A Year of Gratitude and Hope

BY JULIE AMATO

Thirteen Cedar Waxwings have settled in to roost for the night in our plum tree. My husband, a great admirer of the birds, was the first to see them a couple of nights ago, after lamenting that waxwings had given our yard a pass this year. Hunkered down and huddled together, the birds were surprisingly hard to spot through the purple leaves.

The first one we saw was sitting on a bare branch, its yellow belly gleaming in the sun. After that, our eyes attuned to the pattern, we saw another and then another, their features now jumping out of the mosaic of leaves and sky: waxy red drops on the wings here, yellow tail stripes there, and of course those great Lone Ranger masks. Sparrows and finches fluttered, called, and chased around them, releasing a final burst of energy before nightfall, and yet the waxwings sat there, quiet and still, a moment of grace for us human witnesses.

In a year unlike any other, birding around my home has taken on special meaning. I always find it relaxing, enjoyable, and meditative to spend time watching and listening to birds. This year, however, I have needed the birds more than ever - as a source of comfort, a spark of hope, and my companions during this time of isolation. To wake up every day, knowing the challenges that face our species (indeed all living things), and to find them faithfully outside my window, following the rhythms of nature, has been a solace and a salve. I am grateful for the everyday, which the birds still manage to make extraordinary.

To close out 2020, then, here is my salute to everyday moments with the birds in my yard.

Backyard birds of 2020

*A crow grabs a sip of water on a hot day*

The American Crows in my neighborhood have me under surveillance. When I step outside each morning to hang my bird feeders, their lookout lets everyone know that it’s time for breakfast.

My crow neighbors are remarkably social and civil birds, waiting for their family and friends to arrive before venturing into the yard after peanuts on the ground. Although they presumably know me by now (evidence suggests that crows know and remember individual people, both friend and foe), they are still cautious and keep their distance. The same “social pod” of four to six individuals visits me often, including Patches, whom I recognize because of an injured wing.

The California Scrub-Jays, on the other hand, have no such qualms or scruples. They swoop into the yard like the Blue Angels, making about as much of a racket too. They also go after peanuts, but they're not too concerned about others getting a turn.

Scrub-Jays are choosy and will often pick up a nut, toss it down, then pick up another, chuck it, and so on until they find the “best” one. (Scientists say they are weighing the peanuts and selecting for density.) They are also stunningly effective hunters - I watched in amazement this summer as one zoomed in, snatched a yellowjacket foraging in the grass, and swallowed it whole.

*Chickadee performing a blurry stealth maneuver at my feeder*

Among the smaller birds, Chestnut-backed Chickadees are daily visitors and are often the first species to find a new feeder. They have zippy, to-the-point personalities. When finches take over my feeders, chickadees will find momentary chinks in the blockade, then pop in and snatch a sunflower seed or peanut fragment, carrying it elsewhere to eat it.

*Injured (or sick) chickadee - its wounds seemed to heal over time*

Chickadees are also brave birds. One day I heard two of them conduct a long and agitated discussion; I suspected there was a Cooper’s Hawk in the area and they were letting everyone know. Several days later, a chickadee with a horribly mangled head started showing up at our feeders. Its wounds seemed to heal over time, before the bird eventually disappeared, and I wondered if it had tangled with a hawk and survived to tell the tale.

*Bewick’s Wren gleaning seed on the ground*

Bewick’s Wrens are also here every day, bopping and buzzing around the yard; their bark far exceeds their bite, and it amazes me that these petite birds can produce such an impressive volume of noise. They are excellent building inspectors, and will thoroughly examine the fence, the house, and cracks in the pavement - anywhere a juicy bug or two might be hiding. These birds also come to my feeders, but only when the finches are away.

*House Finch food fight - that’s quite a kick!*

Speaking of finches, if there is any species that epitomizes backyard birding in the Bay Area, it’s the House Finch. These birds show up in large numbers at my feeders, arguing explosively with other birds that dare approach “their” lunch counter; internecine battles are also frequent. Despite the squabbles, I am immensely fond of their continuous soundtrack throughout the day.

House Finches suffer disproportionately from a number of diseases, which is distressing to see, all the more so because they will struggle on to the bitter end (please keep your feeders clean to prevent the spread of disease - see the guidance here and below). In the springtime, there is nothing that I like to hear more than a singing House Finch, with its burbling song ending on a crescendo followed by a definite period, full stop!

*Lesser Goldfinch on the approach path to a feeder where American Goldfinches, other Lesser Goldfinches, and a House Finch are dining*

Lesser Goldfinches, also abundant in the Bay Area, are at my feeders all day, every day. They have a pleasingly sweet whistle call and the males are bright as lemons. The “Lesser” in their name can only refer to their diminutive size, since these spirited birds clearly do not consider themselves inferior to any other species. I found a dead Lesser Goldfinch in my yard this year; even lifeless, it was a thing of great beauty and wonder.

In the sparrow family, Dark-eyed Juncos and California Towhees are constant guests. This winter, there have been fewer of them in my backyard, and I suspect their cousins, the White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, may be crowding them out. And yet juncos, sparks of white flashing in their tails, still flit in the darker foliage, and when I walk through my quieter front yard, towhees invariably flush out of the bushes along the path. Often towards sunset, the flat chip-chip-chip call of a towhee closes out my day.

*A squirrel in the process of liquidating my coconut fiber planter*

To round off this round-up, I must tip my hat to the most faithful backyard species of all - the Eastern Gray Squirrel (learn about Bay Area tree squirrels here). Everyone who has bird feeders has attempted to outwit these fluffy rodents, to no avail - they always have the last word (or seed or nut). During the nesting season, they surprised me by deconstructing a coconut fiber planter and carting off large bundles of the material, with the skill and logistics of a long-distance hauler. I respect their tenacity and ingenuity, and am thankful for their presence, just as I am happy to see the birds that show up each day.

Rocky the Owl - and hope

On a final note: you may have heard the story of Rocky, the Northern Saw-whet Owl that was found in the Rockefeller Center’s holiday tree this year.

If you haven’t, here are the facts: a worker installing the tree found a tiny owl hidden in its branches. He removed the bird and placed her carefully in a box to keep her safe. The man’s wife took the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation center that had the expertise to help. The center determined that the bird, nicknamed “Rocky”, hadn’t eaten in three days but was otherwise healthy (although no one is sure, it’s possible that she was in the tree when it was cut down and became an unintended stowaway on the trip to New York City). The people at the center helped the owl regain her strength, then transported her to an open space and set her free.

I like this story, and not just because Rocky is an immensely appealing little bird that has captured the public’s hearts. I like it because it is a story of how each and every one of us can make a difference for birds, every day. I like it because it is a story of hope, of the good we humans can accomplish when we come together around a vision for a kinder world.

I am grateful to this owl’s rescuers, just as I am grateful to everyone who enjoys, protects, and teaches others about our everyday and extraordinary neighbors, the birds.

Happy holidays, everyone. May 2021 be a better year for all living things.

What birds are in your yard?

What are you seeing and hearing in your yard now? All observations are good, and species ID’s aren’t necessary! (In fact, we can help with that.)

Drop us a note or send a photo or sound clip to backyardbirds@scvas.org. We’ll share your submittals in our new feature, All Around Town.

More resources

This winter, count birds at home for science! Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is now underway for the season. For information about how to participate, see the FeederWatch website and read our article about the project in the Winter 2021 Avocet.

Disease is common among feeder birds, and feeders can be a source of disease transmission. Please follow best practices to keep your feeders and feeding areas clean, regardless of whether you see signs of disease (many sick birds are asymptomatic). If you see several sick birds, take your feeders down for at least a week to allow the birds to disperse.

For more information about backyard bird feeding, see our Backyard Birding page.

To learn more about backyard bird species, see our list of common backyard birds in Santa Clara County and read all about our backyard bird of the month.

Julie’s Backyard Bird List (November 23-December 16, 2020)

Mourning Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Gull species (flyover)
Turkey Vulture* (flyover)
Sapsucker species* (likely a hybrid)
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Northern Flicker*
Black Phoebe*
California Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
European Starling*
Northern Mockingbird
Western Bluebird*
American Robin*
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
Purple/Cassin’s Finch (pending definitive ID)
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
California Towhee
Yellow-rumped Warbler

*Species only observed elsewhere in my neighborhood, within walking distance of my home.

All photos in the article by Julie Amato and Francesco Meschia

Banner photo: Cedar Waxwings by Janna Pauser