You can hear male elks bugling all over the mountains and in the beautiful mountain valleys as they vie for the affections of females.
Aspen leaves begin to change to a beautiful shade of gold which dot the mountainsides.
Without question, September is our most settled and beautiful month, with North American weather systems taking a breather to offer glorious warm days and cool nights as we settle into autumn's arrival.
Bird populations are transitioning in preparation for winter - some birds move out, some birds come back and some become nomadic in their search for food, water and shelter.
American Goldfinches molt into a dull, nondescript color, even changing the color of the beak from orange to black.
Jays become nomadic and revisit yards in search of food which they can store through burial. Peanuts in the shell are their favorite.
Watch for Common Nighthawks hunting over open ground for flying insects in the late afternoon light. Hummingbirds are active at feeders and at flowers, sourcing protein from spiders and insects and sipping nectar for sugars. Male hummingbirds start their southbound migration this month, averaging 20 miles a day to wintering grounds in Central America and Mexico. Females head south later and juveniles will stay around until early October.
