Bald Eagle adult perched on a thick branch against green foliage

Birdwatching on the Russian River by Kayak

Last week, we headed to Monte Rio for an early morning paddle. At 6:30 AM, a layer of morning mist still covered the glassy water while the sun began to peek above the forest line. Continue reading “Birdwatching on the Russian River by Kayak”

Spotted Towhee with tail cocked up perched on a branch in Sonoma County Bay Area Northern California

1-Mile Radius Discoveries

When the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order was initially issued back in March and the county parks subsequently shut down, it became clear to us that non-essential travel was prohibited. Since we interpreted driving to see birds as sadly non-essential, we knew we had a lot of neighborhood-birding in store! Continue reading “1-Mile Radius Discoveries”

25 Birds of the Redwood Forest & Russian River (Spring Edition)

Coast redwoods and douglas-firs dominate our home patch near the Russian River in Northern California. A short distance from our front door, we can view the river from above and can also access a fire road that winds through the mixed evergreen forest. With spring breeding season in full swing, we wanted to share some species we’re fortunate to observe on a typical walk. Continue reading “25 Birds of the Redwood Forest & Russian River (Spring Edition)”

Birding by kayak on the Russian River in Monte Rio, California

Sonoma County Birding: Russian River by Kayak

Quietly floating on the Russian River is one of our favorite ways to spend a summer morning. Birding by kayak offers a whole other dimension of the bird world, and gives us a front row seat to bird life we may otherwise miss out on. Continue reading “Sonoma County Birding: Russian River by Kayak”

Northern Rough-winged Swallow nesting pair

The Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Story of Billy Gene and Billie Jean, Our Nesting Pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows

While birding, we typically only get to see a snippet of a bird’s life. In the spring of 2018, however, we had the privilege of observing a pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows for two months while they nested in our dryer vent. Our keen interest grew into emotional investment as we watched the course of their nesting cycle unfold. But as uplifting as this intimate view was for us, the story ultimately ended in heartbreak. Continue reading “The Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Story of Billy Gene and Billie Jean, Our Nesting Pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows”

Recording bird audio in the redwood forest

Our 15 Favorite Bird Audio Recordings From 2018


Check out our favorite recordings from 2019 here.


Have you ever gone birding with someone who can identify just about every bird sound in the field? We certainly have! Continue reading “Our 15 Favorite Bird Audio Recordings From 2018”