JULY/AUGUST 2020 • VOLUME 71 • NUMBER 6
Western Tanager by Karen Straus
bird
•
scaping
If the birds could design your yard…
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Whether you are starng with a simple hummingbird
feeder and bird bath or are planning a major conversion of
your yard to nave habitat, this simple compendium of the
major elements you need to consider will be of help to you.
As undeveloped, high-quality habitat connues to shrink,
the small urban and suburban pockets of micro-habitat
we can create in our yards, gardens, and even paos will
become increasingly important to many of our nave bird
species. If we design them well, as part of a concerted
eort, we will make a real dierence. These brief arcles
are wrien to whet your interest—please take the me to
consider the resources referenced, or explore on your own.
A Bird-Friendly Garden Is a Nature-Friendly Garden
e things that wild birds need are predictably the same things other
wild creatures seek: clean, owing water; healthy, nourishing food
sources throughout the year; pockets of refuge for propagating and
raising their young; a little breathing space open to the sky; and a
sanctuary where they have a way, at least in part, to evade the threats,
toxins, and stresses of our urban environment. If you can think
through all of these things with imagination and good science, and
your surrounding neighborhood is at least moderately inviting to
birds, you may see an exciting transformation.
Know Your Native Plant Communities; the Birds Certainly Will
Although a nursery tag may say “native,” the plant could originate
from a region with a mix and balance of species inconsistent with
your area. If there are canyons or undeveloped habitats in proximity
to your home, study their oral communities and learn what the
birds, both permanent and migratory species, are drawn to.
Buttery and moth caterpillars are essential food sources that sustain
migratory songbirds demanding abundant food sources during the
nesting season. “Grow bugs” is a mantra of sorts for native habitat
gardeners. In this time of climate shis that are seriously aecting
migrators, mitigating the changes by micro-managing the food
sources you can oer may well make a dierence.
Biodiversity translates to the long-term health of a plant community.
Southern California’s sage and chaparral plant communities are
amazingly diverse, much more so than most people realize. Stay in
the zone, and build a level of biodiversity into your plan.
Plant in Layers: e Vertical Dimension Is Critical
Any good birder knows you will nd some species perched on the
highest branches and others will seldom be seen more than a few
feet o the ground, if they can avoid it. Some will be hidden in the
foliage; others will seek the open sunlight. Most need both. Consider
a native plant garden to be three-dimensional, built from the ground
up. Native trees such as oaks, pines, and sycamores should be
considered rst. Filtered sunlight is important for good bird habitat.
Taller shrubs such as Laurel Sumac or Toyon can ll in the mid-tier
layer, while many native annuals, grasses, and succulents can make
needed ground cover for many bird species.
Flowers, Seeds, and Fruit Should Be Seasonal Events
Consider the whole calendar when planting for owers (sources of
nectar, pollen, and seed—vital to keeping important insect species
around). Again, think like a bird: When will they be in most need
of extra high-quality nutrition? What will catch their eye and draw
them into your yard? What will bring them back year aer year? I
remember as a child waiting each January to see, for a few minutes,
a ock of Cedar Waxwings swoop in to feed on the Cotoneaster
berries from a mature bush growing against my neighbor’s garage.
Hummingbirds may love articial feeders, but the right species of
native plants, such as Monkey Flowers, will also keep them close.
You Are Not Alone
One of the underlying goals of this issue is to challenge us to think
outside of the box of our own property lines and imagine an urban
landscape dotted with similar pockets of habitat. (See the “Mosaic
Habitat Networking” sidebar on the facing page.) is is an exciting
movement San Diego Audubon hopes to partner with over the
coming years. As stated at the beginning, birdscaping isn’t just about
individual eorts. It is about, at least in concept, partially reclaiming
urbanized land as viable habitat for wild birds. at can best happen,
perhaps only happen, if it becomes a collective eort. Imagine the
bird’s view from the sky, and the interlaced patterns of green, pockets
of shade, and glistening pools of water that, for them, mean life itself.
If the nave birds that y over your
neighborhood could direct your
landscaping, what might it look like?
bird
•
scaping
Say’s Phoebe and edgling, by Karen Straus
.
Anna’s Hummingbird and Evening Primrose, by Karen Straus.
by David Stump, San DIego Audubon President
PRINCIPAL SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES:
NASA, Global Climate Change, Vital Signs of the Planet, NOAA,
Global Sea Level, and Observaons from Space, US Global Change Research Program, Fourth Naonal
Climate Assessment; Impacts, Risks, and Adaptaon in the United States.
3
Mosaic Habitat Networking to create wild bird corridors
Birds have no sense of property lines. They range high and wide
looking for what they need. As ground-based creatures, we can help
them spot resources over a wider territory by creang our lile oases
with water, shelter, food, and more.
It may not seem to be enough simply to create one
small patch of inving space for birds to visit in this
vast acreage of grass lawns, concrete, and asphalt.
Don’t despair: Birds, scanning the territory from
above, will connect even a modest splash of nave
shrubs to a vast undisturbed habitat. Our canyons
meander through all parts of San Diego County—
from the urban density of North Park to the beauful
acreage of Mission Trails and out to the back country farther east. This
proximity creates opportunity.
The graphic shown here is an example of how a mosaic habitat works:
Each small patch connects to the larger system (a canyon or other
open space) and extends a bird’s range even if everything else in that
path of developed land fails to support the basics of food and shelter.
Adding even one disconnected garden, however small, is a great
opportunity to knit together a rich landscape for birds. Oen, once
one habitat garden is installed, other neighbors will follow, creang
exponenal results.
Clayton Tschudy, the Execuve Director San Diego Canyonlands,
explains, “The widespread and undeveloped canyons of San Diego
are repositories of nature, habitat patches that
house sensive plant and animal species and aract
migratory birds. These canyon habitats, fragmented by
development on the mesa tops, can be reconnected
by creang habitat gardens at home. Every habitat
garden not only brings birds and bueries to you,
but also creates connecons between nearby nature
fragments. As habitat increases between canyons,
wildlife corridors are created, chains of life extending
across suburbs and through parklands. Ecosystems ourish through
connecvity. Every garden can become part of the chain of life.”
The San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Canyonlands, and
other organizaons are working to make this a viable approach to re-
wilding our county. You can contribute by creang your own pieces to
add to the mosaic.
Susan Krzywicki
When gardeners establish healthy native landscapes, people spot
more birds, appreciate the increased wildlife, and provide more for
the needs of birds and other wildlife. Neighbors notice the positive
eects and join in the fun, creating ever-increasing sanctuaries for
wildlife. From the birders’ perspective, this spiral is mirrored: You fall
in love with birds, want to learn more about them, and want to know
how to provide for the birds within your own spaces.
Start with local native plants. ough our plant ecosystem is vast
and complex, creating native plant gardens brings insects, birds, and
other wildlife back to our local areas.
Begin with species that support the insect life that birds need—
worms and beetles. Doug Tallamy has pointed out three signicant
species for Californians:
1. Native oaks oer dappled shade that may take years to create,
so get started now!
2. Hollyleaf Cherry rapidly delivers open shade and fruits.
3. Local currants and gooseberries (especially the evergreen
Catalina Currant) are shade plants that feed a variety of insects
and other animal life.
To complement these three species, use this fun and fascinating
resource: Go to www.calscape.org and type in your home address.
Bingo, you will be presented with a list of plants that are specic to
your exact location. You can pick from categories such as ground
covers, annuals, or trees. ey will be sorted by popularity (based on
experts, nurseries, and other sources), so just pick a handful from the
top of the list and start your garden. Simple.
For more ideas, hike into San Diego’s wild canyons. You’ve probably
seen the following, which also work well in a bird-friendly garden:
• Coyote Bush, an excellent low groundcover, leaves space for shelter
and for nesting.
• Buckwheat oers seeds for birds, and it attracts butteries such as
the Acmon Blue.
• Quails, towhees, and many other birds love groundcover sages,
such as Black Sage, for their plentiful seeds.
• Toyon owers attract bees, and Toyon berries appeal to birds.
• Lemonade Berry shrubs are easy to grow, quickly becoming large.
Start with a sunny spot to establish your garden. Space your plants
widely—some of these shrubs grow more than 8 feet across. Forgo
the soil amendments, fertilizer, and compost. Instead, just use leaf
litter, a mulch such as “gorilla hair” (shredded redwood), or even
decomposed granite. We are coming up on the hottest, driest time
of our gardening calendar so if you plant now, water each new plant
with copious amounts, then give them a good soaking weekly. In
winter, keep hand watering weekly unless rain provides ample water.
Continue weekly waterings until the following fall. By then your
plants should be established unless there is a drought, which will
mean continued articial irrigation. Keep the leaf litter in place.
Prune only lightly. Your wildlife will come to trust your space and
visit you frequently.
Native Plants: e Foundation of Good Habitat
by Susan Krzywicki, California Nave Plant Society, Ocean Friendly Gardens
Song Sprrow lights up a Lemonade Berry, by Karen Straus.
4
You can create a bird bath from a small shallow bowl, or you can
design a multilevel recirculating river with pools, misters, and fast-
owing streams.
What’s essential for your bird bath? It must have places for birds to
stand in water no more than 1” deep, encouraging small birds to
splash vigorously without slipping
into deep water. If your bath
has sloping sides, add smooth
pebbles or wide at rocks for the
deeper areas, so that no area is
deeper than 2”. e bath must be
far enough from low vegetation
to ensure that cats can’t ambush
birds when their wet feathers
make them more vulnerable. It
must be easy to clean and easy to
rell. at’s it.
To make your bird bath a little
snazzier, elevate it to discourage
cats (and other mammals) from
using it, although some small
birds prefer ground-level baths.
To make the bath more attractive
to birds—and less attractive to mosquitoes, add movement to the
water. A quick Internet search revealed that a quiet solar-powered
fountain or pump for your bird bath costs about $25 or more.
Some fountains oer multiple heads, giving you a bubbler, a mister
(appealing to hummingbirds), or a sprayer. Provide a nearby place
for birds to perch aer bathing; there, they can thoroughly preen,
u, dry, and oil their feathers. If possible, place bird baths in shade,
to slow evaporation and keep water fresh longer. Make sure that
protective cover is nearby, at ying height, not ground level.
Once you’ve set up your bird bath, either keep it clean and full, or
empty it altogether. Don’t allow
water to sit in the bath for more
than a day if it’s not moving, or for
more than a few days if it’s moving.
By regularly changing the water,
you avoid algae, mosquito larvae,
disease-causing microbes, and
other hazards that can endanger
birds. If you’ve neglected your bath
and you fear it’s contaminated, soak
it with a 10% bleach solution for a
few hours, rinse it thoroughly, and
start again.
Want to create your own bird bath?
Check out these sites:
• www.birdsandblooms.com/
backyard-projects/diy-bird-
bath/, with links to several cray
bird baths, including a hummingbird mister.
• For a simpler one: www.audubon.org/news/how-make-birdbath.
• If you have the resources to buy a magnicent paradise for birds,
visit watershapes.com/other-waterfeatures-from-birdbaths-to-
lakes/wings-on-the-water.
Fresh Water: e Irreplaceable Magnet for Wildlife
Invite nature’s wonder into your life for very little time or money:
Attract fascinating birds to your window or yard. You could rush out,
buy a cute or cheap feeder, ll it, put it up, and see what happens.
at might work! Or it might not. If, instead, you nd out how to
entice the birds you want to attract to your feeder, you’ll be rewarded
with countless hours of delightful birdwatching.
Step 1. Observe. Sit outside or in a window and notice which birds
y by or stop to visit. Make note of which birds visit your area.
Step 2. Investigate. Look up which birds commonly visit your region
by going to ebird.org/explore and typing in the name of your city.
If you click on the map (top right corner), you can zoom in to nd
the birding hotspot nearest you. Click on that hotspot, then click on
“Details,” to list the species commonly seen near you.
Step 3. Choose. Which of these bird species do you want to attract?
Hummingbirds? Finches, sparrows, or goldnches? Orioles or
mockingbirds? (If you wonder what foods particular birds eat, check
the free Audubon app, “Audubon Bird Guide.” Look for “Diet” and
“Feeding Behavior” for the birds that interest you.) Choose food
and a feeder that will attract the birds you seek. e following list of
websites have information on choosing the right feeder for the birds
you want to attract.
• feederwatch.org/learn/feeding-birds/ (has good information on
types of seed and other foods)
• www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-choose-the-right-kind-
of-bird-feeder/
• www.audubon.org/magazine/november-december-2010/
audubon-guide-winter-bird-feeding
For information on seed types, see also:
www.allaboutbirds.org/news/types-of-bird-seed-a-quick-guide/
Step 4. Buy or make a feeder and the food for the species you chose.
Step 5. Place your feeder in the best location to attract and protect
native birds:
• Shield food from sun and rain. High heat or moisture can cause
food to foster mold or microbes that can harm birds.
• Avoid exposing birds to predators; position the feeders at least 10
feet from shrubbery that might hide ambush predators such as cats.
Step 6. Maintain your feeders. Frequently clean your feeders,
discard (or compost) old food, and provide fresh food oen, to
keep from transmitting diseases.
Bird Feeders Require a Lile Research and Planning
By Shari Dorantes Hatch, Sketches editor
Hooded Oriole, by Karen Straus.
Black-headed Grosbeak,
by Karen Straus.
Travis Kemnitz, San Diego Audubon Execuve Director
Well, I am still here, and excited more than ever to take on the
challenges of our time. Fortunately, we can ride these winds of
change with our amazing board members, sta, volunteers, and
supporters. We’re developing a new perspective and adapting to our
new environmental, social, and economic realities. Over the past
months I have learned so much about how truly special San Diego
Audubon Society is locally, in California, and even nationally. Chris
Redfern, former Executive Director, helped us build a powerful
chapter as leaders in the environmental movement. To reach our goals
and achieve our vision, we must continue to embrace change.
Recently, exciting changes have happened among our sta. We have
welcomed two beautiful babies into the San Diego Audubon family.
Rebekah Angona and Chelsea Felbeck are enjoying cherished quality
time with their newborns and are lled with joy in otherwise trying
times. Jennifer Hajj, Bird Festival Coordinator, and overall superstar,
is now on our sta!! She has begun her new role as Events and
Membership Coordinator and is sure to make events, the membership
experience, bird trips, workshops, and outreach better and birdier
than ever. We have launched our search for a new Development
Manager to help secure critical resources and steward our donors.
Our Board of Directors has responded to the challenge and formed
a COVID-19 Task Force, led by our Executive Committee and other
directors. We’ve established a phased response plan to reopen and
adapt, worked to address potential income gaps, and guided our
chapter communications. As part of these eorts we’ve reopened our
oces and sanctuaries to sta, following required safety measures,
and are beginning to ramp up our activities. We were awarded
the Paycheck Protection Program loan and are working overtime
to ensure it is forgiven. We are readying to activate volunteers for
outdoor activities and other duties, because we need you! Silverwood,
Anstine, education programs, and bird trips remain closed or on hold
until the fall and we are discussing ways to adapt services to meet new
safety requirements with the same level of eectiveness.
Finally, we have changed our sense of urgency and commitment to
diversity, equity, and inclusion. e times demand it. Environmental
justice is social justice. Being able to access nature without fear of
being harmed, harassed, or simply treated dierently because of the
color of your skin is a basic human right. We must ght for this; we
must work to diversify our community; we must strive to build the
next generation of bird lovers and conservation leaders. We need to do
this, and we are ready to deliver.
As the winds of change blow, we will feel uncomfortable and
exhilarated, we will be pushed to the limits as we ready for action, we
will doubt and surprise ourselves, and we will shed tears of sadness
and joy. San Diego Audubon Society is on this journey with you,
and together we will stand against injustice and ght even harder for
change. e time is now.
Catching the Winds of Change
5
Wild birds face a litany of threats, ranging from the overly ambitious
house cat, increasing populations of metropolitan species such as
crows and raccoons, window strikes in developed areas, and natural
predators such as snakes and birds of prey.
Fortunately, many of these threats can be alleviated with thoughtful
placement of feeders, bird baths and nesting boxes, and by creating
plenty of natural hiding places. Ideally, feeders should be placed
8 feet o of the ground, and 10 –12 feet away from any thick
vegetation, to allow birds to detect
potential predators, while also
enabling them to escape into the
underbrush if they sense danger.
Bird baths can be mounted onto
pedestals for the same reason, but
that might not be as alluring to
some species of bird that prefer
to obtain water at ground level.
Species-specic recommendations
for nest box placement can be found
via Cornell Lab’s Right Bird, Right
House online tool kit.
Feeders can also be shielded by an
awning, gazebo, or umbrella, to
create a visual block from any circling hawks. Birdseed should always
be stored in airtight containers and the area below feeders should
be cleaned regularly, to avoid attracting rodents and the wildlife that
prey upon them. e feeders themselves are also key—good feeders
are made from plastic, metal, or glass, which are cleaned more
easily than wood or clay. Small feeders prevent too many birds from
congregating, a potential source of disease tra
nsmission. Make sure
that feeders have holes for draining to prevent mold, and to avoid
sharp edges that could hurt perched birds.
Outdoor cats kill an estimated 1.3 to 4 billion birds in the United
States every year, so keeping pets indoors is a vital rst step to
creating a safe space for birds and other small animals. If that isn’t
an option, or if there is a neighborhood cat that patrols the area,
you can discourage cats from entering your yard by stringing wire
between fence posts, high enough to allow for perching of birds but
low enough that cats can’t comfortably walk. Want the best of both
worlds? Try a “catio” (an enclosed cat-patio, shown to le).
Bird strikes can be prevented by placing feeders within 2–3 feet of
windows, thereby preventing high-speed collisions (and giving you
a closer view). Window decals or hanging vertical cords are good
options. You can nd resources for fun DIY projects online.
A good rst step is to survey your yard and assess any potential
threats—perching areas for predators, windows that may cause bird
strikes, and the presence of any cats or other dangerous wildlife.
From there, create a plan to eliminate or reduce these threats, and
enjoy birding!
Safe Harbor: Predators and Other Urban reats
By Megan Flaherty, Habitat Restoraon Manager
“Cao”, by Karen Straus.
Rebekah (Educaon Director) and Violet (le); Chelsea (Op/Vol Coordinator) and Tycho (right).
6
California
Gnatcatcher by
Mahew Binns
For many years, the Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary has served as
a prime example of what is needed to create a welcoming haven
for local wildlife. Evidenced by our Certied Wildlife Habitat
designation from the National Wildlife Foundation, Silverwood’s
observation area provides all the essentials to attract a wide array
of species for viewing, photographing, and, most importantly,
nature education. Here, I’ll look more closely at what each of these
important elements entails.
Food: Nourishing Nature
To help attract the many species of birds residing within the
riparian oak woodland and surrounding chaparral, we provide
specic types of feeders and food. Hummingbird feeders with sugar
water oer a supplemental energy source that attracts not only
Anna’s Hummingbirds, Black-Chinned Hummingbirds, Costa’s
Hummingbirds, Allen’s Hummingbirds, and Rufous Hummingbirds,
but also Acorn Woodpeckers and multiple species of orioles. During
the spring, Silverwood’s observation area lls with the vibrant colors
of these species.
istle feeders
are designed for
attracting nches.
At Silverwood,
these feeders
mostly attract
Lesser Goldnches,
House Finches,
and occasionally
Lawrence’s Goldnches and Cassin’s Finches, though other species,
such as Bewick’s Wrens, sometimes visit, too.
e Magnum screened sunower-seed feeders attract resident
populations of Oak Titmice, Scrub Jays, White-breasted Nuthatches,
and Acorn Woodpeckers. During spring, this feeder also attracts
Black-headed Grosbeaks. By mixing millet seed with sunower
seeds, small amounts of millet are tossed out onto the ground by the
sunower-seed-eating birds, providing seed for ground feeders such
as Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted and California Towhees, and many
species of sparrows. If the millet seed is tossed out on the ground
all at once, it will be gone within a half hour, collected in the cheek
pouches of the resident ground
squirrels. erefore, if you have
California Ground Squirrels, this
is the way to go.
Similarly, tube feeders lled with
millet and sunower seeds are
placed within the observation
area. By attaching a platform at the
base of the feeder, the sunower-
seed-eating birds separate the
sunower seed from the millet,
which is also tossed out onto the
ground. e millet on the ground
attracts California Quail, White-
crowned and Golden-crowned
Sparrows, Spotted and California
Towhees, and, every now and then,
a California rasher.
e feeders hang from
poles that tee o from a
6-foot post in the ground.
e 4×4-foot Douglas r
wooden posts are inserted
into a trex vinyl sleeve
that restricts critters such
as ground squirrels from
climbing up the post to
the seed feeders.
Water: Aracng
Diverse Species
Silverwood has two
main bird baths in the
observation area. ey
not only provide a place
for drinking, splashing,
and preening for the
birds attracted to the
feeders, but also entice birds such as Wrentits and many species of
warblers. During a warm summer day you may even see a Red-tailed
Hawk or a Cooper’s Hawk soaking in the water to cool o.
e more natural vegetation cover surrounds the bath, the better it
will attract birds. ese sources of water also attract other types of
wildlife, such as Gray Foxes, Bobcats, and Coyotes. It’s thrilling to be
birding in the observation area with a group of children and to have
a Mule Deer wander out of the chaparral to the lower bird bath to get
a cool drink.
Cover: Creang Shelter and Safety
Silverwood’s riparian oak woodland and surrounding chaparral
habitat provide the cover needed by all of these wildlife species in
order to feel safe from people, predators, and harsh weather. Under
the cover of these habitats, a variety of animals have a place to hide
and to raise their families among trees and shrubs.
Within the woodland, oaks provide the necessary habitat for
woodpeckers such as Northern Flickers to excavate nest cavities.
ese cavities later become
nest sites for Oak Titmice and
Nuthatches. Natural hollowed-
out trunk cavities become daily
roosting sites and seasonal nest
sites for our resident Screech Owls.
High up in the oaks, Ravens have
constructed many nests. ese
nests have later hosted Great
Horned Owls and their owlets.
Along with natural nesting
sites provided by the habitats
surrounding the observation area,
many types of bird nesting boxes
have been placed within the area.
e Bluebird boxes attract Western
Bluebirds, along with House
Wrens and occasionally
Silverwood Scene
Observing nature in all its glory:
Mastering the recipe for a vibrant ecosystem
Phillip Lambert, Silverwood Resident Manager
A man-made pool is a great asset to birds and other wildlife. By Phil Lambert
Lawrence’s Goldnch and Yellow Warbler
by Phil Lambert
Acorn Woopecker by Phil Lambert
7
In May, while birding in a Central Park wildlife sanctuary,
Christian Cooper (an African American board member of New
York Audubon) saw a woman with her dog o-leash and politely
asked her to leash it. e woman responded by calling the police,
screaming that an African American man was threatening her.
is outrageous incident should never have happened to him or
to anyone else. Each of us should have the right to be in a public
place without fear. Wisely, Christian had
recorded the confrontation and is now back
out enjoying what he loves to do—birding.
For a decade, I have cherished being
outdoors photographing birds. e one bird
that started me down the road of birding
was the Northern Flicker. I heard a pecking
noise outside my bedroom window. Aer
slowly opening the curtains I found it
walking up the tree in our backyard.
I love the various personalities, shapes,
sizes, and colors of birds.Some of my
favorite places to go birding around San
Diego are Ocean Beach, Tijuana Estuary,
Fiesta Island, Ramona, and other neighborhoods and parks.
While birding in San Diego, I have not experienced a confrontation
similar to Christian’s, but I am always wary. When not at home or
at work, I am acutely aware of my surroundings, ever watchful.
While out birding, I give people space; I smile, nod, try to make
eye contact, and if the other person responds warmly, I greet them.
While remaining vigilant, I thoroughly enjoy the times when I can
live in the moment, when no one is approaching me, or when I’m
with fellow photographers or birders.
We’re grateful to Parrish for his willingness to share his personal experience.
San Diego Audubon is commied to building a broadly inclusive
conservaon community, one that is reected in a growing diversity of our
board, sta, volunteers, and members, and ensuring that our programs are
advancing the causes of both environmental and social jusce.
However, we know we are far from that vision. We ask you, our supporters,
whatever your identy, to share your experiences as well. We need to
not only meet the conservaon challenges of our me; we need your
involvement to become a more diverse and inclusive organizaon. Thank
you for being on this journey of beerment with us. Travis Kemnitz, ED
Birding While Black
by Parrish Nnambi
Oak Titmice. e Ash-throated Flycatchers have nested in
these Bluebird boxes, but they now prefer an added Acorn
Woodpecker nest box.
By researching the types of natural habitats and of
the wildlife in your area, and by providing these three
essential elements to make a healthy and natural
sustainable wildlife habitat in your yard, you can join the
thousands of wildlife enthusiasts across the country who
have earned the distinction of being part of the National
Wildlife Federation’s Certied Wildlife Habitat.
Northern Flicker on Toyon (le) and Snowy Egret (above)
by Parrish Nnambi
Silverwood to Remain Closed for Summer
San Diego Audubon’s concern for the well-being of the
general public due to COVID-19 pandemic requires
us to implement the closure and cancellaons of all
Silverwood programs unl further noce. Please call
(619) 443-2998 for updates and any quesons.
When Silverwood reopens, we will have needs in trail
maintenance and other tasks. Please consider how you
can help when the gate swings open once again.
Squirrel-proof bird feeders by Phil Lambert
San Diego Audubon Society
4010 Morena Blvd. Ste. 100
San Diego, CA 92117
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…Fostering the protecon and appreciaon
of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats…
San Diego Audubon Society is a chapter
of the National Audubon Society
SKETCHES is published bimonthly, in odd-numbered months.
For details on submissions and deadlines, please contact
Kelly Quigley at kellyquigley@gmail.com
e oce is now open for sta and board use,with some
restrictions. If you wish to visit, please call to learn more.
4010 Morena Blvd. Ste. 100, San Diego, CA 92117
Messages can be le at any time by email:
San Diego Audubon Oce: 858-273-7800
Please send emails rather than call
California Audubon Society: www.ca.audubon.org
National Audubon Society: www.audubon.org
National Audubon Activist Hotline: 800-659-2622
National Audubon Customer Service: 800-274-4201
Like us on Facebook:
facebook.com/sdaudubon
Follow us on Twier:
twier.com/sdaudubon
Visit our website at
www.sandiegoaudubon.org
Log on for online resources. Please connue to
check our website for all COVID-19 updates.
It takes only a couple
of minutes to sign up
or renew at www.
sandiegoaudubon.org.
– you can call or visit our
oce for a brochure
•
Subscripon to Sketches, our
member magazine (6 issues a year)
• Access to free local birding trips
• Members-only guided walks at our
two nature sanctuaries
• Discounts on nature guidebooks and
other merchandise, and access to
our excellent library
• Access to a wide variety of volunteer
opportunies
• Discounts on special workshops
about birds, nave plants, and more
• Invitaons to special events
such as our holiday party and
volunteer celebraon
• Email newsleer updates, including
advance noce of events
While San Diego Audubon is a
chapter of Naonal Audubon
Society, we are an independent
not-for-prot organizaon. We
encourage you—especially if you
are already a Naonal Audubon
member—to become a Friend of
San Diego Audubon to directly
support our local conservaon and
educaon programs.
Become a Friend of San Diego Audubon
to keep our programs moving forward:
