We’ve arrived at the end of our California Towhee Week. After flooding your inboxes with all things Cal Towhee, we’re pleased to report we only lost one blog subscriber! Our last post is about an encounter that left us scratching our heads.
One evening, while birding along a rural road, we spotted a gray fox laying nearby. We watched as the fox got up, stretched, walked into the road, and sat down. Soon, a group of five California Towhees hopped out to forage in the roadway, seemingly unbothered by the fox’s presence. After sitting quietly for a while, the fox sauntered over to a rock, curled up, and fell asleep.
In all honesty, we have no idea what’s going on here. This was in June – was this a family of towhees? Why would they be so comfortable foraging near a potential predator? Could they somehow sense the fox was friend rather than foe? Or, perhaps it was a wandering band of first-year birds? If so, had they not yet developed the survival instincts of an adult?
We like to think the fox was just a California Towhee super-fan like us. It was simply doing some birdwatching, observing quietly – just as we would.
With that, we’ll bid the darling California Towhee adieu. Til we meet again, you charming, “plain brown bird.” Well, actually… see you later today, in our yard!
If you’re interested in more about California Towhees, check out the rest of the series!
Day 1: It’s National California Towhee Week: Let’s Celebrate!
Day 2: California Towhee: Subtle Beauty
Day 3: California Towhee: What Are You Saying?
Day 4: California Towhee: Mates for Life
Day 5: California Towhee: Two Broods Are Better Than One!
Day 6: California Towhee: The “Birb” Factor
Thank you for the series. I will be looking in mt backyard too.
Thanks for reading, John!
excellent FULL week of Towhees! see you out there! (although i am avoiding the west county trail due to lack of common sense and social distancing amongst otherwise cooped up humans and their fledglings)
Ha! Thanks for following Cal Towhee Week, Stefen, glad you enjoyed it! Hoping things will be a little more normal by hawkwatch???
Loved the series! They’re much more colorful than our CANTs and ABTOs here in AZ!
Thanks, Scott! Glad you enjoyed the series! We’re looking forward to seeing the Canyon and Abert’s one day 🙂
National California Towhee Week was a discovery. Can you imagine the amount of knowledge you provided to your readers ? Exceptional experience. Thank You !
May I suggest other National California (Bird Name) Week ? Quail, Gull, Thrasher, Condor, Gnatcatcher and Scrub-Jay ? Are any of those worth a Week by I’m Birding Right Now Coverage ? I would love to learn from you guys about them.
Thank you, André!! We will certainly consider more series like you suggest! Ooh, we’ll have to try hard and get a good photo of some quail babies then!
So interesting! Also how the fox just curled up and went to sleep on the rock – I thought he’d prefer somewhere a bit more sheltered, even if he is a predator.
Thanks for a fun week of facts!
We were surprised too that he was so comfortable with us watching nearby! Guess he was just feeling extra snoozy 🙂
I absolutely loved this series! Towhees are my favorite and I never see them getting any love!
Yay, we must be kindred spirits! So glad you enjoyed the whole Cal Towhee series!!! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Stumbled on your amazing and wonderful blog because we have an adorable nesting pair of California Towhees in our backyard right now. Thanks for all you do!!! This whole week about this under-appreciated bird was just what I was after….