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 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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]]> The Complete History of the Christmas Bird Count https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/the-history-of-the-christmas-bird-count/ Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:55:15 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=20096 From Shotguns to Spotting Scopes: Dec 14, 2025 –Jan 5, 2026.  Did you know the most important bird census in the world began as an alternative to a bird-killing competition?  Photo: Buffle Heads by Tony Woo That’s right, before the 20th century, holiday traditions sometimes included the “Christmas Side Hunt,” where people would head into […]

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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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]]> Common Mistakes in Fall Bird Feeding And How to Avoid Them https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/fall-bird-feeding/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:13:39 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=19877 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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]]> Vasona: A South Bay Birding Gem https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/vasona-a-south-bay-birding-gem/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 21:31:11 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=18729 Vasona: A South Bay Birding Gem Vasona is creek and adjacent riparian habitat, the reservoir, lawns, established trees, fish, and bugs all combine to create a dynamic birdwatching location. We’ve benefited from being close to Vasona for the past 30 years. If you’re stopping by the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, be sure to take a short […]

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]]> Summertime Birdwatching: What’s at your feeder? https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/summertime-birdwatching-whats-at-your-feeder/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 21:19:49 +0000 https://losgatosbirdwatcher.com/?p=18722 Summertime Birdwatching: What’s at your feeder? August backyard birdwatching in the South Bay means a transition period. Some of our summer visitors are about to head south, while year-round residents keep the feeders busy. Birdwatching Summer Visitors If you live on the valley floor, watch for White-breasted Nuthatches, bold little birds with black caps, white […]

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