Birds hide out during the molt

 

A Northern mockingbird in molt. Photo by J.J. Meyer

 

 

Here's my latest column, scheduled to run on Saturday in The Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, The Daily Breeze, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Riverside Press-Enterprise.

 

As we head toward the end of summer, many people may wonder where all the birds have gone.

Experts say the birds haven’t gone anywhere; they’re just in hiding. August is the peak molting time for songbirds. It’s the period when they shed worn and ragged feathers and grow beautiful new plumage.

“During the molt, birds suddenly get scarce,” said Tim Stanley, author of the recently published book, “California Birds: A Photographic Journey and Guide.” “They’re not necessarily gone; they’re just not vocalizing.”

Birds tend to become secretive while molting, quietly hiding in the vegetation, explained the Irvine-based author. “Even mockingbirds typically go very quiet by July.

“Birds are more vulnerable to predators during molt, because they’re not as quick to escape,” Stanley said. This is especially true when growing new flight feathers. Birds can look unkempt and bedraggled during the molting process as if they were on the losing end of a fight. Some even go bald.

“Although they’re not as pretty, you can learn a lot by observing them during this time,” he said.

For example, molting patterns can help birdwatchers determine the age of the bird. Some species acquire their adult plumage in a single year. Other species, such as bald eagles, may take up to five years to reach their full adult plumage.

Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow of Big Bear fame achieved their distinctive solid white head and tail, many years ago. Fans have been watching the raptors via a nest webcam during their recent molt. Close-up videos have shown the contrast between older frayed feathers, which had been bleached by the sun, and the shiny new ones that are darker in color.

Stanley mentioned molting in the preface of his book because of its significance, he said. The book concentrates on 356 common California species, including a section with photos that show examples of birds in molt. “Birds can look very different during this time,” he said.

How a bird molts depends not only on the species but on the climate as well, he said. Many species undergo a complete molt on or near their breeding grounds, which allows them to migrate south with a new set of feathers. Others undergo a partial molt before migrating. But birds aren’t normally in a full molt when flying long distances.

American goldfinches are one of the rare species that molt twice a year, once in early spring when males develop their bright yellow breeding feathers and again in the fall when they exchange them for their dull winter colors.

Keeping feathers in tip-top shape is important for flight. And they are also vital in attracting a mate and protecting birds from inclement weather. Feathers provide insulation and keep a bird virtually waterproof.

Molting requires a lot of energy and generally begins after the breeding season and before migration. Depending on the species, it may take weeks or months for them to complete the molting cycle.

Described as a hybrid field guide and coffee table book, the hefty 542-page, self-published volume contains more than 1,000 photos showing birds in their natural surroundings. It’s available for $29.95 plus tax and shipping on Stanley’s website at https://2timothypublishing.com.

 

 Happy Birding,

J.J.

 

Find inspiration for pollinator-friendly gardens at The Living Desert

 

A Queen butterfly visits a pollinator garden at The Living Desert

 - Photo by J Meyer

Here's my latest column, scheduled to run on Saturday in The Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, The Daily Breeze, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Riverside Press-Enterprise

Winter is the perfect time to visit The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. The temperatures are cool, and the animals tend to be more active.

One recent morning, a group of birders kept their binoculars trained on some very active residents of the zoo. But it wasn’t the giraffes, antelope or black rhinos that held their interest. Instead, it was the many birds, including shimmering hummingbirds that buzzed around the zoo’s varied botanical gardens.

Despite the calendar month, there were obvious mating activities witnessed among the birds, including a male Anna’s hummingbird that performed an aerial courtship display to impress a potential mate.

“The Living Desert is definitely a breeding epicenter,” said Dr. James Danoff-Burg, the director of conservation. “Especially for our two year-round residents: Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds, which are currently nesting.”

“We are a zoo but as our name implies, we also have botanical gardens,” he said. “There are 60 botanical gardens on the grounds, each are themed differently, which provide different food sources for the hummingbirds.”

So there’s a constant availability of flowering plants and insects for the year-round resident hummingbirds and those that migrate through the Coachella Valley, he said. Many of these themed gardens were planted for the benefit of pollinators, which include hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

The botanical gardens at The Living Desert provide inspiration for homeowners wanting to create a wildlife-friendly habitat in their own yards. Plants native to the southwestern deserts were used to landscape the patios, walkways and seating areas. And its gardens demonstrate many ways a homeowner can use native trees, shrubs, vines and flowers in their garden design.

Gardening with native plants helps restore fragmented urban ecosystems, provides critical habitat for threatened pollinators, and saves critical amounts of water, Dr. Danoff-Burg said.

The Living Desert received a grant last year for its Pollinator Pathway program that helps educate the community about the importance of pollinators and restore habitat connectivity for pollinators moving within and through the Coachella Valley. The main objectives are to build pollinator gardens, remove water-hungry turf, and educate local residents, including school children through hands-on planting.

“It brings nature into the schools,” he said. “The children care for the plants and indirectly the animals they serve.”

A second grant will help fund a pollinator plant party this spring. The program is designed to educate zoo visitors on how to create a safe and healthy garden habitat, which includes reducing the use of pesticides. The zoo plans to distribute take-home native seed packets to visitors from April 10 to 23.

The zoo and botanic gardens are dedicated solely to the deserts of the world. Its programs provide environmental education, plant propagation, habitat restoration, and the breeding of African, Australian, and North American species, including the area’s iconic desert bighorn sheep. The non-profit zoo has been engaged in work of preservation and conservation of the desert and all its varied plant and animal life since 1970.

The Living Desert is located 17 miles south of downtown Palm Springs. Its winter hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the last entrance at 4 p.m. For more information, call (760) 346-5694 or go to livingdesert.org.

 

 

 

 

A Promise Message from a hummingbird

 

I was working the morning shift alone at Wild Birds Unlimited a few years ago, when a woman came in looking for a hummingbird feeder. The sadness behind her steel blue eyes was apparent. When I escorted her to the area where the feeders were displayed, she began to tell me that her husband had recently passed away. 

The following link will take you to a flash fiction piece I wrote based on her experience. Although my story is fiction, the inspiration for the piece came from the woman I met in the store that day.

101words.org

Enjoy.

Happy Birding.

JJ

Roger's Gardens celebrates Hummingbird Summer

 

Salvias are magnets for hummingbirds. Photos by Jennifer J. Meyer

 

Here's my latest column scheduled to run July 9th in the Southern California News Group newspapers including The Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, The Daily Breeze, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the Riverside Press-Telegram. 

            The hummingbirds are most active early in the morning at Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar. On a recent morning, a tiny Allen’s hummingbird guarded an entire row of California native plants, chasing off competitors that ventured too close to his blooms.

Meanwhile in the sky overhead, a male Anna’s performed an aerial courtship display to impress a potential mate, while scores other hummingbirds squeaked and buzzed around the many species of native plants, seemingly undeterred by the customers strolling through the grounds.

Roger’s Gardens is celebrating Hummingbird Summer with educational displays, events and of course, hundreds of colorful, drought-tolerant California native plants.

On Saturday, July 16, wildlife experts from Sea & Sage Audubon Society, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society will be at the nursery from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to teach visitors about the various hummingbird species that live in or migrate through Southern California. They will be on-hand to answer questions about these important pollinators and teach visitors how to attract them to the garden.

“Hummingbirds are like people, they love beautiful flowers,” said Roger’s Gardens’ horticulturist Sarah Smith. “The key is to have a variety of native plants, because each has a different sugar content.

“It’s a misconception that hummingbirds are only attracted to the color red,” Smith said. “Include a variety of color in the garden and you’ll create a hummingbird buffet.”

They love the many colors of salvias, monkey flowers, gold Agastache or hummingbird mint, the orange firecracker flowers, California fuchsia, just to name a few. They’re also attracted to the blooms on coffeeberry bushes, and Western redbud, Toyon, manzanita and bottle-brush trees.

“They even like the succulent flowers,” she said. And the plant doesn’t need to have a tubular bloom for the hummingbirds to feed.

California native plants are an important food source for birds and other wildlife. These indigenous plants have co-existed and evolved together with birds and pollinating insects over time, each depending on each other for survival and reproduction.

Tune into live-stream videos on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. when Smith discusses a featured hummingbird plant of the week. Other educational videos and hummingbird information can be found at rogersgardens.com.

            Participants at the event can try attracting a hummingbird to a hand-held dot feeder at a station near the amphitheater in the nursery.

Throughout the summer, customers who would like to donate to Sea & Sage can round-up their purchase to the nearest dollar to benefit the educational and conservation programs at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. Roger’s Gardens will then match the donation amount received through August 28. Last year, the nursery donated $7,559 to the local Audubon chapter from its Hummingbird Summer event.

 

​

Hummingbird Wars

A male Allen's hummingbird claims a feeder after running off the competition.

 

           Here's my latest column scheduled to run in the Southern California News Group newspapers, including The Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, The Daily Breeze, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the Riverside Press-Enterprise on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022.

 

            It’s all-out war when a tiny tyrant decides to claim a nectar feeder.

Gail O’Connell has a resident bully bird on her patio in Laguna Niguel. “He sits near our feeder and swoops down anytime another hummingbird shows up,” she said. “Though occasionally he’ll let a female drink.”

While the antics of this miniature brute may be fascinating to watch, it can be frustrating when he chases all the other birds away, she said.

Bullies are a common problem for bird enthusiasts with flowering gardens and hummingbird feeders. Some people have even nicknamed these ruffians Rambo, Brutus, Spike, or the name of the current enforcer on their favorite hockey team. And these little birds earn their titles; male hummingbirds are fierce fighters and rarely play nice.

These birds are not only mean, but sneaky as well, generally hiding in a spot where they can secretly monitor their personal food supply. Then these feisty fliers use their aerial skills to launch an attack on unsuspecting would-be nectar thieves.

As with most creatures in the wild, fights are all about food, territory and breeding rights.

            “Most animals are territorial, but male hummingbirds are especially territorial,” said Terry Masear, a licensed hummingbird rehabilitator and author of “Fastest Things on Wings: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood,” published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2015.

“They’re doing what they’re programmed to do,” Masear said. “His only purpose in life is to breed. They’re individualists; they don’t mate for life like ducks and ravens. So, they claim a territory where they can breed with as many females as possible.”

Hummingbirds appear tiny and delicate: the average weight of most Southern California species is about three grams, she said. Despite their size, they are hardy and resilient with some species migrating as much as 3,000 miles.

Though Masear now lives in Portland, Oregon, she still monitors the telephone rescue line based in West Hollywood and plans to return to Los Angeles to participate in a documentary based on her book, which will be filmed by the Australian company Wildbear Entertainment in April. 

She’s learned a lot about hummingbirds during her 15 years providing rehabilitation.

            “Just like people, hummingbirds have different personalities,” she said. “Some are sweet like little puppies. And some are so wild, if they were big enough, they’d take you out.”

            Male aggressors can be brutal. “These winged warriors are hardwired to fight to the death,” she said. They can use their bills like swords to skewer their opponent. And because they can fly 50-60 miles per hour in a downward arch, males can use their speed to impale a competitor. “When this happens, the other bird has no chance,” she said.

            As a rehabber, Masear has seen plenty of these casualties of war. She recently received a call about a female hummingbird covered in blood. It was clear from the photo sent by rescuers that the bird had a hole in her neck and back. “Sometimes if they sit on a feeder too long, they become a target for these brutal attacks.”

Some hummingbird species such as the Allen’s and rufous, can be especially belligerent, she said. “Rufous hummingbirds are monstrous.”  

“Bullies get hurt too and tend to end up in rehab a lot themselves.” Their constant battles also shorten their longevity. “It’s a tough world out there.”

            Females can also be aggressive when they’re nesting, she said. “Babies are their reason for living.”

            But there are moments of peace in the garden. Just before dark, or before a heavy rain, there’s something Masear calls the “the law of the jungle.” The birds don’t fight as much during these times. They won’t waste energy on sparing because they need to eat as much as they can, this is especially true in winter when nights are longer, she said.  

            If you want to keep peace at your feeder, Masear has a simple solution: add more feeders. First, determine the bully’s hiding place, then install clusters of feeders out of his line of vision, so they’re too far apart for him to dominate; it’s too much work, she said.  

            Kristi Stowell Cole of Laguna Hills hung 18 feeders around the perimeter of her house to stop the constant battles. Her feeders attract so many birds that often the ports are not only filled, but birds are sharing ports with additional birds waiting in the wings.  

            “We have a few territorial bullies, but with multiple feeders, they usually lose out on their attempt to monopolize them,” Cole said. Even so, she’s witnessed fights, such as the juvenile male that was knocked to the ground by a particularly angry Anna’s.

            When she attempted to pick up the bird on the ground, the attacker flew to her hand to continue the fight, gripping the young bird’s head with its feet and stabbing it in the back, she said.

            The little guy didn’t survive. She buried him in her backyard memorial garden where the mosaic stepping stone she created honors the little jewels of her garden.

 

 

 

Contact the writer: Jennifer J. Meyer is a freelance writer from Mission Viejo.  Write to her at jjthebackyardbirder@gmail.com or visit her blog at jjthebackyardbirder.com.

Orange County Bird of Prey release

 

A red-tailed hawk

A Cooper's hawk

A great-horned owl

Setting the owl free

I released a great-horned owl at the Orange County Bird of Prey Center's new facility near Oso Lake on Saturday. I was a bit overwhelmed looking eye-to-eye with that owl before I set him free. 

Thirty-five raptors, which included Cooper's, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks and great-horned and barn owls were released on Saturday, Aug. 14th. The injured birds had been treated then rehabilitated in mews or flight cages on the property. This release was the first at the center's new location. 

 If you'd like to be part of a future release, go to Orange County Bird of Prey Center. 

The OCBPC is a volunteer-run organization. Your donations go directly to the care and feeding of these magnificent birds.

Help birds during the summer heat

 

 

Here's my latest column that ran today in the Southern California News Group newspapers including the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, The Daily Breeze,Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, and the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

 

 Summer means family time for birds. It’s the transitional period between the frenzy of spring breeding and their preparation for fall migration. But that doesn’t mean birds are just kicking back for the season. There’s still plenty going on in the avian world.

“Many birds are still actively nesting and taking care of their little ones,” said Diann Tomb, assistant manager at Wild Birds Unlimited in Mission Viejo. “I heard a mockingbird singing near my house recently, which meant he was still in the breeding stage.”

Musical territory

Male Northern Mockingbirds sing to reinforce the bond with their mates and defend their territories, she said. Their songs are a warning to other males to stay away. These all-night songfests continue through their nesting cycle, which generally extends through July.

Male mourning doves could recently be heard cooing from rooftops as well, which is their advertising call for a mate. Because these birds have a long breeding season with up to six broods per year, they nest into late summer.

And then there are the American and lesser goldfinches, which are typically the last birds to breed in Southern California. “They generally wait until late summer when thistle is blooming and food is plentiful,” said owner Alan Barry, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Mission Viejo. “Though this year, they left a little earlier than previous years.”

Barry tracks them through the sales of nyjer seed, a favorite of the goldfinches. “The birds are known to nest in the foothills, where there is an abundance of food,” he said. “When they’re gone, customers stop feeding nyjer and sales of the seed drop dramatically.”

In general, mid-to-late summer tends to be a quieter period in bird land. People often report fewer birds visiting backyard feeders. Summer is prime time for natural food. Insects and berries are at their peak. During this time, birds are feasting on insects to feed their young. As the juveniles grow, they will often accompany their parents back to the feeders.

Beating the heat

Bird behavior tends to change when temperatures skyrocket.

“I’ve noticed birds disappear from my yard midday when it’s hot,” Barry said. Like many other species, birds become less active in the heat, retreating to the shade where they can hide and cool off, he said.

Homeowners can help birds through the drought and scorching heat by keeping birdbaths clean and filled with fresh water, he said. “Even putting out a plate of water will help. I’ve noticed birds in the street gutters, trying to get a drink from sprinkler runoff.”

Birds are attracted to moving water. And a birdbath or fountain in the yard will attract species that don’t normally visit seed feeders, he said.

“Be sure to keep hummingbird feeders clean and filled,” he said. “A general rule of thumb is to replace the nectar every one to three days when temperatures are over 80 degrees.”

In extreme heat, nectar can spoil in as little as one day. If the liquid becomes cloudy, it’s time to replace. Adding red dye is unnecessary, he said.

Time to molt

Customers have already reported seeing a few species of songbirds in molt, Barry said. “Black phoebes and Bewick’s wrens are among the birds showing signs of molt.”

Because molting requires a lot of energy, it generally begins after breeding. Every bird from the smallest hummingbird to the largest eagle goes through a systematic process of replacing their feathers. Birds in molt can look bald, scruffy and bedraggled.

The way they molt differs among species. Many birds undergo a complete molt near their breeding grounds, which allows them to migrate south with a new set of feathers. Some have a partial molt before fall migration. Typically, birds shed feathers in regular patterns, though it may take weeks or months for them to complete the molting cycle. However, birds are not normally in a full molt when flying long distances.

Birds tend to become secretive during this time, vocalizing infrequently and hiding in the vegetation, Barry said. “They’re more vulnerable to predators during molt, especially when growing new flight feathers.”

Help our fine feathered friends by offering quality sunflower seeds to help boost the protein and fat in their diets needed to grow new feathers, he said. Suet also provides great nutritional value.

If you’re visiting lakes and ponds this summer, Barry suggests bringing along cracked corn if you’re allowed to feed the ducks. Pieces of torn lettuce and thawed frozen peas are also acceptable.

Just leave the bread at home. “It’s difficult for the birds to digest and bread has also been linked to avian botulism,” he said. The disease can cause paralysis and death in birds.

 

 

Happy Father's Day from the Backyard Birder

                   Black Phoebes are monomorphic, so it's tough to say which adult is the male. 

    In some bird species, such as hummingbirds, females are solely responsible for nesting and caring for the young. In other species, males share equally in the tasks. Various species that work hard for the family include house finches, bluebirds, Nuttall's woodpeckers, Canada geese, bald eagles and brown pelicans. Read more about Daddy Birds and see a slideshow in The Orange County Register.
Tweet this!
Happy Birding!
J.J.

When a bird flies into your home

Here's my latest column, scheduled to run Saturday, March 13, 2021 in the Southern California News Group newspapers including the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, The Daily Breeze,Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, and the Riverside Press-Enterprise

Interior designers have popularized the notion of bringing the outside in. Folding and disappearing doors can create a seamless transition to the great outdoors. The connection to nature adds a sense of calm and serenity to the home, they say.

But what happens when the connection gets a little too close and nature actually comes inside?

Tony Capparelli recalled the day nature flew in. He and his wife, Pam, had enjoyed a warm day in the backyard of their Lake Forest home. The family room doors had been open for several hours. When it got close to sunset, they went inside. That’s when Pam heard a noise in their second-story master bedroom. She discovered a hummingbird frantically flying around the room. Neither of them had seen it fly in, so they were unsure how long it had been in the house.

“The poor thing was bouncing off the walls and ceiling,” he said. “We were afraid it was going to hurt itself.”

When it finally landed on the ceiling fan, he could see it was a juvenile Anna’s hummingbird and decided to name it Wrongway.

They opened the door to the balcony, hoping the little bird would go out on its own. When it stubbornly stayed put, they attempted to coax it out of the house by hanging a hummingbird feeder on the curtain rod over the door.

“But the bird was having none of it and it was getting way too dark,” he said. “It was clear, Wrongway was going to have to stay the night in the Capparelli B&B for wayward hummingbirds.”

The couple found it necessary to keep the room completely dark until morning. Even the smallest light from a cell phone would agitate the bird, he said. Early the next morning, he opened the door. Wrongway flew to the feeder and drank without lifting its head for minutes not seconds, he said. Then it buzzed out the door.

“Just like that. Poof! No Wrongway,” he said.

Not all situations like this have a happy ending for the bird.

“Often people panic,” said Starlyn Howard, a volunteer with the International Bird Rescue in San Pedro and the Songbird Care and Education Center in Fountain Valley. When people scream, flail their arms and chase the bird around, it stresses the bird, she said.

“And birds can die from stress.”

When a bird gets into the house, the easiest solution is to lower window shades and close the curtains. Then open a door to the outside. “Birds will naturally go to the light,” she said.

Sometimes it helps to hold up a sheet with another person to create a wall to the rest of the home. Walking together toward an open door with the sheet held high, can help coax the bird out.

Without food, a trapped hummingbird can end up on the floor or windowsill completely exhausted. If a bird is injured or exhausted to the point where it can no longer fly, it needs to be taken to a rehabilitator. Call the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center or animal control services for instructions.

“Keep the bird warm, dark and quiet,” she said. A small box or paper bag with ventilation works to contain it. Use paper towels, instead of cloth, as a liner. Little toes can get caught on terrycloth loops, she said.

Rescuing birds of prey requires the assistance of animal control. “They’re not the easiest thing to catch,” said John Welsh, spokesman for Riverside County Animal Services. “And people will get hurt by their sharp talons.”

He recalled an incident where officers were called out to assist homeowners who heard pecking on the glass fireplace doors in their living room. Using a flashlight, they had discovered the wide eyes of a great-horned owl looking back at them. It had been pecking on the glass like an SOS. Animal services were able to rescue the owl. It was taken to a rehabilitation facility and later released.

Calls about birds getting trapped in chimneys is common, he said. It’s completely preventable by having a chimney cap installed.

As for Wrongway, the little bird may be gone, but he’s not forgotten.

“I sort of miss the little guy,” said Capparelli.

Get ready for the orioles!

Migrant hooded orioles generally start arriving in Southern California in early March to breed during spring and summer.

Hooded and Bullock’s orioles are the two most common species of orioles found in Orange County, although there have been rare sightings of Scott’s and orchard orioles in previous years.

Orioles are medium-size songbirds about 8 inches long with slender bodies and long legs and tails. They are coveted among backyard birders mostly because of their bright colors. Hooded and Bullock’s orioles are sexually dimorphic, with males being more brightly colored than females.

Hooded orioles are named for the orange hood of the male’s breeding plumage. Males have an entirely orange or orange-yellow head, nape, rump and underparts with a distinctive black bib and narrow mask. The tail is black. And wings are black with with two white wingbars. Females are mostly olive yellow with dusky gray wings and white wingbars. These birds have long, slightly curved bills.

Adult male Bullock’s are flame-orange with a neat line through the eye and a white wing patch; females are washed in gray and yellow. They have straight, pointed bills.

Oriole feeders are often orange because manufacturers know the birds are attracted to the color. Nectar feeders made especially for orioles can better accommodate the larger birds by providing longer perches and bigger feeding ports than are typically seen on hummingbird feeders.

Orioles have a sweet tooth with an affinity for grape jelly and cut oranges.

Insects are also an important part of their diet. Attract orioles by planting native shrubs with berries or flowering plants that invite caterpillars, one of their favorite foods. And encourage nesting by delaying trimming dead palm fronds until fall.

Salmonellosis outbreak may be spreading to Southern California

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public’s help to stop the spread of salmonellosis among songbirds by removing seed feeders until after spring migration. Pine siskins, which are winter visitors to Southern California, are most affected by the disease followed by a smaller number of lesser and American goldfinches.

The disease was first reported in California’s Central Coast, the San Francisco Bay Area and Sierra Nevada communities.

“We have been receiving reports of suspected Salmonellosis recently from Southern California,” said CDFW’s Krysta Rogers, Senior Environmental Scientist and Avian Specialist, via email. “Sick birds often act lethargic with ruffled or puffed-up feathers and die relatively quickly once infected.”

“These outbreaks typically last until March or April,” she says, “when pine siskins usually start migrating north, back to their breeding grounds.

Infected birds can transfer the illness, caused by the Salmonella bacteria, through their droppings at feeders. Therefore, the agency recommends bird feeders/baths be removed to help reduce mortality. After the outbreak has subsided, it’s generally recommended that bird feeders and bird baths are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized with bleach at least once a week, and more often if there is heavy use by birds.

Report dead birds to CDFW’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory using the mortality reporting form, which helps biologists monitor the outbreak at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/laboratories/wildlife-investigations/monitoring/mortality-report

The agency suggests using disposable gloves and wash hands thoroughly after disposing of dead birds or handling of bird feeders and bird baths.

The agency has not reported the outbreak affecting hummingbirds, therefore, it appears safe to keep nectars feeders up as long as they are kept clean.

Salmonellosis outbreak reported in Northern California

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported a salmonellosis outbreak among pine siskins and a smaller number of lesser and American goldfinches in California's central coast, the San Francisco Bay area and Sierra Nevada communities. Pine siskins are small songbirds from the finch family. They are gregarious birds that tend to flock with goldfinches. They are migrants, or winter visitors, to Southern California.

At this time, the department has not reported any cases in Southern California. Though bird enthusiastics should remain vigilant in cleaning bird feeders. Infected birds can transfer the illness, caused by the Salmonella bacteria, through their droppings at feeders.

Sick birds often appear weak, have labored breathing, and may sit for prolonged periods with fluffed or ruffled feathers.

Residents can report dead birds to CDFW’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory using the mortality reporting form, found on the agency's website, which helps biologists monitor the outbreak. Disposable gloves should be worn and hands should be thoroughly washed after disposing of dead birds, and handling of bird feeders and bird baths. If sick birds are found, please contact your local wildlife rehabilitation center for advice.

Keeping bird feeders clean is an important responsibility of bird feeding. Clean and disinfect feeders regularly using one part liquid chlorine household bleach in nine parts of tepid water (a 10 percent solution). Make enough solution to immerse an empty, cleaned feeder completely for two to three minutes. Allow to air dry. Once or twice a month is generally recommended, though weekly or more often is imperative if you notice sick birds at your feeders. Having a second feeder is a wise investment so that one feeder can be in use while the other is being cleaned.

Mourning dove's coo coo signals the start of nesting season

I heard the advertising call of a mourning dove on Feb. 1. It seems a little early, but a male was perched on the peak of the neighbor's roof cooing in his mournful sounding way. A female flew up to meet him and he humped over to her with his neck flared out. She immediately flew away. Spring isn't far away. Watch for nesting behaviors this month. Happy Birding! J.J.

Hummingbirds nest in chilly weather

 Breeding season has already begun for some of Southern California’s tiniest year-round avian residents —Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds. The nesting season for our non-migratory hummingbirds runs from late October through early June.

“This year, the males have been quite active in their courtship displays,” says Anne Stratton, a licensed hummingbird rehabilitator affiliated with the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. Our unseasonably warm weather last month might be influencing this behavior, she says.

The males of both non-migratory species are known for their stunning aerobatics. Male Anna’s hummingbirds fly straight up into the air at about 130 feet, then dive at a speed that can reach 60 miles per hour while making its characteristic shrill whistle as the wind whips through their tail feathers. The male Allen’s hummingbird courtship display consists of swooping in a U-shaped pendulum. At the peak of the arch, he may make a prolonged buzz sound. All these acts are performed to impress a particular female.

“Hummingbirds are fierce for their size,” she says. “And they’re very territorial. Males will fight to the death. We often get the losers in these battles, which can be pecked, forced into windows and knocked down on the ground.”

Once a pair has mated, the male’s responsibility for breeding is over. Female hummingbirds build the nest, incubate the eggs and care for the chicks without assistance from the male. She has four or five clutches a year and typically lays two eggs per clutch. The eggs hatch 16-18 days after they’re laid, and babies fledge in about three weeks. Mothers will continue to feed the fledglings up to a month after they leave the nest.

“Mother hummingbirds commonly build their nests close to humans,” Stratton says. “They’re urbanized, so they’ve adjusted.”

They often choose yards with feeders, native flowers and compost piles, she says. In addition to nectar, they eat gnats, fruit flies, baby spiders and mosquitoes.

Hummingbird nests are an engineering feat. The mother collects plant material such as moss, lichens, and bits of leaves and then binds it with silky spider webs. This gives the nest the ability to expand as the babies grow. She instinctively builds the nest thinner on the sunny side and thicker on the shady side. As a final touch, she adds bits of green, which can sometimes be paint chips, to camouflage the nest. These hard-working mothers will reuse nests, so it’s generally best not to remove old ones.

Unfortunately, they sometimes feed from flowers and nest in bushes close to the ground, where cats can easily grab them. “It’s important to keep cats indoors,” she says. “It’s better for the cats and better for wildlife. I love cats, but I’ve seen the devastating injuries they cause.” Missing eyes, broken beaks, and torn and missing feathers are among the cat-related injuries inflicted on hummingbirds. In addition, cat saliva can cause deadly infections, so the birds need to be washed and given antibiotics as part of their rehabilitation.

“Babies can be blown out of the nest in high winds,” Stratton says. “If you must touch a baby hummingbird to re-nest it, the mother will not reject it. That’s an old wives’ tale.”

Babies can also be cut out of a tree during trimming. It’s best to perform tree trimming when birds are less likely to be nesting in the late summer and early fall. But always inspect a tree for bird activity before cutting, she says.

Fledglings can end up on the ground as they’re learning to fly. And not every hummingbird needs to be rescued, so it’s best to reach out for instructions prior to bringing in a bird for rehabilitation. “This advice often makes the difference between life and death for these little jewels of nature,” she says.

A list of wildlife centers and hummingbird rehabilitators located throughout Southern California can be found on Stratton’s website at: ifoundahummingbird.com.

“These little birds have a lot of personality,” Stratton says. “And they’re really smart.”

Contact the writer: Jennifer J. Meyer is a freelance writer from Mission Viejo. Write to her at jjthebackyardbirder@gmail.com or visit her blog at jjthebackyardbirder.com.

It's time to put out nesting material for hummingbirds

Hummingbirds have already started nesting in Southern California, where the breeding season runs late October through early June. So these tiny birds may already be tending to their second clutch.

It's best to purchase material from a nature store such as Wild Birds Unlimited. Household items such as yarn, string and dryer lint are not suitable for bird nests. Yarn and string can catch on tiny feet. Dryer lint holds moisture, and when it does dry out, it becomes hard and crumbly. It can also contain human hair, which acts like string to trap the birds in the nest.

Female hummingbirds build the nest, sit on the eggs and care for the chicks without assistance from the male. And this hard-working mother has four or five clutches a season. She typically lays two eggs per clutch, though not all eggs are viable and many chicks do not survive. The eggs hatch within 16-18 days. The babies fledge approximately 21-28 days from the date of hatching.

Please comment if you've already seen a nest this season.
Happy Birding!
J.J.

Mistletoe is for the birds

A reprint of my column that ran in Orange County Register on 12/23/2013:

Kissing under the mistletoe may be a popular custom this time of year. But did you know the plant has a more direct connection to the birds and the bees?

Birds rely on mistletoe for food and shelter, while native bees and butterflies seek its nectar and pollen. And while the plant may have a romantic notion, its name does not. “Mistel” is the Anglo-Saxon word for “dung” and “tan” is the word for “twig.” Thus, “dung-on-a-twig.” The name originated from the fact that birds spread the seeds of the plant through their droppings.

“Usually you find mistletoe high in the trees because that’s where the birds perch,” said naturalist Kurt Miethke of Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Birds feed on the berries then excrete mistletoe seeds on the host tree. The seeds then root into the tree, allowing the parasitic plant to tap its host for water and nutrients.

Mistletoe berries develop this time of year, providing food for birds such as Western bluebirds, cedar waxwings, mourning doves and American robins. “The phainopepla, a silky-flycatcher, is most tied to it,” Miethke said. They use it for nesting in the spring and they rely on mistletoe berries almost exclusively for food during the winter. Phainopeplas are flashy birds with shiny black feathers, long tail, a distinct crest and red eyes. They breed in the desert areas in early spring.

“We tend to see them in the late spring and summer, when it gets too hot in the desert,” said Miethke, who leads bird walks at the sanctuary. “They move into cooler habitats and raise a second brood.”

Small gray bushtits build well-disguised nests in the mistletoe at the sanctuary. Its dense cover provides protection against predators and the elements. Hawks and crows use it as a base and have built their nests on top of it.

While there are many species of mistletoe worldwide, only two are found in Orange County, he said. Those are the big-leaf and oak, also known as hairy mistletoe. Big-leaf mistletoe infects alder, cottonwood, walnut, willow, and sycamore trees, while and the oak mistletoe typically infects oak trees and woody chaparral shrubs such as Manzanita, California bay laurel and sumac. Big-leaf mistletoe can be found in the canyons and foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, as well as the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. The oak variety can be found in areas with coast live oak trees such as Limestone Canyon. “I've only found the big-leaf type on our property, none of the oak mistletoe,” he said.

Every bird counts, join Project FeederWatch

 

 

White-crowned sparrows are among the winter birds counted in Southern California. Photo by J.J. Meyer

 

Grab your binoculars! Cornell Lab of Ornithology's FeederWatch season for 2020-2021starts Nov. 14. If you have bird feeders, you're watching the birds anyway. So why not count them for science? Your reports help scientists understand population trends and movements of our backyard birds.

The FeederWatch season runs for 21 weeks and ends on April 9. The last day to start a two-day count is April 8. 

Sign up at FeederWatch.org to support the scientific study and conservation of birds with your observations.

Happy Birding!
J.J.

Seeing fewer white-crowned sparrows

 

An adult white-crowned sparrow. Photo by J.J. Meyer

My first backyard sighting was on September 29th this year, though other birders had reported sightings much earlier. Since their arrival, I've had only one or two at time in our yard, a far cry from the flock of 25-30 that used to winter with us several years ago. Many factors effect the populations of songbirds, including disease, climate changes and competition for food. I also wonder if the Oregon and Northern California fires may have disrupted their breeding and migratory patterns.

Like most sparrows, white-crowns are ground feeders, and prefer to stay close to the safety of trees and shrubs. Though they may sometimes visit suet and platform feeders, they're more likely to stay on the ground eating seeds dropped by other birds. 

Welcome these winter visitors by tossing black oil sunflower seeds, millet and cracked corn on the ground for them.
 

Tweet this to your friends!
Happy Birding!
J.J. 

Why do birds sunbathe?

 

While birds often sunbathe for practical reasons of warmth and dryness, a growing body of research now points to one largely understudied purpose: to rid themselves of pesky parasites living on their skin and feathers. The heat and UV radiation from sunlight can act as a non-chemical pesticide.  

According to Audubon, birds devote about 9 percent of their time to maintenance behaviors. They use their bills to pick dirt and other impurities out of their feathers, and as weapons to hunt for unwanted hitchhikers—parasites, such as feather lice. Feather lice are so skilled at hiding amid a bird's feathers that they can be hard to remove by preening alone. The presence of lice isn't just a hygiene issue—it can make it harder for birds to find mates, possibly due to duller plumage or the need for more frequent preening.  

Happy birding!

J.J. 

Hooded orioles visit with juveniles

 

A group of five hooded orioles stopped at our nectar feeders yesterday. I managed to get a few shots of the adult male and a juvenile before they flew off.

Hooded orioles are very distinctive. Males are easy to spot with their flashy colors. Adult males tend to be bright yellow or orange over most of their body with black wings and white wingbars, a distinctive black face and throat with a hood of orange or yellow-orange. Females are less colorful with mostly dull yellow bodies and gray wings. 
 

Though it may look like a female, the bird in the photos above is of a juvenile hooded oriole. It's definitely less sleek than an adult female and has a shorter bill. It's behavior was also indicative of a juvenile unable to figure out the ports at the feeder. It stood in the middle and drank water from the center ant moat. 

These birds could be on their on their way south, en route to their wintering grounds in Mexico, and Central and South America. They generally migrate in late August or early September. 

Happy birding!
J.J.