• Sierra Valley Photography: An Abundance of Raptors

    Text and photos by John Ehrenfeld

    Editor’s Note: You can have the opportunity to join John on our bonus Birdathon trip Field Photography with the Napa Ospreys. Find out more here.

    If you are interested in learning more about the Birds of the Sierra, there are still spots available in our upcoming class. Go to goldengatebirdalliance.org/education/classes/ for more information.

    At the end of February I was fortunate enough to lead a GGBA Photo Workshop to California’s beautiful Sierra Valley. It was a little different than some GGBA trips as the focus was on photography as well as birding. Raptors was the name of the game this time of the year.

    The Sierra Valley is located north of I-80 and west of Lake Tahoe; a beautiful agricultural Valley surrounded by the Sierra mountains near the small town of Sierraville. With the possibility of bad winter weather and hazardous driving conditions in February, we were careful to keep an eye on the weather and were pleased that it looked good enough to go. We were able to book reasonably priced rooms for all six of us, at the Canyon Ranch Resort, a quaint group of rustic cabins on a picturesque stream in the woods. It was perfect.

    Day One: We met in the hotel living room Saturday morning. We got to know everyone and had an hour to chat informally about photography and answer some questions both creative and technical. Good group dynamics are always important and are directly proportionate to the trip’s success and we had a great group. A couple of excellent birders, a medical researcher, a filmmaker and a teacher.

    Off we went, car pooling to make the trip and stopping along the way manageable. At the end of town behind a feed store was a large group of birds feeding so we stopped and got our feet wet shooting them. Highlights were perched and flying Black-billed Magpies, Cassin’s Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, a Red-tailed Hawk perched high in a pine tree and various Sparrows. It was fun and we all got to adjust our camera settings and get the feel of the light and snowy backgrounds we would deal with all day.

    Our target area was about twenty miles away, a series of farm roads and agricultural fields covered in snow that are known for an abundance of raptors. On the way we saw a pair of Bald Eagles, one perched and one in flight, which is always a thrill.…

  • The Magic of Mitchell Canyon

    By Steve and Carol Lombardi

    Editor’s Note: This blog post originally ran in March 2016. We’re rerunning it now to remind folks of the special quality of this birding hotspot and to allow those interested time to register for our Birdathon 2019 trip to Mitchell Canyon. You can learn more about the trip here.

    The north slope of Mt. Diablo near Clayton offers one of the best birding spots in the East Bay. Mitchell Canyon is a shady, steep-sided, north-facing canyon with varied habitat and more-or-less permanent water. It provides easy access to both the casual stroller and the serious hiker/biker/equestrian. (Birding by horse? Now, there’s a concept.)

    The canyon is a delightful place to bird year-round, but becomes spectacular from late April to early May. This is when migrant warblers, flycatchers, and others make brief visits on the way to their summer breeding grounds. And the canyon’s resident breeders show up and make themselves known with their songs.

    While you’re there, don’t spend all your time looking up into the canopy. Be sure to enjoy the plethora of spring-blooming wildflowers alongside the trail. The canyon is one of the best places to see the Mt. Diablo globe lily (Calochortus pulchellus Benth.) among many other wildflowers.

    Because of the canyon’s steep sides and deep shade, the area provides several different habitat types. Pine-oak woodland, riparian, grassland, chaparral, and sage scrub are all accessible in a relatively short walk.

    Mitchell Canyon in springtime, by Scott HeinMitchell Canyon in springtime, by Scott Hein Mitchell Canyon in the dry season, by Matt GuziejkaMitchell Canyon in the dry season, by Matt Guziejka

    All northside trails into the park eventually lead to Mitchell Canyon (see the park map listed below). From the Clayton entrance, Mitchell Canyon Road follows Mitchell Creek and runs moderately uphill for about two miles through oak woodland and riparian habitat. It then breaks out of the trees and becomes a steep climb through chaparral and scrub, eventually emerging onto Summit Road in the main part of the park after several strenuous miles. If you’re out for a morning bird walk, the beginning of the steep portion is a good place to turn around. Of course, if you want to hike to the 3,800 foot Mt. Diablo summit, you’re welcome to do it.

    A more moderate spring bird walk would start in the Mitchell Canyon visitor center parking lot. Begin by birding in the oaks around the parking area for oak breeders like White-breasted Nuthatch, and “parking lot” birds like quail and turkey.…

  • Gardening for the Birds

    By Kathy Kramer

    In The Chickadee’s Guide to Gardening, a charming New York Times Op Ed article, Douglas Tellamy wrote, “Chances are, you have never thought of your garden… as a wildlife preserve that represents the last chance we have for sustaining plants and animals that were once common throughout the U.S. But that is exactly the role our suburban landscapes are now playing and will play even more in the near future.”

    “What will it take to give our local animals what they need to survive and reproduce on our properties? NATIVE PLANTS, and lots of them.”

    In fact, it takes 350 to 570 caterpillars every day for sixteen days for a pair of chickadees to raise a family, according to Tellemy! And it’s native plants that provide this kind of food source, while most non-natives do not.

    Wondering what plants you can incorporate into your own garden to attract birds?  Check out the Audubon’s Society’s terrific new Native Plant Database at https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds.  Another excellent database is the Califorinia Native Plant Society’s CalScape (https://calscape.org/), which will provide you with information on all of the native trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, grasses, succulents, vines and ferns that grow naturally in your area.

    In either database, just enter your zip code to obtain a list of bird-friendly plants that will attract the birds you love while making your space beautiful, easy to care for, and better for the environment.

    Hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular, red flowers of the native fuchsia Photo by David Harper

    Here in the Bay Area, we have an outstanding resource for people who want to create bird-friendly gardens—the annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour.

    Coming up on Sunday, May 5th, 2019, the 15th Annual Tour will showcase thirty seven East Bay gardens that have excelled at attracting birds. This award-winning, self-guided tour features beautiful Alameda and Contra Costa County gardens that are pesticide-free, water-conserving, provide habitat for wildlife, and contain sixty percent or more native plants.

    Registration for the Fifteenth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, which will take place on Sunday, May 5, 2019 from 10:00 to 5:00, is now open.  This award-winning event features thirty seven Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens. The self-drive tour showcases a variety of gardens, from large wooded lots in the hills to small parcels in the flats. Native plants will be available for sale, and forty talks will be offered on the week-end of the event.…

  • Bidding on Birding

    By Alex Smolyanskaya

    One of the many special items up for bid during this year’s Birdathon Auction is a private Birding By Ear session with Denise Wight. Denise’s Birding By Ear group classes have been known to fill up within minutes of going up online, so this is a unique opportunity to learn from Denise in a small setting.

    Photo by Jerry Ting

    I have taken her class multiple times (as have many others!) and I think that even a single private session would help take your birding by ear to the next level. Whether you’re just starting out or working on your sparrow ‘tseeps’ and chips, Denise meets you where you are. She shares her intimate knowledge of bird songs, calls, and non-vocal sounds and offers a variety of approaches and tips among which you choose whatever works for you. There are some bird calls for which I still conjure a mnemonic in Denise’s voice, and you know what? That works for me!

    Marsh Wren by Rick Lewis

    Denise starts many walks with a few minutes of quiet listening — something I now try to do every time I’m out on my own. It helps me become more aware of my auditory environment and pinpoint what I know and what I don’t. With Denise nearby, she helps identify the mystery birds and reveal the key parts of the sound you can use to identify the bird on your own. I love that throughout a walk she stays focused on listening, even if a bird is in plain sight. The reward is the ability to identify many more birds out on your own, since we typically hear many more birds than we see.

    California Thrasher by Alex S.

    Denise’s instruction has taken my birding to the next level, and this is a great opportunity for you to do the same!

    Photo by Bob Gunderson

    The auction goes live on March 25 at this link: https://www.ebid.net/us/for-sale/private-birding-by-ear-with-denise-wight-177674020.htm. It will go to the highest bidder on April 1 at 12:30p. Check out the other auction items, which run throughout Birdathon, at https://www.ebid.net/us/users/goldengateaudubon/listings/. Bid your heart out!

    Alex Smolyanskaya has been birding the Bay Area since moving here in 2015. She is currently enrolled in the Master Birder course with the goal of becoming well-rounded observer of local birds and wildlife. When she’s not birding, Alex helps people make informed decisions with data science.…

  • It’s All Happening at the Zoo

    By Beth Moseley

    Someone told me it’s all happening at the zoo
    I do believe it, I do believe it’s true.
    (Simon & Garfunkle.  Lyrics to “At the Zoo” www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/simongarfunkel/atthezoo.)

    One of the 2019 Birdathon trips that can’t be missed this year is Behind the Scenes at the Oakland Zoo. You will be treated to private talks with several zoo keepers and animal experts. The tour will highlight major recent additions to the Oakland Zoo including a new aviary and the California Trail dedicated to the Golden State’s most iconic native wildlife. You are even likely to see a California condor or two during your visit!

    Blue and Yellow Macaw by Beth Moseley

    I took part in the 2015 Behind the Scenes Oakland Zoo tour and had a memorable time. While your 2019 experience will no doubt be unique and wonderful I would like to share some highlights from my day at the zoo.

    We saw an elephant get a pedicure. Yes, a pedicure!

    Gibbon by Cindy Margulis

    We listened as Zoo staff told us about the Conservation Society of California and efforts at the zoo to “go green” as well as its North America and global partnerships to take action for wildlife. We took the Outback Express Adventure Train and saw emus and wallaroos in the Wild Australia exhibit.

    Emu by Cindy Margulis

    The best part of the tour for me was visiting the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. The 17,000 square foot state-of-the-art, LEED-certified veterinary medical hospital opened in October 2012. It is the largest wild animal veterinary facility in Northern California. The staff at the facility regularly collaborates with regional organizations such as the California Condor Recovery Team and the UC- Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

    Meerkat x-ray by Beth Moseley

    The vet staff would prefer to do treatments on sick and injured animals in their own habitat. But when the situation calls for a visit to the hospital, the facility can easily accommodate bears, lions and other large animals with its big doorways that open to even bigger operating rooms. The zoo’s facility is furnished with the latest high-tech equipment for X-rays, blood tests, and other medical procedures.

    Malaysian Sun Bear by Cindy Margulis

    Dr. Andrea Goodnight, Associate Veterinarian, lead us on a tour of the facility including the room where they keep the tranquilizer guns in the event of an escape. The operating rooms are spacious and immaculately clean.…