How to Choose the Best Bird Feeder
Advice from 30 Years of Helping Backyard Birdwatchers Walk into the Los Gatos Birdwatcher on any given day and you’ll hear a familiar question: “What’s the best bird feeder?” After helping thousands of customers create bird-friendly backyards over the years, we’ve learned that there isn’t just one “best” feeder. The right feeder depends on the […]
Bird Seed: Is There Really a Difference?
One of the most common questions we hear at the Los Gatos Birdwatcher is: “Does bird seed quality really matter?” The short answer is yes. Over these past 30 years, many customers share a familiar story with us…a well-meaning spouse brought home a less expensive bag of bird seed from a big box store. The […]
Too Many Band-tailed Pigeons at Your Feeders?
My feeders have been taken over by Band-tailed Pigeons! Unlike the familiar Rock Pigeons found in urban areas, Band-tailed Pigeons are native to California and much of the western United States. They are handsome birds with soft gray plumage, a white crescent on the back of the neck, and a pale band across the tail […]
Working With Wild Birds: A Conversation with Falconer Kenny Elvin
Working With Wild Birds: A Conversation with Falconer Kenny Elvin [Photo: Kenny on the job with his helper, Gauge, the Anatum Peregrine] Here at the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, we spend a lot of time watching and celebrating birds. But there’s another, lesser-known way humans interact with birds—working alongside them. We spoke recently with Kenny Elvin […]
Spring Migration in the Bay Area: Backyard Birds to Know
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 […]