Melvin - LosGatosBirdWatcher.com https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:18:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Melvin - LosGatosBirdWatcher.com https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com 32 32 What Is an Egg? A Tiny Miracle of Nature https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/what-is-an-egg/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:44:29 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20467 A Tiny Miracle of Engineering At the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, we spend our time talking with customers about backyard birds, wild bird feeding, and the joy of birdwatching in Los Gatos and beyond. But behind every chickadee, hummingbird, or grosbeak you see at your feeder begins something extraordinary: an egg. A bird’s egg is one […]

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]]> Why Birds Like Hot Pepper Bird Food (and Why Squirrels Hate It) https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/why-birds-like-hot-pepper-bird-food/ Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:09:22 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20461 One of the most common questions we hear in the store is, “Won’t hot pepper bird seed burn the birds’ mouths?” The short answer is: No. Birds can’t taste the heat from hot peppers at all. And that’s exactly why hot pepper–treated bird seed and suet work so well. The Science: Birds vs. Mammals The […]

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]]> Black Squirrels: Variation of the Eastern Gray Squirrel in Los Gatos https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/black-squirrels-eastern-gray-variation-in-los-gatos-today/ Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:26:32 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20455 If you’ve recently spotted a black squirrel in your yard or neighborhood and thought, “What is that species?” you’re not alone. We’ve had many customers asking about these squirrels and why they seem to be showing up more often around Los Gatos. The short answer is they’ve been here for decades and love suburban environments.. […]

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]]> Winter Birds: What Am I Seeing in My Yard Right Now? https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/winter-birds-what-am-i-seeing-in-my-yard-right-now/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:08:14 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20423 Yellow-rumped Warbler by Tony Woo Winter here in the South Bay is an exciting time for birdwatching. While some species head south, many others arrive from more northern latitudes and altitudes, joining our year-round residents. Whether you’re watching from your backyard, visiting local open spaces, or strolling through your neighborhood, winter offers plenty of opportunities […]

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]]> Cranes and Conservation: What You Might Not Know about Sandhill Cranes in California https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/cranes-and-conservation/ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:00:00 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20216 Each autumn, as the seasons change and the snow starts to fall in the far north, a trumpet-like call can be heard for miles across California’s Central Valley–it’s the call of the Sandhill Cranes as they arrive by the thousands. These ancient and elegant birds have captured the hearts of bird lovers, especially Lisa Myers, […]

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]]> Owls, Bats, Moths, & Nighthawks of South San Jose https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/owls-bats-moths-nighthawks-of-south-san-jose/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:06:22 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20011 Discover why birds aren’t visiting your feeder! Learn common fall bird feeding mistakes and easy fixes to attract more birds in Los Gatos and the South Bay.

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]]> Gardening for Wildlife https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/gardening-for-wildlife/ Tue, 13 May 2025 01:56:42 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=17947 Gardening for Wildlife To create a bird-friendly yard, plant your garden with a bird’s diet in mind, choosing plants that nourish local Wildlife as well. Plant what birds like and what you like too, this creates biodiversity and a dynamic outdoor space to attract the widest variety of birds. Some people use the 70-30 rule […]

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]]> Sunset Birdwatching: Fundraiser for SCVBA’s Spring Birdathon https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/sunset-birdwatching/ Fri, 09 May 2025 03:08:04 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=17923 Sunset Birdwatching: Fundraiser for SCVBA’s Spring Birdathon May 2025 Today I led quite a team of folks for the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance spring birdathon, enjoying some beautiful Sunset Birdwatching along the way. We had a vast array of skill levels which helped in gathering our species. This year I decided to mix it […]

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]]> Caterpillars: A Vital Superfood for Birds’ Survival https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/caterpillars-chickadees/ Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:42:33 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=16201 The Secret Superfood for​ Birds: Why Caterpillars Are Essential November 21, 2024 Did you know caterpillars are essential for bird health? During breeding season, birds like chickadees rely on caterpillars to feed their baby birds. Young birds need the protein-packed nutrition that only insects provide. At last weekend’s Bringing Back the Natives Garden conference, NY […]

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]]> From Leaves to Life: The Hidden Benefits for Birds & Pollinators https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/leaving-the-leaves-for-the-birds/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:36:17 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=15778 From Leaves to Life: How Keeping Your Leaf Piles Supports Birds & Insects November 15, 2024 Lisa Myers, owner of Los Gatos Birdwatcher, knows that a nature-friendly yard means a happier, healthier place for birdwatching. Here’s Lisa with her pets, Chico and Easy, taking in the beauty of fall in her backyard in Campbell. As the leaves fall, […]

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