30 Sep Molt | Sept 2026

Get Ready! Get Set! Molt!

Great-tailed Grackle, During Molt

It’s that time of the year when birds molt.

As you must know, birds change their feathers.

First, their old, worn feathers drop off. And then they grow new feathers.

During this exchange, birds will look different, maybe disheveled, and perhaps even strange.

For example, the above photo shows a Great-tailed Grackle who is growing a new tail.

Normally, this bird has an extra long tail, as shown in the photo below.

Great-tailed Grackle, Male

Now, this molt season can be an inspiration for humans.

At least, it’s a reminder that life is an ongoing experience of change.

So imagine, what if we discarded our old, worn feathers?

Then we could grow new feathers.

Of course, for humans these “feathers” might be old, worn activities, habits, or thoughts.

Then we could grow better activities, healthier habits, and kinder thoughts.

Here’s an invitation to molt from our friends, the birds.

The birds are chirping encouragement for you. They want you to be bold, courageous, and creative.

Once you finish, you can perch on a branch and sing, “Look at me in my new feathers!”

Then the world will applaud its approval.

And someone might even take photo of you while you’re up there.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Find More at:

Don’t Cry for Me, Audubon

Make Small Changes

Renewal

Did You Know?

The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.

Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.

1) American Bird Conservancy

2) The Nature Conservancy

3) The Trust for Public Land

Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.

Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation

You can help – Please share this blog with others.

Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.

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