Spring Migration: Who Arrives Each Spring to Bay Area Yards
Oriole at feeder by Tony Woo In April, we can find some of our most exciting spring arrivals. Each of these birds has traveled from wintering grounds in Mexico or Central America—with more on the way. Allen’s Hummingbird – A flash of copper. They prefer coastal habitats Black-headed Grosbeak – They come to seed feeders and […]
Birds Are Good for Your Brain
The world feels noisy. Our attention is pulled in every direction. And yet step outside, even for a few minutes and something shifts. A chickadee calls. A hummingbird zips past. A finch lands at the feeder. Your breathing slows. Your shoulders drop. You feel better. This isn’t just a feeling. It’s biology. [Photo: Mockingbird singing […]
What Is an Egg? A Tiny Miracle of Nature
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 […]
Why Birds Like Hot Pepper Bird Food (and Why Squirrels Hate It)
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 […]
Black Squirrels: Variation of the Eastern Gray Squirrel in Los Gatos
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.. […]