Stanford’s Arizona Garden and Mausoleum (Spring):
Cacophony Amongst the Cacti
by Diane McCoy
Tweet, chirp, chatter, shriek, drum-drum-drum: a cacophony of bird sounds and songs will greet you upon your first step onto the oak and eucalyptus tree-lined paved path to Stanford’s Arizona Garden and Mausoleum. The Stanford campus hosts over 125 bird species, many of which can be spotted in this one small area.
Trip Covers: March - July
Key Birds: Anna’s Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird (March - April), Acorn Woodpecker, Hooded Oriole (April-July)
How To Bird
This area can be easily birded in an hour or extended as long as you’d like! Starting from the convenient parking lot between the Psychiatry and Behavioral Science building and Center for Academic Medicine building on Vineyard Lane (see the interactive map) look left while facing Stanford University for the beginning of the paved path that leads to the treed area.
The path to the Mausoleum and Cactus Garden. Photo by Diane McCoy.
The path winds to the right, passes the Mausoleum and leads to the Arizona Garden in about half a mile. Pause amongst the majestic oaks and eucalyptus trees to listen for bird sounds. You may hear the plaintive cooing of a Mourning Dove, the insistent dwzeek of the California Scrub-Jay, or the tap-tap-tap or squeaking waka-waka-waka of an Acorn Woodpecker. Watch for the flittering of many small birds including: Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Finch, Oak Titmouse and Bushtit.
Acorn Woodpecker on its granary by Diane McCoy.
As you veer right, you will come to the Angel of Grief or Weeping Angel Sculpture at the Henry Lathrop Monument. Created in 1901 to memorialize Jane Lathrop Stanford’s brother Henry, the sculpture was repaired in 1908 after sustaining severe damage in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. It was fully restored in 2001.
Angel of Grief Sculpture by Diane McCoy
As you make your way to the Mausoleum, which contains the remains of Leland Stanford Jr. and his parents Leland and Jane Stanford, notice some of the nearby palm trees. Acorn Woodpeckers have created granaries in some of the palm tree trunks to store acorns for winter. Traditional granary trees can be riddled with as many as 50,000 holes and may be used continuously by a woodpecker colony for years! Watch for bold Dark-eyed Juncos and other sparrows pecking the grass around the Mausoleum and palms too.
Mausoleum by Diane McCoy
The jays, woodpeckers and song birds will continue to surround you as you make your way to the Arizona Garden. The garden was built between 1881-1883 for Leland and Jane Stanford near the proposed site of their home. It fell into disrepair in the 1920’s but was restored in the 1990’s. It is now home to 500 species of cacti and succulents from all over the world. The garden’s path, though not paved, is well-packed-down dirt and very wide, easy for those in wheelchairs. The garden is about a tenth of a mile around the perimeter but offers paths throughout to get wonderful views of the plants, insects, small lizards and, of course, birds!
Arizona Cactus Garden by Diane McCoy
Stepping quietly, look down to spot California Towhees and sparrows pecking at the ground. House Finches and many other small birds can be found perching, pecking, sunning and surveying at mid-level and above.
When about halfway around the garden and looking back toward the Mausoleum, keep your eyes open for Hooded Orioles! A pair or two return each spring to nest in the palm tree where they stay through summer. The orioles often fly down to the tall cactus, the Century Plant, to take nectar from its flowers. They also forage the undersides of the leaves for spiders, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, larvae and caterpillars.
Female Hooded Oriole: Hooded Orioles nest in palms and other trees. The females weave grass and plant fibers together to form a hanging basket nest, which they stitch to the underside of the palm leaves about 20 feet above the ground. Photo by Diane McCoy
Male Hooded Oriole atop a Century Plant by Diane McCoy
Also in spring and summer, look for the blue flowering Puya Plant or the dainty, dangling, red flowers of the Pig’s Ear Succulents. Hummingbirds love sipping nectar from these flowers! Anna’s Hummingbirds are here year round, while Rufous Hummingbirds migrate through the area in April and May. Did you know that hummingbirds can see more colors than humans? Human eyes have three color-sensitive receptors, while birds have four. This helps birds locate a variety of flowers.
Anna’s Hummingbird feeding at the Puya Plant. Hummingbirds can consume up to 50% of their weight in nectar each day. In addition to nectar, they eat insects, which they pluck from spider webs or snatch from the air. Photo by Diane McCoy
Anna’s Hummingbird feeding at the Pig’s Ear Succulent by Diane McCoy.
While standing in the garden, you may hear the shriek of a Red-tailed or Red-shouldered Hawk from the tall eucalyptus trees at the perimeter. It’s easy to meander in the direction from which you hear their calls to investigate further.
Red-shouldered Hawk by Diane McCoy
Red-tailed Hawk by Diane McCoy
Note the difference in feather pattern on the chests of these hawks. Also, Red-tailed Hawks are larger, with broader wings and slower wingbeats than Red-shouldered Hawks.
Ready for More? Feel free to explore other areas of the Arboretum or campus using this map. All outdoor areas are open to the public. Off campus, explore the Stanford Dish Trail.
Interactive Map
Directions
From US-101 take the Embarcadero Road West exit. This street becomes Galvez St as you cross El Camino Real. After crossing El Camino Real, get in the right lane and use the roundabout to make a right turn onto Arboretum Rd. Cross over Palm Dr and continue to Quarry Rd. Turn left onto Quarry Rd. Continue for half a mile. At the Vineyard Ln intersection, there will be two parking options on either side of the street: Option 1 on your left and Option 2 on your right (see below for details).
From I-280 take the Alpine Rd exit north, turn right at the light on Junipero Serra Blvd and left on Campus Dr. Veer left onto Quarry Rd. At the Vineyard Ln intersection, there will be two parking options on either side of the street: Option 1 to your right and Option 2 to your left (see below for details).
Parking
There are two parking options off Vineyard Ln. This trip starts from Option 1.
Option 1 (weekdays, fees apply; weekends, no fees): Following the above directions, turn at the traffic light onto Vineyard Ln and enter into the parking lot between the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center for Academic Medicine buildings. Visitors must pay for weekday parking via Stanford Transportation ParkMobile App. Campus parking is free on weekends. Latitude/Longitude: 37.437953, -122.171331
From the parking lot look to your left to see the beginning of the path adjacent lovely oaks. The beginning of the path is next to a red sign saying “Delivery trucks only” .
Option 2 (free weekdays and weekends): Following the above directions, turn at the traffic light onto Vineyard Ln. The Container Store in the Stanford Shopping Center is on the right. Free public parking is allowed in that lot. After parking, cross Quarry Rd at the traffic light and go through the above described parking lot. Latitude/Longitude: 37.438223, -122.172178
Parking Note: Very restricted parking is allowed across the street at Stanford’s Red Barn. Towing is in effect. It is advised not to park in that lot/area.
Fees: None
Public Transportation: A VTA bus line runs on Quarry Rd, and there’s a Caltrain stop on University Ave less than a mile away.
Facilities: The closest restroom facilities are at the Stanford Shopping Center. There is a public restroom next to Starbucks and one on the second level above the store Lululemon.
Trail Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Trip mileage: It is about half a mile from the Option 1 parking lot to the Arizona Garden. The perimeter of the garden is 0.10 miles.
Trail Conditions: Wide, paved path to garden; packed dirt around and throughout the garden. This path and area is popular with families, bikers, strollers, and dog walkers.
Accessibility: The entire trip is wheelchair and stroller accessible, including the off-campus parking areas. There are two benches in the garden area and one trash receptacle at the beginning of the paved path.
Bikes: The whole area, including nearby streets, is very bike accessible. This location does not have bike racks.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on leashes, but be aware that some owners do not follow this rule.
More information
All About Birds: Acorn Woodpeckers and Hooded Orioles
eBird hotspot: Stanford University—Arizona Garden
Stanford University Map (including information on which areas are open to the public)
Stanford University Bird Species List: 129 Species in Taxonomic Order
Stanford University Website: Arizona Garden
Bird Information for the Arboretum - Walks: The Arboretum including the Mausoleum, Cactus Garden, and Memorial Marsh
Birding Basics with SCVAS Education & Outreach Specialist Carolyn Knight: Woodpeckers
More Resources
For more trips like this one, visit Self-Guided Field Trips.
Visit the SCVAS Birding Resources page for more information on where to bird, our birding community, bird identification resources and more.
Read “What to Look for Now” by SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder.
Banner Photo Credit: Arizona Cactus Garden by Eve Meier
Last Updated: 5/23/2022
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