Hi Everyone!
Yesterday I birded my backyard on and off all day to support SCVAS. My morning started off while I was still in bed. I could hear a Northern Mockingbird calling from the distance then the metallic chips of a California Towhee in my own backyard before I even got up.
I spent most of the day on my deck. I thought the rain would slow me down but I was able to stay dry and the birds were busy. My favorite moment was watching an Allen's/Rufous Hummingbird bath in a cup-shaped orange tree leaf filled with a little rain water. There was another moment when all of the birds suddenly stopped moving about and became quiet. I looked up to see a Cooper's Hawk pass overhead. And my day ended with the 30th species - 2 Band-tailed Pigeons flying by.
I have always loved to watch the birds in my own backyard but this activity has taken on a special meaning during our shelter-in-place. I hope you’ll start to notice your own backyard birds. And thank you to everyone sponsoring me and supporting SCVAS especially during a time when so many are in need.
SCVAS has a lots of interesting birdathon teams this year and several in which you can participate in your own backyard. Sponsor or sign-up here:
https://scvas.org/spring-birdathon-2020-teams#teams
Happy Birding!
Eve Meier (San Jose, Cambrian Area)
My Final List of 30 in no particular order
Canada Goose (Heard only), Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, American Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon), White-crowned Sparrow, California Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's), Rufous Hummingbird, Allen’s Hummingbird, California Gull, Cedar Waxwing, Cooper’s Hawk, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Hooded Oriole, House Sparrow, Turkey Vulture, Western Bluebird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Band-tailed Pigeon