molting season

i’ve been  talking a lot about seasons lately. in addition to it being bee balm and  sunflower season, it is also molting season. birds typically molt when there food is most abundant, and the weather mild. because it takes an enormous amount of energy to molt. it also leaves the birds quite vulnerable while they are in transition.  our sandhill crane pair is dropping feathers, large and small, every day in our back yard. and just yesterday i found my first blue jay feather. blue jays typically molt in august. if you are out hiking, or even walking the neighborhood, pay attention to the ground. it’s molted feather season.

molted sandhill crane feathers