Backyard Bird Sightings from Our Members and Neighbors

Baby birds are here!

It’s the nesting season, and in the past month, young birds of many species have shown up in our yards and neighborhoods, begging for food from their parents, foraging alongside them, or searching for food on their own. Their parents also show up for a bite to eat, or to look for food to bring to their young in the nest.

Have you found a baby bird alone on the ground, and are you wondering what to do? Sometimes baby birds need our help, but often, they don’t. Read our new Baby Birds page, and follow our decision tree, to find out when to intervene - and when not to. It’s important to allow wild birds to raise their young, only stepping in if needed.

Here’s what birds our members have seen in their yards and neighborhoods recently:

Jennifer Oliver (San Jose) wrote at the end of May: “We’ve really been enjoying watching all the new fledgling birds in our backyard these last few weeks.”

“We had our own Oak Titmouse fledglings leave the nest in early May, and we continue to see them at our suet feeder. It’s fun to observe them and watch their progress.”

“We also have been seeing lots of juvenile White-breasted Nuthatches, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. Here is a photo I snapped of a chickadee feeding its young.”

Jennifer continues: “As I am learning more about birds, I found out something new about Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. As juveniles, both the males and females have red on their heads, although the color does not extend to the nape of the neck like the male adults, so now I am able to confirm which are the juveniles. Here is one juvenile in our oak tree just yesterday.”

Emma Shelton (Menlo Park) was delighted to spot Tree Swallows recently:

“We saw some Tree Swallows flying over a neighbor’s house and trees a few days ago. Meanwhile a couple of days later up in Woodside and San Carlos they were flying all over the place. It looks like they were nesting under eaves so that means maybe baby birds! They flew around me close enough that I could see their coloring.”

Emma shared her backyard bird list for May with us:

“Mourning Dove - Every day, all day, several. Watching them deal with California Scrub-Jays and squirrels is interesting - they puff up their tails and wings and it seems to work.”

*Chiapas Sage is a favorite of the Anna’s Hummingbirds at Emma’s home.*

“Anna’s Hummingbird - One to three flying in the front and back yards going after red Geraniums, all the Salvia species, Island Bush Snapdragon, and the Abutilon (flowering maple)

Gull species - either Ring-billed or California Gulls heading to the shopping center parking lots

Canada Goose - hear overhead every few days

Nuttall’s Woodpecker - we hear the drumming

California Scrub-Jay - one or two swoop in every day

American Crow and Common Raven - every day, all day, lots

SO MANY Chestnut-backed Chickadees!

Oak Titmouse - We have plenty of them! Every day I write down ‘lots’.

White-breasted Nuthatch - every day, all day.”

“Pygmy Nuthatch - Hadn’t seen them in several weeks, then one showed up at the feeder near the end of May (photo above).

Bewick’s Wren - seen and heard occasionally in the trees and bushes around the house.”

Emma says:  “A couple of House Finches going, ‘you hear about any baby birds?’  Haven’t seen any at our house, but they must be around!” — *Emma says: “A couple of House Finches going, ‘you hear about any baby birds?’ Haven’t seen any at our house, but they must be around!”*

“House Finch - we have a lot

Lesser Goldfinch - every day a few come to the feeders from the trees around the yard

Dark-eyed Junco - they hop in every day

California Towhee - every day a few seen

Spotted Towhee - part of the Wake-Up Chorus”

Emma adds: “Mourning Doves put on a Mourning Dove Revue show every evening on the fence, bobbing back and forth, telling jokes, dancing, and singing songs.”

Suresh Thirumalai (Santa Clara) sent us some pictures that he took recently in his yard.