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It’s Prime Bird-Watching Season!
Walking along Santa Rosa creek recently, during a break between atmospheric river events, I was delighted to see Common Mergansers—a male and two females— feeding in the fast-moving creek. Been hearing the Great Horned Owls, too, hooting nightly. Bird activity really starts to heat up in early spring; it’s nesting season. Turns out we have a pair of bald eagles nesting in the Laguna de Santa Rosa and they have produced 14 offspring over a 14-year period. Unlike the Great Horned Owls and the eagles who build their own nests, there are others who are cavity-nesters, and songbirds, in particular, compete for good nesting sites. Nesting boxes are a great way to help out. Check out various bird conservation sites for information on how to build nest boxes or what to look for commercially (nestwatch.org is a good one). Nest hole size, placement, proportions of nest boxes are all important considerations.
Nancy Bauer is the Co-founder of the Habitat Corridor Project and author of the California Wildlife Habitat Garden (UC Press). https://www.amazon.com/California-Wildlife-Habitat-Garden-Butterflies/dp/0520267818 or request it at your local bookstore!
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