Losing Wild Birds: Where did my sparrows, finches & other birds go?
By Gary Bogue
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 8:29 am in Audubon Society, Birds, Climate, Global warming, Survey.
Western bluebird by Joe Oliver, Walnut Creek, Calif.
A new Audubon California study released today (Feb. 10) finds that the state will lose significant numbers of its native birds as climate change quickly shrinks the range and habitat of more than 100 species.
You can read the whole news story here: http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_11667912?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com
Robin by Joe Oliver, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Over a year ago I started getting e-mails and letters from my readers asking me, “Where are my wild birds?”
The weather had been weird — hot when it should have been cold, cold when it should have been hot, dry when it needed to be wet … sound familiar?
So I did one of my quickie little surveys. The results were published in the Jan. 5, 2008 Home and Garden Section of our Bay Area News Group-East Bay newspapers. Basically, 90 bird species had been spotted in 152 Bay Area backyards in 37 Bay Area cities. I also provided a list of the 90 species.
We’ve got a golden opportunity here to do another survey today and compare the results with my survey of a year ago to see if our local wild bird and wild bird species numbers are indeed dropping as the Audubon Society study suggests. Have the numbers gone down from a year ago? Let’s find out.
All you need to do is take a few moments to follow the instructions below. This is the identical survey request I sent out a year ago.
Please help us see if we are indeed losing some of our wild bird species. I’ll also publicize this information in my daily newspaper columns to help us get as wide a response as possible. This is the same thing I did a year ago.
Killdeer by Joe Oliver, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Survey: GOT BIRDS?
What kinds of birds do you see in your yard?
I’m doing a quickie survey on the subject. I get a lot of mail asking, “Where are my birds?” Apparently some people don’t see very many, so I thought I’d check and try to find out.
Please take a moment to send me a list of the different types of bird species you’ve seen in your front yard or backyard in the past two weeks (songbirds, quails, herons, woodpeckers, doves, hummingbirds, hawks, owls, waterfowl, whatever).
Have you noticed a drop in the bird numbers of any species? Which species? Are there any species that you’ve stopped seeing? Which ones?
Also include your name, city, nearest cross streets to your house, and a phone number (I’ll keep it confidential) in case I have a quick question. I’ll print the results of this survey here in my blog and in my column. Thanks!
** Enter the information under Comments/Reply below.
The adventure begins. /Gary
Read the Audubon California study here: http://www.ca.audubon.org/globalWarmingReport.php
White pelican by Joe Oliver, Walnut Creek, Calif.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
February 10th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Pleasanton – Willowren Way and Mallard St.
House Finch – lots
Mourning Dove – increased numbers this year
Oregon Juncoes – slightly increased numbers
robins – fewer
Yellow-rumped warbler
Anna’s hummer – one or two as last year
Scrub Jay – fewer
Crows – loads
White crowned sparrow – few as ;ast year
American goldfinch – somewhat fewer than last year
lesser goldfinch – no change
Turkey vultures – not in the yard but visible cruising around overhead
February 10th, 2009 at 11:38 am
San Ramon – Bollenger and Camino Ramon
House Finch – Many = No Change
White Crowned Sparrow – Few = No Change
Morning Dove – Many = No Change
Plain Titmouse – Few = No Change
Downey Woodpecker – Few = No Change
Golden Finch – Many – Slightly Fewer
Red Winged Blackbird – Few = Increase
Turkeys – Once a year – No Change
White Breasted Nuthatch – Few = No change
Scrub Jays – Medium amount = No change
Black Phoebe – few – No change
Screech Owl – Hear them but don’t see them = Increase
Oregon Juncoes – Many = No change
February 10th, 2009 at 11:47 am
San Jose – Samaritan Dr. & Winton Way
House Finch – much more than last year
Lesser Goldfinch – same as last year, maybe 1 or 2 more
Chestnut-backed Chickadee – same, 2-3
Oak Titmouse – same 1, maybe 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler – one, I think she’s the same visitor every winter
California Towhee – two less than last year
Dark-eyed Junco – same, maybe more
Bewick’s Wren – same, just one
Anna’s Hummingbird – 2 or 3 over-wintered in our yard, i’m sure there will be 5-6 during the summer
Scrub Jay – we have at least three of them I think that’s one more than usual
American Crow – several, same as before
miscellaneous Gulls overhead – several – i don’t remember that many before
Rock Pigeons – at least 25, same as in the summer and probably last year
Band-tailed Pigeon – 1 that hangs out with the Rock Pigeons
Mourning Doves – 5-6, about the same, maybe 1 or 2 less
Black Phoebe – 1, never saw it before last summer, now it’s here at least 3 times a week.
We seem to have no House Sparrows this winter… that’s a great thing
We have had a Northern Mockingbird for the last couple years, and I haven’t seen or heard it in the last few months.
My mom said she saw a quail running across the street yesterday walking to work, never seen one in this neighborhood before.
I haven’t seen it in the last couple weeks, but think I heard it – Nuttall’s Woodpecker… could have been another type, but pretty sure it’s our resident Nuttall’s.
I haven’t seen it from the yard, but I know we have a neighborhood Red-shouldered Hawk.
PS. Joe Oliver is an awesome nature photographer!
February 10th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Hummers (Ana’s) = ZERO…even with repeated bird feeder changes, using the high octane red liquid and blooming flowers….used to have hummer battles. No nests this year.
Turkey = about the same
Hawks = one or two, used to be lots (5 – 7)
No owls (barn) for several years now
Less western jays (1 – 2)
About the same number of quails
And mourning doves
More pigeons (5- 8)
Thanks for your beautiful photos!
Contra Costa / Mt Diablo
February 10th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
About 2 years ago I had seen about 5 hummingbirds in my yard .I
can only remember seeing a few Owls in the trees which I thought to be strange since I live in the city.But this year I only have only seen some crows .Sure miss the hummingbirds!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
In Martinez:
Haven’t been outside much but:
black phoebe
cedar waxwings
Anna’s hummingbirds
Don’t remember the phoebe before this year, but maybe that’s me. Seems like the cedar waxwings came around earlier.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Lots of House finches
February 10th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Moraga–Arroyo dr. –Sullivan
Lots of house finches
Mourning doves–lots
Oregon Junco same as last year
Robins–a few sometimes
Anna’s hummingbird same as last year
Scrub Jay–the usual six
Stellar jaytoday for the first time
White crowned sparrow lots
American gold finch not as many this year
Lesser finch same as last year
Pine siskin about the same but came earlier this year
Cooper’s hawk-seen sometimes
Nuthatch-same as last year
Black capped chickadee lots
Nuthall’s woodpecker-a pair
Rufus towee same as last year have only seem four–
tufted titmouse–same as last year
Bewicks wren–have only seen one
Quail–lots-same as last year
Turkeys–six–less then last year–usually see more in the spring
February 10th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Walnut Creek – Deneb & Hustonwood Ct – near Acalanes Ridge Open Space
redtail hawk – usual 3-4
turkey vulture – usual # cruising
turkeys – up in neighborhood
black-shoulder kites – 5 on Acalanes Ridge – normal
great horned owl – normal # heard at night
Cooper’s hawk – less sighted than normal
acorn woodpecker – frequent feeder on sunflowers – up
downy woodpecker – also frequent feeder user – up
Nutall’s woodpecker – also loves sunflower feeder now
scrub jay – fewer but no peanuts now
Steller’s jay – none this year vs 2 usually
northern mockingbird – up now >2
CA thrasher – none vs.maybe 1
spotted towhee – none yet vs 1-2
CA towhee – 4-6 – about usual
American robin – way down – not eating toyon berries
cedar waxwing – not observed – usually strip toyon
redwinged blackbird – NONE – unusual!
Brewer’s blackbird – noe – unusual
mourning dove – not as many but up to 20
rock dove – just a few (GOOD)
bandtail pigeon – only 2-3 vs flock
American goldfinch – a down year
lesser goldfinch – less to normal
house finch – about normal
chestnut backed chickadee – up to about 6
oak titmouse – up to about 6
Bewick’s wren – 1st sighting ths year
white breasted nuthatch – 1 – new this year
black phoebe – occasional – about normal
Oregon junco – maybe 6-8 a bit fewer
white-crowned sparrow – maybe 15-20 – good year
golden crowned sparrow – off year – just a few
other sparrows quite a few – normal
western bluebird – frequent in neighborhood
gulls – overhead as usual
mallards – overhead as usual
Canada geese – overhead as usual
February 10th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
It seems to me I am not seeing the numbers of Bushtits that I saw a year ago. Others — I haven’t noticed, just seem fewer of everything.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
In general: Not much difference in number of typical back yard birds at my home in Benicia. House Sparrows, Juncos, crows, white and gold crowned sparrows, anna’s hummingbird mourning doves, goldfinches, scrbjays and California Towhee. Fewer: House Finches, Common Bushtit, Pine Sisken (only seen once in 10 years I have lived here), Bullocks’s Oriole. Transients seen this year cedar wax wings (2x this winter). Seen Occasionally: Red Tail, Kite, Owls (mostly heard at night) Rufous sided Towhee, Cooper’s Hawk, Band Tailed Pigeon.
February 10th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
House Sparrow
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pygmy Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Junco
California Towhee
Black Phoebe
Mourning Dove
White-throated Sparrow
American Robin
Anna’s Hummingbird
Scrub Jay
Northern Flicker (only once)
Sharp-shinned Hawk
European Starling
Rock Dove
Other unidentified sparrows
I’ve only lived here for a couple of years, so can’t speak to increases / decreases. Other birds we’ve seen in the backyard (tho not in the last couple of weeks):
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Townsend’s Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Brown Creeper, Brewer’s Blackbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird. A pair of conures landed in a tree 2 doors down, but didn’t stop at our feeders.
San Francisco, CA
Near City College
February 11th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Re: Birds Corner Canary-Greenwood Pleasanton
I feed my birds in a large patio, mostly paved, with an orange tree, Meyer lemon, fuschia and a few small shrubs. I have at least as many birds as usual but with a few variations.
1 pair scrub jays, never more unless there are young
Many finches
White crowned sparrows , not as many
Many doves
Chickadees
Juncos
1 Anna’s humming bird who chases all others
1 male American golfinch once
other goldfinches
Titmice
Used to have a mockingbird nesting in a big tree but the tree is gone and so is the mockingbird family
Never had robins, no worms
many crows overhead, rarely in courtyard
1 turkey vulture who dragged in a dead squirrel
1 or more black phoebes in the back yard.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Vallejo, Ca
morning doves: increase
brewer’s blackbird: increase
juncos: increase
cedar waxwing: decrease
scrub jays: decrease
robins: decrease
crows: increase
turkey vultures: increase
mockingbird: decrease
house finch: same–many
american gold finch: same–many
california towhee: same–many
white crown sparrow–a few–usual
February 11th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Foothill Rd., Sunol
goldfinch
junco’s
house finch
hummingbirds
scrub jay
CA quail
starlings
red tailed hawks
sharp shin hawks
coopers hawk
blue heron
crows
turkey vultures
doves
flickers
sparrows
robins
chickadees
titmouse
downey woodpecker
Have not seen a decrease in the amount of birds since last year.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Ted: San Ardo Ct. WC Ygnacio and San Carlos.
We have been reporting for Cornell’s project Feeder Watch for the last five or six years; species routinely seen and counted:
Spotted Towhee
CA Brown Towhee
CA Quail
American Gold Finch
Lesser Gold Finch
House Finch
House Sparrow
White Crowned Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Downey Woodpecker
Chestnut Backed Chickadee
White Breasted Nuthatch
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Scrub Jay
Darkeyed (Oregon) Junco
Plain Titmouse
We have noticed reduction in numbers of CA Quail, American Gold Finches, Kestrals, Perigrine Falcons, and Owls.
Goldfinches seem to be here for shorter periods than in past years.
February 11th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
above junction of Reuss & Tesla Road, Livermore, CA
I did not do this last year, but I think my numbers are still comparable.
We feed about 13 goldfinches (Lesser)
& 2 dozen White-crowned sparrows.
Around our 6 acre property we have:
2 red-tailed hawks
numerous Turkey Vultures
1 Thrasher (singing continuously)
mockingbird
2 killdeer
American kestrel
Barn Owl
Great Horned Owl
February 11th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
oops–I hit the wrong button, hope this will continue on my list:
1 house finch
2 ravens
huge flocks mixed Starling & blackbirds (Brewer’s & red-winged)
Ca quail (reduced from a high of around 50 a few years ago to less that 10!)
30+ mourning doves
February 11th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Antioch-Bluerock Dr./Deer Valley Rd. Scrub Jays, Mockingbirds, Hummingbirds-6 or 8 regulars, Robins come to eat strawberries, Yellow & Common House Finch-few, White & Golden Crown Sparrow-few,3 or 4 doves,1 or 2 starlings,about 2 or 3 yellow breasted fly catchers and a couple cedar wax wings.Pigeons sitting on roofs, a red tail hawk snatched one the other day. At least 1 adult red tail & 1 young one in the neighborhood. A couple of northern flickers. We have 4 hummingbird feeders & 2 seed feeders.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Walnut Creek – Deerpark Drive near Valley Vista
Recently have seen:
House Finches – a bunch
Lesser Goldfinches – ditto
Chestnut-backed chickadees
white-crowned sparrows
other miscellaneous LBB’s (little brown birds) I can’t identify
(thistle and seed feeders attracting all these guys to the yard)
Nuttall’s woodpecker – one female (we’ve been seeing a pair periodically since last Fall)
Anna’s Hummingbirds – 2 or 3 fighting over the feeder
Mourning doves – a pair
California Towhees, occasional
American Robins, occasional
Mockingbirds, occasional
Scrub Jays, occasional
Mallards in the canal behind the house
Canada Geese flying over on the way to Boundary Oaks I assume
We had a Black Phoebe that visited daily, haven’t seen it since the Fall but there are others in the neighborhood so they’re still around. Our neighborhood turkey seems to have moved on!
February 13th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Livermore-Fifth street
House sparrows
House Finches
white crowned sparrows
Mourning Doves
Annas Hummingbirds
Coopers Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Northern Flicker
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Robin (less than last year, so far)
Black Phoebe
scrub jay
I have not seen any cedar waxwings this year, at least as of yet, and that is unusual
February 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Hi Gary,
Alvord and Addison way in Pleasanton
I used to take part in the yearly bird study that was carried on by Cornell University. I have to say that I have seen a dramatic decrease in birds in my back yard from 10 years ago. My Anna’s hummingbirds have not been seen for months, no Juncos, Gold Crown Sparrows, Mockingbirds, or Gold Finches. What I have seen recently is:
*A flock of Cedar Waxwings for one day only.
*White Crown Sparrows (few)
*House Finches (few)
*Turkey Vulture overhead
*Flock of Titmouse’s passing through
*A Scrub Jay
*House sparrows
*Canadian Geese and Mallards overhead
Thanks Gary we so enjoy your column
February 13th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Trying to help with the bird survey:
Clayton, El Camino and Shasta Ct
juncos (fewer)
finches, both house and gold (fewer)
sparrows, (several kinds, no change)
doves, no change
robins (fewer)
chickadees (fewer)
crows (more)
starlings (not many)
brown towhees (fewer)
hummingbirds (fewer)
downy woodpeckers (several regulars)
scrub jays (about the same)
mockingbirds (more)
wrens (only a few)
quail (occasionally)
sharp-shinned hawk (occasionally)
peregrine falcon (twice, not recently)
rufous sided towhees (used to see them but not in last few years)
bushtits (almost not at all anymore)
turkey vultures (more)
We go to the Delta regularly in the fall and winter to see sandhill cranes. This year, fewer of them, but lots more white-fronted geese, Canada geese, snow geese.
February 13th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Stone Valley Road at Danville Blvd., Alamo
We have more than a dozen of house and red finches; Also see 2 pairs of 2 types of woodpeckers (downey and ladderback?); nuthatches; scrub jays; stellar jays; juncos; towees; chickadees (my favorite), mourning doves, titmouse. Only 2 cedar waxwings this year and await the return of our Grosbeaks. We have perhaps two goldfinches (used to be a dozen or more), hummingbirds, robins, and way too many squirrels.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I guess I filled out my reply form wrong. My phone number is on there. Can you please take it off for me? Thank You. Sue Dalander
February 15th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Hi Gary
Read your column everyday! We are in Pleasanton near Hansen Park.
We see:
House sparrows
Finches
Kite
Turkey Vulture
Hummingbirds
Hawks
Crows
We have seen fewer birds in our yard this year compared to prior years. No Robins yet or Mockingbirds and Jays.
Thanks!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Hi Gary Really enjoy your columns. Most frequently seen in my area:
Mourning doves – lots; no change
Anna’s Hummers slight decrease
Nuttall’s Woodpecker’s – no change
Scrub Jays – many – no change
Plain Titmouse – no change
Chickadee’s no change
House Finches – no change
Lesser Goldfinch – fewer
Song Sparrow – no change
Oregon Junco – no change
Robins – fewer
Pine Siskin – only occasionally
Owls – rarely – big change
Location: Acalanes Ridge open space
Pleasant Hill Rd & Green Valley Dr
W.C.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I live near Paseo Padre and Peralta in Fremont.
Here is the list of birds seen recently. PS: we do have birdfeeders.
Blue Jays
Finches – red, yellow, brown
Sparrows
Canadian Geese
Turkey Buzzards
Owl
Hawks
Crows
Seagulls
Nut Hatches
Robins
Mourning Doves
Hummingbirds
Northern Flickers
Black Phoebes
Black Capped Chickadees
Bushtits
Red-breasted Nuthatchs
Mockingbirds
Brown Towhees
February 16th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Hi Gary,
Livermore, Hampton and Holmes
I do the Backyard Bird Count, watch birds all year round. They are the same as they have always been, at least as far as my backyard goes.
For two years, there were no Oregon Juncos, but they are back strong this winter.
Seen this weekend include:
Mourning Doves
Western Scrub Jay
American crow
Black Phoebe
Calif Towhee
lots of Sparrows (Lincoln, Savannah, White-Crowned, Golden-Crowned, Oregon Junco)
lots of American and Lesser Goldfinch
lots of House Finch
House Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-Backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Hairy Woodpecker
A neighbor has quail families.
These are the winter crew, of course. Birds at the local golf courses seem the same, also at Sycamore Grove park. Summer birds were the same as always at my house, including a flock of Cedar waxwings who spent three days stripping the berries off the Chinese pistache trees and moved on. Year-round, bird numbers and varieties seem to be the same.
Thanks Gary
February 16th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
On the ridge above Kaiser and Parkmead, 2/16:
robins
american crows (they live around Parkmead)
aak titmice
purple finches
doves
western scrub jays
darkeyed juncos
chipping sparrows
acorn woodpeckers
broadtailed hummingbirds
a few gulls
flickers
In the last few days:
canadian geese
redtail hawk
barn owl (at night)
February 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Hi Gary,
Over the last two weeks, these are the birds I have seen in my front and back yard:
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
House Finch
Purple Finch
California Towhee
Dark-Eyed Junco
Golden-Crowned Sparrow
White-Crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Cedar Waxwing
Wrentit
Robin
Hermit Thrush
House Wren
Brown Creeper
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Oak Titmouse
Black-Capped Chickadee
Crow
Scrub-Jay
Steller’s Jay
Black Phoebe
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttails’s Woodpecker
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous or maybe Allen’s hummingbird
Red-Tailed Hawk
Morning doves
Turkey vultures overhead, as usual
I may be forgetting a few. No shortage of birds here in Lafayette! As always, I’m a big fan of your column.
February 16th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Birds in Walnut Creek around Arbolado and Oak Grove Road
No observed change in numbers:
Chickadee with a black cap
Finch–yellow and red
White Crowned sparrow
Mourning Doves
Oregon Junco
Blue Jay
Owl–in the big trees, not sighted
Wood pecker (handsome black & white striped boy)
Have not yet seen a robin. Usually one of the trees is full of them for a few days–maybe too early.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:04 am
we have had no decline in birds – jays and king jays and what we believe are finches and small birds of all types just love our feeder – especially at this time of year – we are in oakland cloase to sobrante and thorndale – do you know of any free publications for identifying birds?
February 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
The backyard birds in east Pleasanton:
• Anna’s hummingbird – number down, although I did move the feeder this year. I found 5 hummer nests when the leaves fell off the crepe myrtles this fall-a record.
• Black–chinned hummingbird – enjoyed one zipping around the yard yesterday.
• Acorn woodpecker – number down this year. Don’t hear that pecking at my chimney in the morning.
• Downy woodpecker – none seen this year; unusual.
• Scrub jay – no change; good number.
• American robin – number down this year, although still plentiful.
• Red-winged blackbird – none so far this year; too early or very unusual.
• Cedar waxwing – 2 full days of 40+ flocks and no more pyracantha or Toyon berries left on the bushes.
• Black phoebe – occasional; no change.
• Mourning dove – 2 persistent pairs; no change.
• Rufous-sided towhee – occasional visitors; no change
• California towhee – frequent visitors; no change.
• American goldfinch – very plentiful this year; numbers up.
• Lesser goldfinch – very plentiful this year; numbers up.
• White-crowned sparrow – plentiful; no change.
• Golden–crowned sparrow – occasional; numbers down.
• Chipping sparrow – occasional; no change.
• House finch – plentiful; numbers way up!
• Purple finch – plentiful; numbers way up!
• Oregon junco – occasional; no change.
• Oak titmouse – occasional; no change.
• California quail – occasional only, number appears way down.
• Killdeer – Used to keep me awake at night with their kill dee, haven’t seen or heard one in months.
• Northern mockingbird – occasional only; numbers down.
• Bushtit – occasional this year; numbers way down.
• American coot – plentiful; number down however.
• Red-tailed hawk – one circling pair; no change.
• White-tailed kite – good number; no change.
• Golden eagle – no sightings this year; unusual.
• Red-shouldered hawk-no change.
• American kestrel – occasional; number down.
• Cooper’s hawk – none this year; unusual.
• Turkey vulture- plentiful; no change.
• Turkey – plentiful; no change.
(I have noticed a BIG decrease in jackrabbit numbers this year which may account for some of the raptor decreases)
February 20th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Grizzly Peak/Wildcat Canyon,Kensington
Common sightings: lesser goldfinch; pine siskin; brown towhee; oregon junco; scrub jays (one gets hand-fed peanuts); crows; vultures; robins; hummingbirds, Annas.
recently missing – stellarjays
February 20th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Thanks for all you do and making my morning coffee time delightful.MCP
February 20th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Gary,
I still have a lot of birds in my Moraga yard. My most interesting are the 2 pairs of woodpeckers. One pair of Nuttall’s and one pair of Downeys. There is a pecking order at the suet. First is the male Nuttall, then the male Downey, next the female Nuttall and finally the female Downey. It is all very orderly.
I also have Calif Towhees and Spotted Towhees, Titmice, a wren, Anna’s hummer, Lesser Goldfinches and American Goldfinches, house sparrows, house finches, juncos, mourning doves, chickadees, scrub jay. I attribute my wealth of birds to the high quality seed I get from the Wild Bird store.
Nearest cross street is Larch.
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Hi, Gary,
I’ve read and loved your column for years, but this is the first time I’ve written. As I am in “career transition”, I have the time to keep an eye on my feeders. The day you solicited an itemized status of birds in my yard, I noticed the following: black phoebe, house finches, American gold finches, chestnut-backed chickadee, plain titmouse, scrub jays, a pair of California towhees, white crowned sparrows, crow, and mourning doves. Not bad for high density, townhouse living. I live in Pleasanton, near very busy Santa Rita and Stoneridge Roads.
I’d send you some photos but I don’t know how to do it.
Best wishes,
Terri
February 24th, 2009 at 10:31 am
two comments. One; most birds are still here. I am in the pleasant hill flat land a few blocks west of Contra Costa Blvd. we have always had Goldfinches but not for two years. We have Stellar Jays, four often, new last year. Lots of woodpeckers (Nuttalls) titmice, chickadees (chestnut back) doves, robins, finches, I’m forgetting some but there are most of what we had and the new ones are fewer than the old ones.
Second comment. I saw and amazing sight as I was coming to the head of the upstairs staircase. I turned to the window and saw a full sized Turkey Vulture in rapid descent right at the window I was looking through. he/she was coming down and swooped up immediately. I don’t know how it made it without hitting the window or the eave. I could not have had a closer view. I was AT the glass and so was he/she. Except for the glass I might have reached out and touched it. (also except I’m not so quick as I would have needed to be.)
If need be, I can provide a more generous list of our birds.
Thanks for your good work
Peter
February 26th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Just a couple of items for your bird survey. We have several feeders in the backyard and use lots of bird seed. 10-20 lbs a week. We live in North Concord, in the Holbrook Heights area with lots of mature trees. I don’t know all the types of birds we get but I’ve been reading up on them so here’s what I think we have:
In the backyard:
Scrub Jays, quite a few
white crowned sparrows, zillions
gold crowned sparrows quite a few
crows, quite a few from time to time, they will swarm.
chickadees a few
juncos a few
Robins 5 or 6
wrens a few
house finches lots (red heads)
golden finches, more every day
Doves, less than before, just a few this year
Hummingbirds-None for at least a month. We used to have a half dozen or so.
Hawks, small and brown, not sure what kind but they like eating the sparrows. We have quite a few of them. They sit outside a large Oleander in our driveway, even on my truck sometimes. The Oleander is always full of small birds chirping away at all times of day so I think that is what attracts them.
Some recent arrivals are a family of either kites or large ospreys. They show up every evening right at dusk and perch in the tall redwood trees on my street.
The leader comes in first and slowly another 7 or 8 birds join him (or her). They glide around for five or ten minutes, hunting I guess, and then settle into the trees for the night. They are breathtakingly beautiful. It’s really quite spectacular to see them when they arrive. I keep trying to get a decent photograph but as they fly in just as it’s getting dark it is quite difficult. They have only been showing up here for the last month or two.
It’s almost dusk now so I am going to go outside once again and try to get a decent photo of them. Hope this helps.
warren
February 28th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Comment to Warren’s blog above ~ I witnessed a similar display of white Egrets nesting for the evening in Cayucos couple of months back. I was watching the sunset on the ocean and dozens of them flew in from down the coast into a large grove of eucalyptus trees for their evening perch. Flocks of 4 to 8 of them flew in group after group circling the tree tops for a good spot to land and then dissapeared into the canopy of leaves. The display went on for a half an hour and was spectacular!
Anyway, every year I tell myself I’m going to participate in the BYBC and forget! I have loads of birds…..and squirrels, racoons, possoms, skunks, deer, even a bobcat we spot occasionally through the chain link fence on Shell property. I live in downtown Martinez on Grandview where there are many large established trees and my backyard backs to Shell open space where there are lots more trees. I have different feeders in the front and back. In front I have a woodpecker suet feeder and a thistle feeder. I have a pair of Nuttall’s Woodpeckers that are nesting in a neighbor’s redwood tree. They are vorcous eaters right now (maybe babies have hatched?)and I have to refill the suet about every other week. Jays, sparrows and chicadee’s snack there as well. American Goldfinches love the thistle feeder but I must admit I have fewer this year than in the past. Last year I counted 13 of them on the feeder at one time, this year maybe 4-5 at a time. Small flocks of Junkos feed on the scraps that drop to the ground. Last week on seperate occasions I saw a beautiful white Kite fly through the neighborhood and on a seperate evening a young deer trot down the street.
My back yard is FULL of birds. I have a hanging feeder with a cage for the small birds and put out a bowl of squirrel food daily fortified with sunflower seeds for the squirrels and ground feeding birds. Is fun to watch the Jay’s and squirrels jocky for position at the seed/corn bowl
I have Towhees three or four at a time and have even seen a Spotted Towhee occasionally. Lot’s of Junkos, Scrub Jays and Stellar Jays. I hear the mockingbirds but I never see them feeding in the yard.
At the caged feeder I have lots of House Finches both male & female, Titmice, Chicadees and both White Crowned and Song Sparrows and Mourning Doves feed on the ground below. As I am typing this blog I’m looking in my backyard at two feeding squirrels and at least 2 dozen birds all munching away.
Also I have a huge pine tree in my back yard where a Screech Owl frequently sleeps during the day. She is beautiful but leaves messy droppings from both ends on my deck after she has snacked on a mouse or two
Finally are the Humming Birds. Not so many right now but starting soon I will have LOTS. I have abutilons both front and back and the Hummers LOVE them. No need for sugar water in my yard!
I hear from some WildBird workers who live on the hill on the other side of downtown they have sighted Orioles but I have not been successful luring those even with a feeder in a seperate location.
Love your column Gary, I’m a daily faithful reader for many years. Keep up the great work!
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Rural Moraga end of Camino Pablo
crows large flock
Ravens pair
Egret 1
Blue Heron 1
Turkeys many
Turkey vultures many
pigeons many
Quail none
mourninbg doves many
white crowned sparrow many
red tailed hawk pair
sharp shinn or coopers hawk 1
kestrels pair
wood peckers
rofus towhees several
oregon junkos many
house finch many
starlings many
blackbirds many
red wing balck birds several
gold finches several
scrub jays 5
killdeers many
western bluebirds a few
swallows a few
eagle 1
hummingbirds about 3 maybe 4
geese flew over the other day
March 16th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Pleasanton at Hopyard and Valley:
In the front:
Crows – 5 or 6
Black Phoebe – one and several in the park at the corner
American Robin – a few usually, as many as 20-25 a few weeks ago
Cedar Waxing – one large group occasionally
Western Scrub Jay – 1
Hawk 1
Woodpecker – I saw one a few houses down last week, no ID
Backyard:
American Goldfinch – lots
House Finch – 6
Lesser Finch – lots
Chestnut backed Chickadee – 2
White crown Sparrows – lots
Mouring Doves – 2
Hummingbirds – 1 at present, many last summer
August 10th, 2009 at 6:44 am
I live in Lewisville Texas. We use to have a bunch of Cardinals the singing would wake us up in the morning. I use to feed the sparrows 3 times day. I have not seen these birds in the past two weeks. Also, we use to have rabbits around and they have disappearred also. My mother lives a mile from me and she use to feed sparrows, blue jays, scizzor tails. The same goes for her she hasn’t seen the birds lately. The sparrows use to make nests in our vents.
Where did the birds go? The temperature is is normal for this time of the year.
August 10th, 2009 at 7:59 am
August 10, 2009 Walnut Creek, CAlifornia. I have had several families of house finches, and lots of goldfinches. The house finches have had at least two sets of babies born and all of a sudden this week, they are all gone. Is that normal? Where did they go?? We have enjoyed listening to them sing and watching them with their families. They seem to be such good parents, so attentive and ever watchful. We miss them.
We have had a few Robins, no Mockingbirds!, unusual, more Doves, Waxwings went through in spring, Calif Jays, a pair, spotted what looked like Chikadees, not much else. There was so much singing in the mornings, and now all is quiet. Curious.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
September 22, 2009
For the past few weeks, we have not had one bird of any kind on the feeders. We had finches, cardinals, titmice, sparrows, woodpeckers, ect. We have been feeding them all year and this summer, we had so many we lost count. Of course we have a few hawks that have been with us all year. The weather has been the same, where are they?
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
Sorry, I forgot to tell you I am in Connecticut.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Whitman,Massachusetts
I too have had a lot of birds this summer. finches titmice,carninals,nuthatches,woodpeckers,chicadees,doves,bluejays and a northern flicker.this past month the only 2 birds I hear are the bluejays & Cardnial but ther are not coming to the feeders.
I have cleaned the feeder several times thinking that might be the problem. I feed them sunflower hearts,and the feeders are located close to the woods
Where the heck have they gone????
October 9th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Karen: Birds move around a lot during the fall and winter months, looking for food, etc. Some migrate to new areas further south. others may migrate shorter distances … a few miles … a few blocks … maybe just down the street. New birds will also move into your area from further north. Fall and winter can be a fun time for bird watchers. yes, some of your familiar bird species may have relocated to new areas (they’ll be back), but you should also be seeing new birds soon to replace them. Have fun! /Gary
October 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I was able to ovserve a pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDS raising their young they nested on a utility pole i walked by everyday and watched as their nestlings eventualy flew and but no before they tried their wings for the first time
October 18th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I am from Masschusetts and have had the same loss of birds(See Karen & Linda). I stll have tufted titmouse, chickadees, and woodpeckers. That is it. I had at least 11 different birds this summer including Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, and hummingbirds. While I realize that it is the natural order for these birds to winter elsewhere, it is not the natural order for the finches, morning doves, chipping sparrows, nurthatches, and cardinals to disappear; but, they have. I haven’t seen any Junco’s yet either. It is snowing out; so, it it time to see them and they aren’t here. What is going on?
November 8th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I have the same problem as Denise. Where did the sparrows, ground doves and finches go ? Still have tree clingers also. Who knows the answer ? They were here all summer . Feeders are full and no birds to eat it. Also had mor than usual hummingbirds this summer and some Orioles.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
All summer I had a hard time keeping my feeders full. I feed sunflower seeds and have had a wide variety of birds such as chickadees,sparrows, finches, titmouse and Juncos. I have suet for Blue Jays and Flickers. Now this is the second week that I haven’t had any small bird to the feeders and only one flicker. what is changing?
18521 NE Everett st,Portland OR
November 24th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
All summer I had a hard time keeping my feeders full. I feed sunflower seeds and have had a wide variety of birds such as chickadees,sparrows, finches, titmouse and Juncos. I have suet for Blue Jays and Flickers. Now this is the second week that I haven’t had any small bird to the feeders and only one flicker. what is changing?
NE Everett st,Portland OR
April 27th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I have two nesting pairs of White-Tailed Kite in my yard. First time seen in Vallejo
May 23rd, 2010 at 11:30 am
Gary, I’ve had a nice feeder for American Goldfinches hanging outside my kitchen window, NOT under an eave, in Antioch CA for a couple years now, but I don’t think a goldfinch has ever approached it. We make sure the seed is kept fresh. What could be the problem?
June 1st, 2010 at 2:20 am
I have the opposite problem now that I’ve chased the neighbors’ crouching cats away–daily–but one thing that brings them back is a mixture of Niger seed and hulled black sunflower seed. The hulled sunflower is pricey, but mix it up with the Niger and a little “ordinary” wild birdseed. One other idea: you might try taking the feeder down, giving it a really good scrub, even a little Clorox, rinsing well, letting it dry for a day or two, then refilling with seed. Good luck!
June 10th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Concord, near John Muir Hosp.(Concord Campus)
House Finch – Many = No Change
White Crowned Sparrow – Few = No Change
Morning Dove – few= No Change
Plain Titmouse – none, usually a few
Golden Finch – Few– usually many*
California Towhee – one, comes every year
European Sparrow- many, slightly less
*its seems gold finches only like that one white sock type feeder, everything else they ignore, even if a new thistle feeder is in the same spot.
November 5th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Don Gazpacho
Acton, Ca 93510
Sierra Highway & Shannondale road.
Ravens – Every year there seems to be more.
Blue Heron 1 -started showing up in 2009 and ate my goldfish – None since March 2010
Road Runners – seeing fewer each year.
Turkey vultures – never saw them here in 20 years but suddenly a few sightings since 2008
pigeons – a few at fish pond
Quail – many
mourninbg doves many – one got a drink 3′ from a Coopers Hawk bathing in fish pond!
sparrows/finchs – many
red tailed hawks fewer – due to Ravens
sharp shin and coopers hawk – many
kestrels – drastic decline (rarely seen now)
wood peckers – several
towhees – many, including aggressive (Aberts?), that chase Scrub Jays away from peanuts!
oregon junkos – occasional but fewer
starlings – many
blackbirds – several
red wing balck birds- none
gold finches – several
scrub jays – many
killdeers – none
western bluebirds – a few nest in boxes in yard
swallows – a few
Golden Eagles – residents sighted all the time until 2006. Now none.
Prairie Falcons – residents sighted all the time until 2006. Now occasionally.
Harrier hawks & Kites – once a few now none.
Osprey – 2 fly overs a couple of years apart (rarely)
Barn Owls – many. Nest in box I put up since 1987.
Horned Owls – a few
Burrowing Owls – None since 1988, when there were a few.
Phenopepla – many
Tit Mouse – a few residents
hummingbirds – many
Robins – Occasional few
Horned Larks – once many now just a few
Meadow Larks – once many now less
June 19th, 2011 at 10:37 am
2011 June, this past winter north NYC left us with little, heard blue jays scream often, no crows due to the west nile hitting hard here..a few song sparrow, a cardinal or two, no juncos, chicadees, house finches gone for well over a decade, lots of english sparrow, starlings and still pigeons. Perigrines and redtail hawks increasing, huge female nesting here a few years now raided two bluejay nests easily seen. One oriole some redwing blackbirds, a few egrets, night herons, canada geese flying, lots of catbird sounds, NO mockingbirds (but these are wintering) they are rare now. Seen not far away, sharpshinned and coopers hawks. Many many black vultures spotted in the sky, two hawks seen here taking a bird from the skies bringing it down easily..Little green heron seen in a small lake and a family of wood ducks, very nice to see this spring/summer..