Reptile hatchings, early migrations mark month

Now, we have August, when high summer turns into late summer and many wild creatures race against time to finish their nesting seasons and prepare for fall.

As we head into late summer, here’s a look at wild goings-on in Georgia:

■ On coastal barrier islands, loggerhead sea turtles will continue to crawl onto sandy beaches on moonlit nights to lay their eggs through August. Biologists believe that this year’s nesting season, which began in early May, will set a record for sea turtle nests in Georgia. The current record is 2,289 set in 2013. Baby turtles will continue to hatch and crawl into the ocean surf through October.

■ In the Okefenokee Swamp and other South Georgia wetlands, baby alligators will be hatching through mid-September; young gators may be heard “clucking” to their mothers.

■ This month, through September, the young of most of Georgia’s 41 snake species will be born. Some will hatch from eggs; oth- ers are born alive.

■ For several species of songbirds, shorebirds and raptors, fall migration already is underway. Some songbirds, such as the or- chard oriole, prairie warbler and Louisiana water thrush, began leaving in July for winter homes in the southern tropics.

■ Ruby-throated hum- mingbirds also are heading south. For the next few weeks through Labor Day they will be showing up in peak numbers at feeders. Be sure to change the nectar every few days.

■ Common nighthawks are darting around outdoor lights, scooping up flying insects. Chimney swifts will be gathering soon in huge flocks. Swallows and purple martins will be gathering in flocks over water or perching on telephone lines in preparation for their migration.

■ White-tailed bucks are shedding antler velvet to get in shape for their breeding season, which starts in October.

■ In Georgia’s Piedmont, many late summer/ early fall wildflowers, including lobelia, blazing star, goldenrod and hairy false foxglove, begin blooming on roadsides and field edges. Campion, Queen Anne’s lace, cardinal flower, Joe-pye weed, ironweed, virgin’s bower and other wildflowers also are blooming now.

In the sky: From David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer: The moon, still appearing as full Saturday night, will “shrink” to last quarter by Thursday. Mercury is low in the west just after sunset. Saturn is in the southwest just after dark and sets in the west just after midnight. Venus, Mars and Jupiter are not easily seen right now.

BY STEVE MASLOWSKI / U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CONTRIBUTED August is prime migration time for the ruby throated hummingbird, which heads south to winter homes in Central America and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.