San Diego County has been awarded the “birdiest county in the U.S.” on several occasions. There are 700 species found in the United States of which 495 have been seen in the diverse geography of San Diego County. Some of these birds are in the county for just a short period as they migrate through. Some birds spend the winter here. Some birds spend the spring here. Some birds never leave.
Why bird?
I began birding about 15 years ago when my father, an avid birder, encouraged me to take up the sport by presenting me with a year-long membership in our local chapter of the Audubon Society in my former home town of Los Gatos. I waited until the year was almost up, then, guilt-ridden, went on a chapter field trip to Moon Dairy, a legendary birding spot in Monterey. It’s privately owned, but the owner would allow birders on the property if they promised not to disturb the cattle. I couldn’t believe the scenery and wildlife that I found when I made a turnoff onto a non-descript dirt road I had passed by dozens of times, wondering where it led. It led, I found, to a world of nature I had previously not acknowledged and to an abundance of social activities with fellow birders that I enjoy to this day.
Birding became more enjoyable for me as I became more involved. On my first expeditions, I came armed with only an inexpensive brand of binoculars of the $100 variety. I had a difficult time focusing on a bush where a bird was spotted. By the time I focused on what my fellow birders were oohing and aahing over, the bird had taken off. Now my binocs range upwards of $1,000 and I can see into the bush.
Have you ever seen a large white bird standing on the edge of the water? We have both the Snowy Egret and the Great Heron. If they stand next to each other (which they seldom do), you can easily tell which white bird is which since the Snowy is smaller than the Great. However, you can easily identify these egrets from afar. If you see a white bird standing perfectly still near the edge of the bay, you are looking at a Great Heron. This bird strikes quickly when it sees a fish within striking distance. If you see a white bird shuffling its feet as it walks along the edge of the bay, you are looking at a Snowy Egret. This bird eats what its feet kick up. In addition, the color of their feet is different. The Great Heron has black feet; the Snowy has golden feet. The theory is that the Snowy has golden feet (known in the birding community as “golden slippers”) so it can see its feet when shuffling. You never see these birds at the ocean; just the bay.
Another interesting point has to do with the pelicans seen in the South Bay. Within the United States, the White Pelican and the Brown Pelican do not normally overlap territory. However, we have them both. How did that happen? Brown Pelicans are our local species. The White Pelicans we have here were injured in the Salton Sea area and transported to Sea World for rehabilitation. When they get healthy, they are released here. Some fly back to the Salton Sea, but some stay. As you drive south on the Strand toward Imperial Beach, you will frequently find a dozen or so White Pelicans sitting on a very small piece of land. If you don’t look closely, you might think the “rockâ€ù is white. The Brown Pelicans feed in both the ocean and the bay. With a wingspan of more than six feet, they “dive bombâ€ù for fish. The White Pelicans do not go to the ocean. Even though their wingspan is eight feet, they do not “dive bomb.â€ù They swim in groups, scooping up fish in their bills.
The Black Skimmer is one of our most popular birds and probably the most different. It has very short legs with a long body. Looking like it’s wearing a tuxedo with the back black and the tummy white, the bird’s beak is quite different. In bird language the lower mandible (lower part of the beak) is longer than the top part. It is bright orange in color with a black tip. You will see the Black Skimmer in the evening flying very low over the water. Its lower mandible skims the water searching for small fish. The wings beat above the body, which allows the bird to get very close to the water. It can make hairpin turns and the flock will make turns in unison. This is the only bird in Coronado that feeds this way.
My favorite bird is the beautiful Hooded Oriole. It has a bright yellowish-orange body and black wings, tail and face. Having wintered in the tropics, the Hooded Oriole arrives in Coronado in late March to early April. It likes to nest in the dead, brown leaves of our palm trees. The fan palm is its favorite, but any palm will do. By June the young have left the nest. So, if you have palm trees on your property, it is best to not prune the dead leaves between April and June. This oriole loves fruit and nectar. I take the bee stoppers out of my hummingbird feeder so the oriole can get its large beak in the feeding hole. When the young have fledged, I refill my feeder every day. They love that sugar water! (Mix one part sugar to four parts water – do not put red coloring in water.) This oriole has a slim body and is eight inches long. Once you learn the chatter of its voice, you can easily identify this bird with your eyes closed.
A bird that travels a long distance to breed in Coronado is the Cliff Swallow. This five-inch bird winters in Southern Brazil and Argentina. You might have noticed the mud, grass and twig cones that this bird builds under an eave, under an overpass, under the ramps to the docks at the Cays or on any protected wall. Since it eats insects, this swallow can be a friend and rid you of unwanted bugs. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918 protects most wild birds. If you don’t want baby swallows at your house, hose the mud down daily until the swallows build their nest elsewhere. Once the young are born, you will be fined if it is known that you removed the nest. Since these birds flew so far to have their babies, it seems only fair to be kind to them. The largest colony of Cliff Swallows had over 3,000 nests. We have a lot of mud nests here - but nothing as large as that.
Getting Started
There are two Audubon groups in San Diego County: San Diego Audubon and Palomar Audubon. Both groups have field trips most weekends and throughout the year go to the same locations – although not at the same time. You can log on to their web sites to see where their next field trips are going to be; you’re always welcome to attend. In addition, San Diego Audubon hosts a Bird Festival. In 2007, the 11th San Diego Bird Festival was held in early February. This is a major birding event with birders.
Every December I host an Audubon potluck at my house. Besides bringing food, everyone arrives with binoculars, telescopes, bird books and enthusiasm. Telescopes are set up on the patio as well as the upper balcony overlooking the San Diego Bay. Last year we saw 38 bird species in an hour. Residents of the Village would behold a very different assortment of birds.
Some birders count how many species they see each year. Some birders are behaviorists and enjoy watching the antics of birds. Some birders do both. I began as a counter – but when I had seen 500 birds in the U.S. I got bored with counting and switched to bird behavior. I remain fascinated with it.
Mysteries in the air
I also find it interesting how much is not known about birds.
How does a Cliff Swallow know how to fly from Argentina to a house in Coronado year after year? How does a Hooded Oriole know how to fly from the tropics to the same palm tree year after year?
I thought birds slept at night. However, when the terns return to the South Bay each year to have their babies, they are very noisy. When the newborns arrive, I have to close my bedroom door because of the incessant noise the terns make all night long.
If you hang two hummingbird feeders, did you know they should be out of sight of each other? That way you can have two alpha males, instead of one.
When we say a person has a bird brain, we say it with negativity. The Mourning Dove seems to be pretty dumb – what with producing up to six broods a year, the most of any of our native birds – and may deserve the negative comment. However, the intelligence of other birds is quite astonishing.
Birding can be very physical as you climb mountains to see birds. However, many senior citizens have a bird feeder outside their window and can watch from a chair. Identifying birds can be visual or by ear. You could actually be blind and bird! The best birders know the sound of the birds and can create that sound to attract the bird.
Birding can be casual or intense. And if you go on an Audubon field trip, birding is very social. You can also bird alone.
The birds are there. You just need to decide how you want to enjoy them.
San Diego Audubon
www.sandiegoaudubon.org
(619) 682-7200
Palomar Audubon
www.palomaraudubon.org
(760) 746-8315 |
