Spring Bird Walk

April 13, 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our bird walk last Sunday! We were lucky to have a picture-perfect day for birding. This time of year, on the bluff, you can expect to see many of our native species preparing for nesting, a few overwintering birds fattening up for migration, and the first spring migrants passing through — some even pausing to sing.

We observed Red-breasted Nuthatches at two locations, each working on nesting cavities. Spotted Towhees were calling and collecting nesting materials, as were Juncos and Song Sparrows. Golden-crowned Sparrows were singing before their journey north to Alaska, while Cackling Geese were still grazing on the golf course grass, preparing to head for the Arctic. Migratory Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers were moving through and occasionally singing, along with a few vocal Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Now is a fantastic time to visit the bluff with a pair of binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app on your phone. With birds singing constantly, it’s a terrific opportunity to gain experience identifying their calls. Migration will be in full swing until late May, though some migrants will stick around to nest and raise young through the summer.

In the next few weeks, look for more warblers — Nashville, Wilson’s, and Black-throated Gray among them, with the occasional Yellow or MacGillivray’s Warbler mixed in. Cassin’s Vireos, Western Tanagers, and various flycatchers arrive in May. Have you spotted any migrants on the bluff? Let us know!