Jakalof Bay Jakalof was a small beach surrounded by Sitka Spruce and snow-capped mountains. Dune grass and cow parsnip grew from the ground while lichens hung from the branches of trees. Small islands surrounded the beach, some of which became accessible by foot when the tide was low enough. We unloaded the kayaks and then …
Read more “Part 2: My Experience on an Inspiring Girls* Expedition”
Homer → Kasitsna Bay Laboratory Inspiring Girls* Expeditions is a free summer expedition for girls and gender nonconforming youth ages 16-18 to explore STEM and art topics while learning outdoor skills in the backcountry. Expeditions are 12 days and take place all over the world, including multiple U.S. states, Canada, New Zealand, Kyrgyzstan, Austria, and …
Read more “Part 1: My Experience on an Inspiring Girls* Expedition”
I recently got the pleasure of meeting Dr. Young Ha Suh when she came and visited the Zuma Canyon Bird Banding Station in December. Young, a recent PhD graduate for her study in the behavioral ecology of Florida Scrub-Jays at Cornell University, was recently hired as the new ornithology collections manager at the Natural History …
Read more “An Interview with Ornithologist Dr. Young Ha Suh“
Start at 6:44am, closing at 12:44 pmTotal 12 nets upTotal 63 birds, 17 species 1 Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) 1 Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 15 House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) 8 Lesser Goldfinches (Spinus psaltria) 1 Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) 1 Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) 12 Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) 8 Lincoln’s Sparrows (Melospiza …
Above: The wing of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, photo © Walt Sakai Start at 6:15am, closing at 12:15 pmTotal 20 nets upTotal 55 birds, 16 species 2 Allen’s Hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) 2 Ash-throated Flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) 1 California Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) 1 Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 5 House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) …
When I went to visit Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge with my young birders group a few weeks ago, I knew that we would have the wonderful opportunity of talking with biologists and park rangers who work with California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) on a daily basis. It was there that I once again crossed paths …
Read more “An Interview with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Park Ranger Daniel Cook”
Today, my birding group and I went to visit Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Kern County, California. The refuge, a former ranch, is a grassland habitat located at the foothills of the southwestern San Joaquin Valley. The land has historically been inhabited my the Chumash peoples who have used the area as a major …
Read more “Meeting California Condors at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge”
For me, having the fortune of living in a neighborhood with wildlife is an incredible experience! In fact, moving to the neighborhood I’m in now was probably a catalyst for my wildlife interests. My neighbors and I get the pleasure of sharing our area with Bobcats, Coyotes, California Mule Deer, Striped Racers (Masticophis lateralis), a …
Today, I went to go explore Hahamong’na Watershed Park in Pasadena. The park, named after the Indigenous Peoples who have called the area home since before the Spanish colonization of Los Angeles, is a wonderful spot to explore nature. Oak Titmice and Bushtits can be seen bouncing from branch to branch in oaks and willows. …
Read more “Hanging Out with Toads at Hahamong’na Watershed Park”
Above: A molt limit among the greater coverts in a Yellow Warbler Start at 6:00am, closing at 12:00pmTotal 15 nets upTotal 86 birds, 20 species 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) 3 Anna’s Hummingbirds (Calypte anna) 5 Allen’s hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) 1 Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 3 Hooded Orioles (Icterus cucullatus) 13 House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) …
Read more “My One Year Anniversary of Bird Banding: May 21, 2022 Zuma Banding Cycle”
Start at 6:00am, closing at 12:00pmTotal 12 nets upTotal 35 birds, 13 species 4 Allen’s hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) 2 Hooded Orioles (Icterus cucullatus) 2 House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1 Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 1 Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) 2 Warbling Vireos (Vireo gilvus) 7 Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) 2 Wilson’s …
Read more “Grateful for Greenery: May 7, 2022 Zuma Banding Cycle”
Welcome to Arlington Garden! Located at the corner of South Pasadena Avenue and Arlington Drive lays a quaint little nature hotspot containing a multitude of colors! The area used to be the location of a fifty room mansion, but then termites destroyed the house and it had to be torn down. Now, the landscape is …
Read more “An Adventure in Photos: Arlington Garden, Pasadena”
Earth Day is April 22!!! While the extravagant celebration and activism may be limited to just this one day, every day really is a day to celebrate this planet we call home! Looking for ways to harness your inner environmental activist? Try this Earth Day bingo I created! For some examples of how to get …
Read more “Celebrate Earth Day With These Eco-friendly Actions!”
We were so close to the 200 mark for total birds. Considering the numbers we caught last morning and the fact that the winds had died down made everyone certain that we could probably catch 12 birds in just the first net round alone to make the mark. After a quick breakfast at 6am, the …
Read more “Bird Banding at Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve Day 3: Closing out Strong”
At the sweet hour of 5:30am, my dad and I awoke to the calls of my alarm. The desert outside was just waking up, with the curves of the piled rocks highlighted under the light of the full moon. Birds began singing as a soft breeze moved the leaves of juniper and oak. We got …
Read more “Bird Banding at Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve Day 2: Diversity Arises”
Welcome to Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve, or as we call it: Burns! This reserve used to be the retirement home of engineer Bruce Burns, who’s family dedicated the 306 acre area of land to UC Irvine some time ago. Since then, various groups have come here to conduct research projects ranging from those tackling the …
Read more “Bird Banding at Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve Day 1: So many White-crowns!!”
Start at 6:30am, closing at 12:30pmTotal 21 nets upTotal 33 birds, 12 species 1 Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 12 Allen’s hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) 2 House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1 White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1 Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) 2 Golden-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) 1 Lincoln Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1 Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus) …
Read more “When Grosbeaks Bite: April 9, 2022 Zuma Banding Cycle”
On April 6, my family and I drove out to Joshua Tree National Park in Twenty Nine Palms, about 98 miles from Los Angeles and 2.5 hours from my house. Along the way, we stopped by a recently opened skatepark in La Quinta. My dad and I, who both skateboard, were so excited for the …
Read more “Taking the Road Less Traveled: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park With Friends”
Hey y’all, until I figure out the whole subscription by email thing on this website, I wanted to share that the Native Plant Project has a new video! You can watch it down below or visit here for previous videos and more info.Thanks! 🙂
On April 3, 2022, Los Angeles Birders-Students joined a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist for California Condor Outreach at the L.A. Zoo. There, students including Bella, Thomas, and myself talked to hundreds of people about the amazing California Condor. Our parents and my younger sister participated in the outreach as well. (Quite) a Bit …
Read more “Volunteering at the L.A. Zoo: California Condor Outreach”