Today, August 21 2017, the United States witnessed the rare event of a coast-to-coast total Solar Eclipse. It’s been called the “Great American Eclipse.”

However, the total solar eclipse (which brings about 2 minutes of nighttime darkness due to the moon totally blocking out the sun) happened only in certain areas where the moon’s shadow cast a thin strip of blackness across the US. Most of the US – including New Jersey – experienced a partial eclipse, where the moon partially blocked out the sun.

During the time of the eclipse, I noticed the bird life around me was pretty much normal. I saw a pair of mourning doves and a pair of pigeons just minding their own business, pecking the ground for food.

Of course, the birds’ behavior might be different during a total solar eclipse, when it becomes so dark it looks like night. Birds may suddenly stop singing, become less active, and maybe even think it’s time to roost!