Oak Titmouse: "Just the Two of Us"

I am absolutely charmed by this little gray bird with a short crest.  Its peculiar name, Titmouse, is thought to be derived from the 14th century Old English word for bird, mase, and tit, meaning small.  Small it is at 5 inches.  Compared to most of the birds at my feeder, it is tiny and delicate, flitting in and out, and never staying put for very long.  It clearly doesn't like a crowd, but instead stops at the feeder whenever it has a chance to eat alone.  If other birds come along, it flutters away to the trees and neighboring yards, reappearing only when it has a chance to dine in solitude.  

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that not only do these little birds mate for life, but unlike many other birds, male and female look exactly alike. This is one male that has no need for fancy colored plumage.  He also allows his mate to select her nest site and to decorate it however she pleases.  He accompanies her and helps where needed, but pretty much lets her call the shots.  Once she is planted inside her nest cavity, roosting or incubating, he feeds her.  When the babes are born, they both feed and tend to the 6-8 hatchlings until they fledge in 16-21days.  What more can a woman want?  And what a great partnership. 

    I have yet to see two titmice in the feeder at the same time.

                  Always only one solitary little bird.

I have seen this little bird at my seed feeder often, but always alone.  Perhaps his mate has been busy at her nest, or perhaps I've seen them both at different times and thought they were one and the same; after all, they have identical coloring.  But today, for the first time, while this one was at the feeder, I saw another in the trees behind, flitting from branch to branch.  So he wasn't alone after all.  I had also heard that their little legs were so strong they can hang upside down--and today I witnessed that too, as the little bird clung to the bottom of the feeder, literally upside down, searching for hidden sunflower seeds.  Apparently there weren't any left, for within seconds, both birds took off and disappeared.  I tossed more seed in, but they didn't return.  Titmice are constantly moving, foraging for seeds, berries, and acorns or searching for insects--some that they catch in mid-air.  

I think I know why I am so charmed by these birds.  They don't travel much, staying close to home: Found in warm dry woodlands throughout much of California, titmice don't migrate but stick around defending their home territory year round.  They are not terribly social: Not the type to form flocks, they are found mostly in pairs and sometimes in small groups.  In short, I like their style.  These little gray birds, who mate for life, prefer keeping it "just the two of us."  That warms my heart. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Oak_Titmouse/lifehistory
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/oak-titmouse
https://watchingbackyardbirds.com/wbbsite/article/adorable-titmice.php

California Ground Squirrels: Each Has Its Own Entrance

We now have quite a family of ground squirrels that inhabits our little hillside in our backyard.  This spring there was a mom who gave birth to three little ones--at least that's all we saw.  I have since learned that they give birth to a litter of five to eleven once a year, so perhaps the others didn't make it.  Then early this summer, another female gave birth to a litter of five.  They have taken over our yard...and our hearts.

       

 

Drinking out of the waterfall,
easier for the little ones to get to than the bird bath.

The little ones are skittish, as expected, so getting pictures of them is a challenge.  Tiny as chipmunks and faster than lizards, they scamper and disappear into the nearest escape pod--and there are plenty of those!  Our hillside has numerous cinderblock steps and walls that they have incorporated into their complex burrow system.  I see them disappear and reappear at several different spots.  I wish I had X-ray vision so I could see what this elaborate tunnel system looks like.  Generally, it is 4-5 inches in diameter and can be 5-35 feet in length.  There are many entrances and exits, and once a colony is established, each individual squirrel has his or her own entrance.  I absolutely love this idea!

The crazy cinderblock steps put in by previous owners.

This seems to be the main entrance.
My camera is never fast enough to capture
the ever-present protruding head.

Ground squirrels are diurnal, meaning active during much of the day, so they are vulnerable to predators, such as hawks, weasels, bobcats, domestic cats, coyotes, and snakes.  Every now and then, I will hear a high-pitched, piercing chirp that sounds over and over again for a very long time.  This is a warning from one squirrel to all critters within a pretty large radius, as this can be heard a good block away.  Birds disperse in a startling swoosh, and squirrels scurry to the nearest opening and dive in for cover.

Since rattlesnakes are a prime predator for squirrel pups, moms have a few incredible tricks up their furry sleeves.  It's been discovered that they will roll on or chew snake skins, then lick their pups and themselves as well, disguising their scent, for when a snake finds a mother squirrel, it knows there are pups nearby.  If confronted with a snake, the mother will swish her tail aggressively, flooding it with extra blood, which creates heat.  The snake's sensors on each side of its head will detect the heat and think that this creature is even larger than it appears.  If this doesn't work, she may dash away, enter another opening into her tunnel system, and quickly kick dirt, thus filling and blocking the snake's way toward her pups. (So far, we have not seen any snakes, fingers crossed, and we haven't heard any coyotes in months.)

This lovely lady is Mama. <3

This is the position squirrels take
when they sound the alarm, but it's also,
as in this case, just a cool way to look around.

Squirrels will eat just about anything and with great enthusiasm.  Their diet is primarily seed based, but they also eat acorns, fruits, insects, roots, bulbs, and even quail eggs, which explains why my quail family never stuck around and nested in my yard.  They also eat grass, especially the tender tops of fresh growing grass, and they eat the grass seed that we keep putting down to replace the fresh growing grass that they just ate.  A constant challenge, but we don't mind.

They are also very generous little critters.  Their elaborate tunnels often provide a perfect habitat for other creatures, such as rodents, rabbits, even snakes.  And you've probably seen a squirrel gorging itself at the bird feeder, its jowls bulging with food that it then takes to its burrow, where an enormous cache is accumulated.  So yes, they also feed the neighborhood.  

Right now we have Mama, her five babies that are growing fast, two juveniles (of the three born in spring), and perhaps one other adult who may be their mama.  As soon as I put food out in the morning, they all scamper down.  They are willing to share until the American Crows come and make such a racket that everyone gets out of the way.  

Okay, but this half is mine!

Oh wait, who is that little one
between the raccoon feeder and the squirrel feeder?
Even the noisy crows don't keep him away!

I like to think our squirrel family has it made.  Endless food supply, pretty awesome habitat, and a fairly safe environment--and in return, we have non-stop entertainment.

Further reading

https://animaldiversity.org/site/accounts/information/Spermophilus_beecheyi.html#predation
https://ovlc.org/ojai-wildlife/california-ground-squirrel/
http://www.laanimalservices.com/about-animals/wildlife/squirrels/

Brown-headed Cowbird: Clever or Conniving?

Brown-headed Cowbird at my feeder.

Brown-headed cowbirds are not as stunning as red-winged blackbirds nor are they as gregarious as crows and ravens, but they definitely have their own unique and fascinating story.  First of all, their name.  Cowbird?  No, they do not look or sound like a cow, neither do they steal droplets of milk from the udders of cows for their young, as one myth declared.  It's believed they were given this name long ago when they used to follow herds of bison.  Insects were their primary diet, followed by seeds and grains, and where the buffalo roam--or herds of cows for that matter--there are insects.  And so their name, which is, after all, much easier to remember than Molothrus ater. 

While we see many varieties of blackbirds in our yard, this particular male bird stands out for two reasons.  One, its distinct brown head and black body, and two, because it's usually the only one of its kind in the crowd.  While they sometimes travel in small groups, I've only seen one at a time at my feeder.

Females, as always, are plain gray-brown and can easily be mistaken for other types of female blackbirds.  But male cowbirds have this distinct brown-head.  You can't miss them.  However, while the male caught my attention, which led me to look them up, it was what I learned about the plain gray-brown female that held me spell-bound and made me a fan.

Consider: If this plain little bird was supposed to keep up with the traveling bison herd, how was she supposed to build a nest, lay and incubate her eggs, and then feed and raise them?  Try as we women do, we can't do it all.  So this clever little bird spots a well-made nest where at least one other egg has been laid by some other bird, and when that bird darts off for a bite to eat, Mama Cowbird lays one of her eggs in that bird's nest and goes on her way.  The unsuspecting foster mother bird returns to her nest, incubates "her eggs," and feeds them all when they hatch, even the odd looking hatchling.

Meanwhile, Mama Cowbird continues her stork-like delivery from nest to nest, laying anywhere from 10-40 eggs per year.  While this is generally very successful, there is one potential problem involving the nests of House Finches.  Since finches feed their young primarily seeds and grains, baby cowbirds may not survive without an early diet of insects.  Perhaps this is why the cowbird lays her eggs in so many different nests, increasing their chances of survival.

Cowbird egg in a Robin's nest

In the bird world, they are considered "brood parasites" and in some cases "nuisance birds" because the eggs and young of other birds are sometimes destroyed in the process, but I find this little bird fascinating, for she's found a way to survive in a bustling, fast-paced world.

Post script:  Just came across a fascinating study on how cowbirds learn to be cowbirds.  If they are raised by a different bird type that builds nests and tends to young, wouldn't a cowbird learn to do the same?  Nope.  Not only is it in its nature to be a cowbird, but a study showed that they actually sneak out at sundown and find where cowbirds roost and hang with them at night, then sneak back to their nests!  In addition, there are studies that have found that the mother doesn't entirely abandon her young, but somehow keeps tabs on them, checking in and even evaluating which nests were better than others.

 https://www.audubon.org/news/how-does-cowbird-learn-be-cowbird

Further Reading
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/brown-headed-cowbird
https://nestwatch.org/learn/general-bird-nest-info/brown-headed-cowbirds/

California Quail: Plump & Proud

What a thrill the first morning that I saw a male and female California Quail in my backyard!  The male was perched on top of a pot standing guard while the female ate below.  He did hop down and eat a bit himself, but immediately popped back up and continued to scan the surroundings.  This went on for 15-20 minutes.  

It was the male's striking appearance that first caught my attention.  His ten inch length makes him bigger than most garden birds (except my American Crow and Mallard Duck), but his plump body and proudly puffed-out chest make him seem even larger.  What is most noticeable is the dramatic black and white coloring on his face, as well as his large black, curled topknot that bobs as he struts.  The female (sigh) is a duller version that might almost be mistaken for a pigeon or large dove unless you look closely and see her much smaller topknot. 

But together they are a joy to watch as they make their way back and forth, strutting and bobbing, until they suddenly stop and begin what looks like a happy feet dance as they scratch at the ground for seeds or insects.  They appear almost daily in the morning and then again before sunset.  So far I have seen only the two; whether they have a nest nearby I don't know.  

Quail clutches can be large, 12-16 spotted cream-colored eggs, which incubate 18-23 days and are usually hatched by late spring.  A second clutch is possible.  Come fall and winter, they will gather with other groups and form a covey of 50-100 birds, where together they search for food and warn each other of impending danger.  Then in early spring, the covey will disperse as pairs match up and begin to breed once again.  While they are monogamous during breeding and rearing season, they are polygamous and will take up with a new mate each spring.  

On a humorous note, their most common sound is a three-noted chi-ca-go!  It is now so familiar to me that I hear it in the distance at the stables and when I walk my dog around our block.  Chi-ca-go!  Chi-ca-go!  Recently I learned something new that adds a whole new meaning to their call.  In Italy, giggling children will ask American tourists if they are from Chicago, then double over with laughter.  In Italian, "ci cago" (pronounced "chee-ca-go") means--I poop here!  

Further reading:

Birds of Los Angeles Region. Garrett, Dunn, &  Morse

Birds of North America, Western Region. Fred Alsop III

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Quail/overview

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/california-quail

Lookin' Out My Back Door, the Sequel

Chloe and I Lookin' Out Our Back Door

We moved to Simi Valley a little over a year ago.  We chose the area because it is close to horse boarding facilities, and it is also close to family in the Los Angeles area, yet removed from much of the congestion and traffic.  To my joy, I am still able to witness the marvels of nature just lookin' out my back door.  And so I've decided to continue my blog, which will focus a lot on the diverse birds that frequent my feeders, the critters that scamper about, and of course, occasionally, my horses Jack and Luke and their friends at the stable.

While I loved having the boys right out back for close to two years in the mountains, it was physically too much for me, which was why I never had the time to blog about the experience! Now they are close enough to visit every day, but I no longer have to muck and feed and worry about hay delivery.  Their stalls are large, and I exercise them every day.  Plus they are in the company of other horses, and I am with other horse lovers.  

You got some carrots?

Since we moved here, I have been fascinated by the many birds that visit my garden and feeders.  Some I was familiar with while others were new to me, or at least I had never seen them in my yard.  (I made a list which is closing in on thirty!)  As I watched them, I began to see distinct personalities, just like with our pets.  I decided to find out more about them beyond just looking them up quickly in my bird guide.  That's when I decided to resurrect my blog.  This way I can share what I learn with anyone who might be interested, and I will have a reference for myself whenever I want to revisit a particular post.

Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Nutmeg Mannikin aka Spice Finch

California Quail

I recently came across this charming little book, Our Garden Birds by Matt Sewell.  He writes a paragraph or two about each bird and then draws a picture of the bird that captures their personality!  I am thinking of making my own little bird notebook as well, but with photos, not sketches, as I am no artist.  The best I can do is stick figures!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13136132-our-garden-birds

But for now, I am excited to resume my nature blog!  Where to begin?  I think my first new entry will be the proud strutting California Quail.  Stay tuned!

Dreams Do Come True or What The Heck Am I Doing?

When I first began this blog, I was living in a house set up high amidst the the hills encircling Lake Arrowhead.  I had a stunning distant view of the lake from our deck, was a short walk to the forest behind us, and literally had a bird's eye view from the treetops.  As a result, I wrote about the ravens who frequented our trees, the wind that often shook our house, the fingers of fog that traveled down the canyons across the lake, anything and everything that I saw looking out my back door.

A couple years later, we moved to a lovely house in the north east corner of Lake Arrowhead on close to an acre of land.  Still surrounded by trees and steps away from the forest, there was plenty to write about.  In fact, I have seen on our property: mule deer, a bobcat, coyote, raccoons, and, gulp, a very large black bear.  In addition, my neighbor saw an enormous mountain lion right next door to our house! Lots to write about here.

But now there is even more!  Initially, the focus of my blog was to keep a nature journal of sorts as I experienced and studied the wildlife and the wild life that comes with living in the mountains.  But very soon, Lookin' Out My Back Door will have a new and exciting focus: my two horses, Jack, a quarter horse, and Luke, a miniature horse, will actually be out my back door!  We are putting a two stall shed row barn on our property and bringing my guys home this spring.   I am excited and nervous.  So much to learn.  A 24/7 responsibility.

So in my blog I plan to write about this whole experience.  My joys and worries. My challenges and accomplishments.  My setbacks and mistakes.

For starters, I have to admit that I am both confident and terrified at the same time.  I ask myself, "What the hell do you think you are doing taking on this huge responsibility at the age of sixty-one?" But the answer, of course, is, I am living my dream.  How many times have I imagined how awesome it would be to have my horse...now horses...right outside my door; to sit with a cup of coffee and a book under a tree, listening to them munch their hay; or to be able to ride Jack or drive Luke on the spur of the moment?  Now that I live on a cul de sac where there is rarely any traffic, I can hitch up Luke to his cart and drive round and round and up and down without any worries.  When it snows, I won't have to freak out about driving in snow or ice to see them; I can just pull on my boots and trudge out back.

Yes, I am in my sixties, but think how healthy this will be for my husband and me.  No way can we become couch potatoes now.  We HAVE to get up and out the door to muck and feed, groom and exercise our horses--every day.  If a day comes that this becomes too much for us, well, we will deal with that then.  But for now, what the heck am I doing?  I'm pursuing my dream.

Western Gray Squirrel Making a Comeback: What We Must Do to Help

 

When I first moved up to the San Bernardino Mountains a few years ago, everyone was talking about the mysterious deaths and ultimate disappearance of the bushy-tailed Western Gray* Squirrel.  West Nile Virus had been the cause of death in past years, but none were testing positive.   Within the year, researchers from Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and U.C. Davis identified mange as the underlying cause of their widespread deaths.

 

MANGE 

Mange is a contagious skin condition caused by mites, which doesn't in itself sound so deadly; it's the resultant infections that develop and spread, destroying the skin, that lead to severe illness and death. When you consider that the skin's  main function is to provide protection against infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, you can understand the extent of this deadly cycle.   

Squirrel with mange (Photo from DFG)
 

 MAN 

While mange itself can reek havoc, the widespread damage was encouraged by all of us nature lovers who invite birds and critters to dine on our decks and in our yards.  It's believed that as natural food sources could not meet the needs of an increased population of gray squirrels, they gathered together and asked the Lord's blessing at our many bird and squirrel feeders throughout the mountain community, thereby spreading their very contagious, deadly skin disease. 

WHAT WE MUST DO
So now they are back.  In fact, I have two regular visitors to my feeders daily. They are magnificent little creatures: a blue gray in color, quite large and muscular, with  luxurious, fluffy tails.  But now I don't just watch them for the joy of it.  I scrutinize closely for any signs of illness or disease.  For just as we avoid contact with anyone contagious with the flu, or pink eye, or cholera, so too should our little gray friends.  If I see any sign of mange again, I will take down my feeders and spread the word!

It is a joy to put a little food out and watch the glorious array of birds and small critters that come.  I could watch my Lesser Goldfinch for hours, clinging to their nyjer sock and swaying in the wind.  They are tiny but mighty, beautifully delicate little birds.  Yet there are those who say we shouldn't feed any wildlife--not even our birds, chipmunks, and squirrels.  But I just can't bring myself to be that unselfish.  I have to have both my morning coffee as I sit on the deck and to watch the birds and critters.  It's my addiction.  

But I can be responsible and educated and aware.  So while I welcome back the Western Gray Squirrel to the San Bernardino Mountains, I promise to be their advocate and protector, and I invite all my mountain neighbors to join me as well. 

Striking a pose?

Stellar Jay vs Gray Squirrel: who got the most peanuts?

Showing off that gorgeous tail.


 

*A note about the spelling of gray/grey: "Gray" is often considered the American spelling while "grey" the British.  However they are used inter-changeably, as I found while researching this topic. 

I chose to use the "gray" spelling as used in a scholarly report found in the International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife listed below.

 

 

http://www.kcet.org/news/the_back_forty/wildlife/squirrel-population-declines-in-san-bernardino-mountains.html

http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/dfg-continues-investigation-of-western-grey-squirrels-deaths/

http://www.mountain-news.com/news/article_47ce52dc-b63a-11e1-8094-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221322441300028X