Birds of the Season—May 2024
Taxonomy of the Birds
Bird Walks and Field Trips
Inca Dove | Common Ground Dove | Solitary Sandpiper | VEGA GULL | Pacific Loon | Zone-tailed Hawk | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Eastern Phoebe | Purple Martin | Bank Swallow | White Wagtail | Grasshopper Sparrow | Black-throated Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | American Redstart | Blackburnian Warbler | Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Following the unprecedented disastrous fires of early January, the remainder of winter was downright calm. We were spoiled the past two winters by above average precipitation, but the 2024-2025 season had a very dry start.
At last we received measurable precipitation, with a handful of fronts passing through in late February and March. These alleviated extremely dry conditions in the region, though we are still well below normal and unlikely to catch up. As we enter April, we’re nearing the end of any significant chance of rain.
Solitary Sandpiper | VEGA GULL | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Grasshopper Sparrow | Lark Bunting | Clay-colored Sparrow | Black-and-white Warbler | Green-tailed Towhee | Northern Parula | Blackburnian Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Hepatic Tanager
Red-necked Grebe | Solitary Sandpiper | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Zone-tailed Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | “Prairie” Merlin | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Pacific Wren | Grasshopper Sparrow | Lark Bunting | Clay-colored Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Northern Parula | Blackburnian Warbler | Pine Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Lazuli Bunting
Solitary Sandpiper | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Pacific Loon | Zone-tailed Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Eastern Phoebe | Sagebrush Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Northern Parula | Pine Warbler | Painted Redstart
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Observing the Coastal California Gnatcatcher, by Daniel Horowitz
LAAS Expresses Concerns with Ballona Wetlands Project – With Letter to the Wildlife Conservation Board, by Margot Griswold
The 124th Christmas Bird Count
Arctic-Breeding Greater Yellowlegs Tracked to Los Angeles River, by Rozy Bathrick
Birds of the Season - December 2023, by Jon Fisher
2024 Call For Applications, Ralph W. Schreiber Ornithology Research Award
Photo by Robbie Lisa Freeman
A Splendidly Spooky Avian Encounter by Robbie Lisa Freeman
Birds Of The Season—October 2023 by Jon Fisher
Crested Caracara, photo courtesy of Randy Freeman.
Crested Caracara Soars into the Spotlight, Setting New State Record at Ballona Wetlands
By Robbie Lisa Freeman
By Jon Fisher
Pelagic Birding: A Birder’s Box of Chocolates, by Robbie Lisa Freeman
Ten Tips To Prepare for Your First Pelagic, by Robbie Lisa Freeman
Snowy Owl in San Pedro, by Andy Dowdell
Conservation Conversation, by Travis Longcore (Wildness in Our City, Farewell, P-22, Seeing the Wild at Silver Lake Reservoir, Wild Under Threat at Ballona)
Birds of the Season — December 2022
Christmas Count, by Linda Sheehan
January 11th Online Presentation — Scaring Birds for Science, with Mario Díaz presenting
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Page 1–2 Hawk On The Block
Page 3 Nature Nexus & Volunteers
Page 4 Conservation Conversation
Pages 5–6 Birds of the Season
Page 7–8 Hope Is The Thing With Feathers
Pages 9 Upcoming Bird Walks
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