Winter Bird Watching in SoCal

By: Ann Dalkey

The classic idea of bird life for December is that they go south for the winter. As our local native plants behave very differently from those in the mid-western and east coast, we have a very different situation here. And, as it turns out, December is an excellent month for birding.

In fact, this is the time of year that the Audubon Society holds its Annual Christmas Bird Count! In 2005-2006, expert birders conducted bird counts for an entire year at the White Point Nature Preserve. These data were tabulated by month for Resident Birds, Spring/Fall Migrants, Summer Visitors, and Winter Visitors. Resident birds were most common, with 15 species being observed throughout the year. Spring/Fall Migrants increased the total tally of bird species, and Winter Visitors ramped up the species count even more. No wonder the Christmas Bird Count is conducted in December!

Furthermore, as I sit typing, I’m being distracted by two visitors in the backyard filled with local native plant species. One is an orange-crowned warbler and the other is a juvenile sparrow. I’m not guessing on the identification of the juvenile sparrow other than seeing this bird is unhappily foraging in the current drizzly weather. I just spotted the California towhee pair that are also regular visitors in winter. While it’s a local species, our yard is too small for them to raise youngsters, so they head for the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve for breeding. Others, stay partly through spring before heading to their breeding grounds. Many of the juveniles mature during their stay.

A visit to Wilderness Park will enable one to catch sight of a woodpecker (likely a northern flicker), some Western bluebirds, California towhees, or even Cooper’s hawk drawn into the preserve in search of lunch. This hawk preys on birds, illustrating that there is a complex ecosystem that incorporates a variety of lifestyles in nature.

From left to right: Orange-crowned warbler, Western Bluebird, California towhee, and Coopers Hawk; Photo credit: Jess Morton

While we’re enjoying all this rainy weather, you can keep an eye on the rainfall. On a day when the rain stops and the sun comes out, head to Wilderness Park or anywhere with local native plant species. The birds happily come out of hiding to feast on seeds or bugs or birds in better weather.

Enjoy!

Ann Dalkey, the President of the Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Chapter, will be presenting at Madrona Marsh on January 17, 2023. For more info visit the local Audubon chapter website.