Summer begins to wind down during the month of August. Head outdoors to hear the music of the katydids, see animals preparing for upcoming cooler weather, and view nature in the parks.

Here are some things to look and listen for during the month:

• Royal terns will be feeding and flying about Sandy Hook Bay. See if you can get a glimpse of them at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth.
• Many transient fish that arrive following the Gulf Stream enter our bay waters that are between 74-78°F (ex. butterfly fish, bigeyes, or angel fish).
• Katydids are in full chorus. Enjoy their summer music while camping at Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold.
  
• Tent caterpillar eggs are deposited as globs on cherry twigs. They will survive in an antifreeze solution of sweet glycerol.
• Look for praying mantis around your home; they eat flies, bees, wasps, and caterpillars.
• Chipmunks hoarding food for winter. Some have observed up to 31 large corn kernels or 60-70 sunflower seeds in a chipmunks cheek pouches.
• Tupelos and red maples turn red.
  

In bloom:

• Asters
  
• Boneset
• Chicory
• Goldenrod
• Lavender
  
• Rose mallow
• Sweet pepperbush
  

During this month:

• Bird and hawk migration begins. Birds prepare to migrate south to Florida and the Golf Coast.
• This is the time of greatest bird abundance as this year's fledging are added to the adults, before the losses of migration.
• Bats return to their wintering caves/mines during the fourth week.
• Normally considered a dry month, August is when droughts are most likely to occur.
• Seawater is warm enough in southern New England to support hurricanes.
  

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