This has indeed been an interesting discussion, confirming what I have seen. I
have disposed of and replaced nectar in the HB feeder 3 times now;
though I see HB's all around the house, and they make pitstops at the
water fountain, they aren't interested in the feeder right now. Hooded
Orioles are not eating us out of home & home this year, though I
hear them throughout the neighborhood. We only have 1 pair that visits.
Last year we had at least a dozen individuals. The
Lesser Goldfinches have ignored the Nyger Seed sock, though they
occasionally come for water. Last year I could barely keep it full. House Finches rarely come for seed. On the other hand, we have had Orange-crowned Warblers, Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos nest and fledge here.
Ellen Tipping Irvine

   
    
     
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This is an interesting query Ive been considering for a month now. Here at my house in coastal San Diego, where we have a lush native plant and pollinator-oriented yard, I noticed approximately a month ago that almost all our resident birds had disappeared within a day or two of each other. The departure was strikingly sudden. House finches, song sparrows, goldfinches, towhees, juncos, bushtits, mourning doves, etc. In the past month, like Amelia, weve seen only a handful of birds each day. Although we have about 15 different hummingbird-attracting flower species in full bloom and several feeders, we have maybe 4 hummingbirds regularly visiting the yard.
I was wondering if that may be because the winter rains made for an abundance of seeds and insects in wilder areas. But I am not seeing an increase in bird numbers in those wilder areas. So, inconclusive.
So the next questions is, is it avian flu Did not see any distressed birds prior to their abandoning the yard, but that doesnt mean much either.
And as for migrants, although radar seems to have shown a fairly good migration push, we have seen virtually no migrants this spring.
So I think this is possibly a southern California-wide phenomenon. It would be interesting to see whether something like eBird data analysis would tell us more about actual numbers of birds region-wide. Its so hard to generalize from ones own, or even a few, postage-stamp-sized backyards.
Stan Walens San Diego
   
    
     
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Hello Everyone,

Today I saw the following birds at the Fullerton Arboretum:

Black-headed Grosbeak, Female

Orange-crowned Warbler

Townsend's Warbler, Female

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Female

Song Sparrow

American Robin, Female

White-crowned Sparrow

In addition, the Pin-tailed Whydah, Male, landed so close to me that I was able to take portrait photos.

Wish you the best,

Steve Kaye

Ken and I did our own informal CBC in San Clemente today. We got about 38 birds. Of interesting note, the Talega Golf Course had Western Bluebirds, a pair of Phainopepla, and a returning Hooded Merganser as well as Canada Geese, Coots, Snowy Egret, Ruddy Ducks, American Widgeon, Song Sparrows, and House Finches.
--
Sachi Fukuman
San Clemente

Another great day of migrants and others today at Huntington Central Park.
Lots of activity at a wooded area with trickle of including abundant Yellow-rumps, Orange-crowned, Townsends, Black-throated Gray, Wilsons, Nashvilles and this Hermit Warbler, which was a lifer for me. Also abundant Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cassins and Warbling Vireo, Pac-slope Flycatcher, all coming in to bathe near a wooded area with creek-like water flow. Its the wooded area near the center of the park where there is a blooming Erythrina tree with bright red-orange blossoms. Wilsons were singing away. A male Downy woodpecker flew in and a Nuttalls Woodpecker frequents the Erythrina tree, as do the Hooded Orioles. A Song Sparrow sang non-stop, and Bushtits, Lesser Goldfinch and California Towhees were in the area. The thick brush near the water looked like a great place for a MacGillivrays to show up but no deal.

Anyone seen a Calliope lately in the Secret Garden

Daniel Barica
Huntington Beach

I was disappointed to read that "three experienced Sea and Sage birders" told Ron that American Robins are not found in Orange County. It is so easy to get information about status and distribution of local birds from eBird and from a book called "The Birds of Orange County, CA: Status and Distribution" by Robb Hamilton and Doug Willick. I suggest that every birder here in OC should have the latter book which is available for sale at Audubon House (after it reopens when its safe from the pandemic). Page 47 clearly shows the robin as fairly common in every month of the year. The distribution bar graphs make it very simple to see when a bird is here in the county.
This story reminds us to be careful about who we trust for our source of birding information. Mere membership in Sea and Sage Audubon may not be enough. Be sure to refer to trusted biologists like Robb and Doug for your birding information!
PS To Ron, please let your three friends know that they need to buy this book! :-)

PSS Remember that all purchases from the Sea and Sage Audubon House support our important birding projects.
Trude Hurd Project Director of Education Sea and Sage Audubon Society
      
          

              
                   On Friday, April 10, 2020, 03:25:41 PM PDT, Ron Grabyan  wrote:
              
              

              

               Since we have a slowdown in birding, I am taking this opportunity to address one of my favorite birds, the American Robin.  This bird has been visiting my neighborhood every year between February and July. It leaves usually by early July.  There are several locations in a  mile stretch of greenbelt and homes in the Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Ca area (near UCI).  Three of the photos were taken in my backyard.  I was told over the last 3 years by 3 very experienced and well-respected Sea & Sage birders that the American Robin isnt found in Orange County, and they have never seen one here.  Since I started photographing birds in 2014, and then became more involved in birding in 2017 by taking several of Sylvias classes, I thought I would photo-document the American Robin in my neighborhood (just 2 miles from the San Joaquin Marsh) for 2018, 2019, and 2020.  They just arrived in the last week for this yearat least the first I had heard or seen them yet this year.  Their call/song is very distinctive and carries a long distancevery soulful. Please see below:
American Robin
Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA
Found in 2018, 2019, and 2020 between the months of January and July only.
The following birds were logged into eBird with photos for documentation:

4/10/2020  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359651  33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359681

6/7/2019  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222368451  33 38' 45.71" N, 117 48' 37.95" W

5/30/2019  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222367761  33 38' 40.44" N, 117 48' 32.26" W

4/23/2018  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222366041  33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

3/29/2018  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222363301  33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

1/30/2018  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222362361  33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

Another typical location for American Robin in this locality is 33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W (this is very near the corner of Turtle Rock Drive and Starcrest).
I photographed a hooded Oriole there this morning.

The habitat is an Irvine greenbelt with trees, bushes, shrubs and grass.  Typical trees are Sycamore, Pine, Alder, Liquid Amber, English Birch, etc.
Typical bushes are Xylosma and Indian Hawthorne, etc.

Typical Birds in this area are as follows (seen at some time during the year):

American Robin              T urkey Vulture   Pacific Slope Flycatcher 
California Quail               Red-shouldered Hawk   Black Phoebe 
Mourning Dove  Red-tailed Hawk   Cassins Kingbird
White-throated Swift           White-tailed Kite  Western Kingbird
Annas Hummingbird  Great Horned Owl  American Crow
Allens Hummingbird           Nuttalls Woodpecker  Bushtit
Great Egret                  Acord Woodpecker            Northern Mockingbird
Western Bluebird  Cedar Waxwing               House Sparrow
House Finch                  Lesser Goldfinch             W hite-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow                California Towhee  Spotted Towhee
Hooded Oriole  Orange-crowned Warbler       Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler         Black-throated Gray Warbler     House Wren

I am sure others have Orange County localities for the American Robin also......everyone stay safe and virus-free!!!
Ron Grabyan
Irvine, California

Since we have a slowdown in birding, I am taking this opportunity to address one of my favorite birds, the American Robin. This bird has been visiting my neighborhood every year between February and July. It leaves usually by early July. There are several locations in a mile stretch of greenbelt and homes in the Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Ca area (near UCI). Three of the photos were taken in my backyard. I was told over the last 3 years by 3 very experienced and well-respected Sea & Sage birders that the American Robin isnt found in Orange County, and they have never seen one here. Since I started photographing birds in 2014, and then became more involved in birding in 2017 by taking several of Sylvias classes, I thought I would photo-document the American Robin in my neighborhood (just 2 miles from the San Joaquin Marsh) for 2018, 2019, and 2020. They just arrived in the last week for this yearat least the first I had heard or seen them yet this year. Their call/song is very distinctive and carries a long distancevery soulful. Please see below:
American Robin
Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA
Found in 2018, 2019, and 2020 between the months of January and July only.
The following birds were logged into eBird with photos for documentation:

4/10/2020 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359651 33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359681

6/7/2019 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222368451 33 38' 45.71" N, 117 48' 37.95" W

5/30/2019 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222367761 33 38' 40.44" N, 117 48' 32.26" W

4/23/2018 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222366041 33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

3/29/2018 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222363301 33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

1/30/2018 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222362361 33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

Another typical location for American Robin in this locality is 33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W (this is very near the corner of Turtle Rock Drive and Starcrest).
I photographed a hooded Oriole there this morning.

The habitat is an Irvine greenbelt with trees, bushes, shrubs and grass. Typical trees are Sycamore, Pine, Alder, Liquid Amber, English Birch, etc.
Typical bushes are Xylosma and Indian Hawthorne, etc.

Typical Birds in this area are as follows (seen at some time during the year):

American Robin T urkey Vulture Pacific Slope Flycatcher
California Quail Red-shouldered Hawk Black Phoebe
Mourning Dove Red-tailed Hawk Cassins Kingbird
White-throated Swift White-tailed Kite Western Kingbird
Annas Hummingbird Great Horned Owl American Crow
Allens Hummingbird Nuttalls Woodpecker Bushtit
Great Egret Acord Woodpecker Northern Mockingbird
Western Bluebird Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow
House Finch Lesser Goldfinch W hite-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow California Towhee Spotted Towhee
Hooded Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler House Wren

I am sure others have Orange County localities for the American Robin also......everyone stay safe and virus-free!!!
Ron Grabyan
Irvine, California

For those interested in what the base of the dam looks like, pic linked below from this morning. Sad... I had so many lifers at that location and it used to be one of the best spots in the park. I birded the area along the creek from Shelter 3 down to Shelters 1 and 2. There were birds, but mostly Munia, Orange-crowned Warblers and Song Sparrows. Depressing.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y7ATUS3SHB3wuGSH9
Jeff Bray Irvine, CA

Yes, it does sound high (I said wow at the time), but we cover the whole park from the helipad at the west end to almost Graham Street at the other end. We divide it into four groups, and that was the total. There appeared to be a lot of younger ones present. We also had large numbers of Song Sparrows (with younger ones) and House Finches. All of these species seem to like the native plants that were planted by the Bolsa Chica Conservancy and that have grown with all the rains, as they were flying in and out of them. There was also some rain shortly before the count, and the birds were really active. FYI, we meet back at the playground at a certain time and have a group tally calling out each bird and the numbers for each. We make sure that certain birds, such as hawks, arent duplicates. Everyone present that day were experienced regulars to the counts.
--
Terry Hill
Huntington Beach

Sorry for the late report. Our highlights of todays (June 21) Harriett Wieder Park monthly count included 8 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the Bolsa Chica cell at the far west end, 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS in the area below Seapoint and Garfield, 1 continuing CALIFORNIA THRASHER singing in a tree in the playground, 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS (one in the cell near the Phalaropes, and 3 in the cell straight out from Seapoint & Garfield), and 9 Hooded Orioles spread around. There were a lot of the common birds, such as Song Sparrows, House Finches, and 80 Common Yellowthroats. We also had 23 SNOWY PLOVERS in the Bolsa Chica cells. In one Bolsa Chica cell there were two Black-necked Stilt chicks, and in a pond directly below the playground, there were 3 young American Coots with two adults. We also saw 2 young Orange-crowned Warblers begging, and a Western Bluebird was flying in and out of a nest box. One Black Skimmer was spotted flying south with a fish in its beak--hope it wasnt heading all the way to Newport Back Bay!
--
Terry Hill
Huntington Beach

Brood parasitism -- one species laying its eggs in another birds' nest for the "host" parents to raise -- is in an interesting behavior that a few species have adopted. The Brown-headed Cowbird is our local example. Old World cuckoo species also do this, and have been the subject of many a BBC nature program. (As an aside, our cuckoos don't do this, although they're known to lay their eggs in each other's nests.)

Many potential host species (or populations) have developed responses to brood parasitism, such as abandoning a nest with a foreign egg in it and renesting.

One aspect to our situation in California is that cowbirds historically didn't occur here, at least not west of the mountains. With the advent of ranching, agriculture, and urbanization, people's activities allowed cowbirds to expand their range westward into Southern California and the Central Valley (and beyond).

In short, the local species/populations had never before in recent evolutionary history had to contend with brood parasitism. Our local host species don't recognize the interloper's egg and continue to brood the clutch. For many small species (in particular), the cowbird chick out-competes its "adopted" siblings -- or even ejects them from the nest. In the end, the host parents spend all their time and energy to raise a single (often much larger) cowbird chick.

For a species like the Bell's Vireo, the entire reproductive effort of whole local populations can go into raising cowbirds. That, combined with the historical loss of their riparian vegetation habitat, led to a "one-two punch" that brought the California subspecies (the Least Bell's Vireo) close to extinction, going from one of the more common riparian species in the Central Valley and Southern California historically to a few hundred individuals at few specific SoCal localities in the early 1980s.

Since then, efforts to protect and restore areas of riparian vegetation, combined with targeted cowbird trapping has allowed the population of Least Bell's Vireos to increase at least 10-fold. After retreating to extreme Southern California, they are now once again starting to expand northward. Cowbird management has been a key aspect of this reversal.

All that said, cowbirds are not evil (even if you might be inclined to think so as you sympathetically watch the host-species nestling slowly starve to death because the bigger, more aggressive cowbird chick is taking all the food the host parents bring). They're actually quite interesting. If you think about it, how do cowbirds know they're cowbirds At the end of the season, a group of cowbirds congregate together at your local food court, one may have been raised by Song Sparrows, another by Yellow Warblers, and another by Bell's Vireos -- and yet, in the end, each one knows it's a cowbird and that, being of a feather, they should flock together. Fascinating!

-Gjon

-GjonOn May 7, 2019, at 5:57 PM, Joe Morlan wrote:

Alex,

My photo of a similar trap and an explanation is at

https://flic.kr/p/rJCV2f

On Tue, 07 May 2019 16:26:06 -0700, "Alex Tolkachev"
wrote:
There is a large bird trap operated, I assume, by OC Parks not far from the creek crossing where the dirt trail and paved trail originating at Awma Road and running on opposite sides of the creek meet. Today, it was inhabited by about six Brewer's Blackbirds (unless I am mistaken; I did take photos just in case). There is food and water inside. I started reading the sign, but the birds were getting agitated by my proximity, so I only gave it a very cursory reading before stepping back. I gathered from the sign that the purpose of the trap is to help endangered species breed more successfully, that the trap is checked daily, and that the public is asked in
the strongest terms not to mess with it.

Does anyone know the details of this operation and can anyone explain to me what this trap is all about I don't believe it is meant for blackbirds, they must have just chanced in. In fact, it is probably not targeted at any one bird The rangers/ornithologists probably want to see who all get in and take it from there Or maybeit IS intended for blackbirds in the sense that they are the ones bothering the endangered species, and therefore need to be removed They will be treated humanely, the sign says, but I don't know what that means. Euthanized humanely Relocated Banded, checked and released

Next time I am there, if the trap is empty, I will read the sign fully. Until then, I am really curious about what others know and think about this trap. Are there many of these around --
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA

During the late afternoon on Sunday (11 November), I dropped by the Environmental Nature Center, in Newport Beach. Overall, things seemed fairly quiet, and the diversity of birds was low. However, a Pacific Wrenmade the visit interesting. This bird was, appropriately enough, in the redwood grove, which has a nice understory of thick ferns (which in some areasare as much as 4 or 5 feet tall). The redwood grove
is about 150 yards in along the lower trails (i.e., along the stream) of this relatively narrow, linear nature center.The bird calls fairly often, giving both the doubled "chimp-chimp" as well as a rapid, chattering like call (especially if it's agitated). At one point there was a group of visitors coming by on the trail where I'd been trying to get views of the bird, and the bird was apparently pushed further down the trail, about 75-100 feet further west along the lower-most trail. The call notegiven by the bird sounded tome more like that of a Pacific Wren, as opposed to thevery similar looking Winter Wren, and "most" of the features of the bird seemed better for the more expected Pacific Wren as well. (As the field guides point out, Pacific Wrens sound more like the chip noteof a Wilson's Warbler, while Winter Wren sounds more like the call note of a Song Sparrow). However,if anyone happens to go looking for this bird--at this date I would think there's a good chance the bird could bewintering--it might behelpful to get a sound recording of the call notes.

Doug Willick
Orange, CA

I visited William R. Mason Regional Park on Friday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 looking for the Indigo Bunting reported on Thursday. No luck, but the park was pretty birdy. 19 species including a Wilson's Warbler.

Pete Gordon

Foothill Ranch, CA

Canada Goose 8

Egyptian Goose 6

Mallard 8

Ruddy Duck 1

Turkey Vulture 3

Cooper's Hawk 1

American Coot 4

Mourning Dove 2

Black Phoebe 1

Common Raven 1

Tree Swallow 26

Western Bluebird 4

Orange-crowned Warbler 3

Common Yellowthroat 1

Wilson's Warbler 1

Song Sparrow 1

Western Tanager 1

House Finch 2

Lesser Goldfinch 2

View this checklist online at
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45611552

--
Pete Gordon
Alton Side
Foothill Ranch, CA

Hi Terry,
For
the past ten days, I have been hearing reports about heavy machinery being used
in wet riparian habitat throughout the park, including the Shipley Nature
Center. The fact that this work is being conducted during the avian breeding
season without apparent biological oversight is highly disturbing. Note that
Song Sparrows begin nesting in February, and multiple broods of Pied-billed
Grebes have been seen in the Prado Basin. Habitat alteration under the premise
of a homeless-relocation stratagem began a couple years ago at the park, with
some degree of guidance seemingly being provided by the local chapter of the
Audubon Society. Since the initial efforts at removing dense pockets of
vegetation within the park, removal activities have seemed to have increasingly
less to do with the problem of homelessness and more to do with the fulfillment
of a maintenance department wish-list. Kim was told that the recent removal of
willow trees around the pond and the reeds that were currently being gutted
with heavy equipment were preventive measures related to a mosquito-problem.
While I don't doubt that this was true, there is a right way (and time) and a
wrong way for this activity to be conducted in order to ensure the maximum
safety of wildlife, and I have heard nothing that reassures me that the right
way has even been attempted. In my opinion, the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife's primary purpose is for situations just like this.

 

Jim Pike

HB  

 

. . .

Hi everybody,

Sea and Sage Audubon held a walk that was supposed to go to the Villa Park Basin today, but the Willow Trail was closed, so we birded just the bit of that trail that wasn't closed, then Sycamore Hill, then the extreme east end of Irvine Regional Park and the north side of Santiago Creek instead. It was a great day with cool weather and 62 species. Our small group of intrepid birders was treated with help from experienced folks including Doug Willick, Bob Keally, Art Davenport, and Jeff Bray, who also very kindly eBirded for us and the OC Spring Count. Here's the list below:

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35793334

Irvine Regional Park, Orange, California, US
Apr 8, 2017 7:43 AM - 11:52 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
61 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 10
White-tailed Kite 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 8
White-throated Swift 3
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Allen's Hummingbird 2
Acorn Woodpecker 20
Nuttall's Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
American Kestrel 2
Red-crowned Parrot 2
Lilac-crowned Parrot 2
Amazona sp. 6
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1
Say's Phoebe 1
Ash-throated Flycatcher 3
Cassin's Kingbird 1
Western Kingbird 1
Bell's Vireo (Least) 2
Hutton's Vireo 1
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 1
Common Raven 15
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15
Oak Titmouse 6
Bushtit 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 6
Bewick's Wren 4
Cactus Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7
California Gnatcatcher 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Wrentit 1
Western Bluebird 8
California Thrasher 3
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 30
Orange-crowned Warbler 4
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Chipping Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 2
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
California Towhee 6
Spotted Towhee 12
Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Lazuli Bunting 2
House Finch 25
Lesser Goldfinch 30
American Goldfinch 2
Scaly-breasted Munia 1

Cheers,
Linette Davenport
Orange, CA