If Nature Could Talk

The Science Behind Nature - in Layperson Speak

Tales from our Habitat Yard

By

It’s the last day of July, the temps are creeping up to 100 every day, and you would think the birds would stop fledging babies.

Instead, we have a begging baby mockingbird out in front keeping its exhausted parents busy. And orioles, along with many competitors, are feeding Nevin’s barberry berries, a local California native with bright red berries, to a fledgling, along with nectar from a white orchid tree (bauhinia) that originates from Asia.

Kinda like a typical neighborhood, we have species intermixing. California towhees, mockingbirds and jays all produced young at the same time, and every morning, a two-month-old towhee hops around with his or her mockingbird buddy.

Some photos below from the busy bird begetting in our yard this breeding season – starting with the earliest. Not all were successful.

December – bluebirds checking out another box – rejected it….
Note Bewick’s wren letting the bluebirds know that he’s interested too
March – Finch couple
May – Bewick’s wrens nested in our nestbox
… lots of insects being fed
They had a second clutch later
Mom or dad removing some poop!
This Band-tailed pigeon abandoned her eggs after sitting on them 4 weeks – something went wrong…
the first Mockingbird fledgling in May
Another photo of her/him…
June – Mockingbird parent gettng Nevin’s Barberry berries
July – Oriole parent of most recent fledgling, don’t know where the nest ever was

Lessons Learned

Value of natives: The more our native plants grow in our yard and make up a higher percentage of our plants, the more insects they attract. Since baby birds require high calorie insects, that along with nesting spots and good cover — has resulted in so many nesting birds using our yard.

Our yard full of California natives in March, prime time for nest seeking – lots of cover, and blooming ceanothus and other plants attract insects

Water source: Birdbaths throughout our yard – we have three – are well used. However, change regularly to avoid mosquito breeding!

One of three water sources on our property, here attracting bushtits and goldfinches

Don’t prune shrubs and trees during nesting season! The last photo below was left undisturbed, the next first three show owl babies being disturbed.

Aftermath:palm with hidden nest in it. Please prune September through January whenever possible.
Disturbed nest with owlets and an egg, from pruning during nesting season
The clutch had to be delivered to a bird rehabber to raise them
an example of a disguised nest – here a Red-shouldered hawk baby

Plant variety: We have a variety of plants that bloom at various times, attracting insects to feed the birds, and also provide berries or fruit throughout the year, to feed our berry eaters.

Spring Nevin’s barberry blooms attract insects, and fruits June through August
California fuchsia seeds feeding goldfinch in December
Wintering cedar waxwings eating Pyracantha berries, from Europe/Asia – some non-natives are good too.

A Few Other Photos from this Year

Hawks also love to patrol our yard for food….
Our California Sycamore provides shelter for the wintering Cedar Waxwings
Every winter we witness migrating Swainson’s hawks flying over our yard.
Lewis’s woodpeckers wintered here, & we think nested across the street
Our lizard population expanded too. This one follows Tom when he does yard work.
Our yard in fall, blooming California fuchsias, etc keep the wildlife happy. Yes, a tad too messy for some
Our resident Anna’s hummingbirds also fledged young, here visiting this year’s agave stalk
Insects are camouflaged too – a Crane fly in April seeking cover

For more info: