer

fawns are born May-August, peaking in June; a fawn alone is normal, so leave it

Odocoileus virginianus

Wild Turkey

most Georgia hens lay late March to early April

Meleagris gallopavo

Wood Duck

most ducklings hatch and leave the nest April-May; 1-2 broods

Aix sponsa