Puffed up Golden-crowned Sparrow birb on branch

10 Good Birbs (I’m Birbing Right Now)

If you’re unfamiliar with the internet slang word “birb,” we can best describe it as a term of endearment used to refer to a ridiculously cute bird. Extra points are given for being particularly round, fluffy, or silly. For a more in-depth introduction to birbs, check out this recent Audubon article: When Is a Bird a ‘Birb’? An Extremely Important Guide. Continue reading “10 Good Birbs (I’m Birbing Right Now)”

Juvenile and Fledgling Birds

New Kids on the Block – Juvenile Vocalizations

We’re firmly planted in the summer-birding-is-underrated camp. Not only does summer birding afford us the pleasure of watching young birds go from nestlings to fledglings to awkward little mini-mes, but it also allows us to investigate and document all those weird and confusing sounds. Continue reading “New Kids on the Block – Juvenile Vocalizations”

Wrentit perched on top of brush along Willow Creek Road in Jenner, California

Sonoma County Birding: Willow Creek Road

Willow Creek Road begins in Jenner, directly beside the Russian House #1 restaurant along Highway 1 (click here for a Google Map). Driving in, the road parallels the Russian River before winding through the hills to follow the riparian area of Willow Creek. We stopped by this week to check out the birds. Continue reading “Sonoma County Birding: Willow Creek Road”

American Goldfinch perched with molting feathers at Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, Bodega Bay, California

Sonoma County Birding: Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail

Last week, we spent a morning at the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail in Bodega Bay. This trail is a short, easy loop around seasonal ponds with views of the nearby mudflats and salt marshes. Continue reading “Sonoma County Birding: Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail”

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”

Red-tailed Hawk, Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County

Marin County Birding: Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore

A while back, our friend Rich Cimino asked if we’d fill in to lead his annual Beginning Birding event for the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival since he’d be out of town giving the keynote address for the Owens Lake Bird Festival. Excited for the opportunity, we eagerly agreed.
 
The event is at Point Reyes National Seashore’s Woodpecker Trail next weekend, so yesterday we headed down to do a walk-through. Continue reading “Marin County Birding: Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore”