Of all the birding news stories that came down in 2023, perhaps none was more unexpected than the American Ornithological Society’s (AOS) decision to change the names of up to 152 North American bird species, eliminating honorific and eponymous names. That means so long, Steller’s jay. Bye-bye, Brewer’s blackbird. Hasta la vista, Heermann’s gull. Why? […]
Sarah Hobart
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Spark Birds
Those of us who are besotted with birds can often trace our interest back to one particular bird, our “spark bird.” Seeing that bird ignited a fascination with the species that’s impacted our lives in myriad ways, from where we live to what we do for a living and how we spend our free time […]
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Birding Facts and Myths
Once you get hooked on birding, you might be surprised to discover it’s not just about birds. You’ve studied the field guides. You’ve listened to so many bird song recordings you chirp in your sleep. Now you’re thinking about taking your obsession, er, hobby to the next level. Perhaps, while you’ve been watching birds, you’ve […]
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Look! Up in the Sky!
While we’re caught up in the daily grind here on the ground, there’s a lot of great birding happening above our heads. That’s where the big birds fly: the eagles, hawks and vultures that quicken the pulse of birders and nonbirders alike because of their sheer bulk and massive wingspans. However, conditions are seldom ideal […]
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Birding with Dogs
One of the things I enjoy most — besides birding and Giants baseball, of course — is spending time outdoors with my dog Aggie. In a perfect world, I’d be able to combine two out of the three and look at birds with Aggie by my side. But our attempts thus far have been, well, […]
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A Bird in Hand
You’re strolling around the neighborhood one morning when something odd catches your eye. You take a closer look and find a bird in the grass. It looks like a young one: Some of its feathers are stubby, others fluffy, and it hops along as if unsure how to fly. You’re worried it might end up […]
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The American Dipper’s Life Aquatic
After a heck of a winter, it’s summer at last. Now’s the time to patch your roof, plant your garden (if you already have, you’re way ahead of me) and explore Humboldt’s diverse landscapes. Throughout the county, hidden gems await those of all abilities, whether at the end of an arduous hike or just up […]
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The Birdmobile
For years I had an old newspaper clipping taped to my even older refrigerator. It was a Car Talk column by Tom and Ray Magliozzi called, “Who’s Hardest on Cars, Anyway?” A couple had written the mechanics asking them to determine once and for all if men or women wore out their cars more quickly. […]
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Godwit Days
When you live in a place as awash in natural wonders as Humboldt County, it can be easy to take it for granted. Towering redwoods with trunks as thick as Volkswagens? Just look out the window. Miles of rocky coastal beaches with endless tidepools to explore? Been there, done that. But how about backroads that […]
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Standout Shorebirds
Colorful” and “glamorous” aren’t words that usually spring to mind when it comes to shorebirds, the diverse group of generally drab birds that includes sandpipers, plovers and related species. Their beauty tends to lie in sheer numbers: When flocks of thousands wheel in unison over Humboldt Bay and the light flashes off their pale bellies, […]
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A New Year in Birding
The start of 2023 — earthquakes, torrential rain and bomb cyclones notwithstanding — has been an exciting time for birders. It begins with the ritual of that very first bird of the year. What will it be? For me, it was a tie between two birds: an American robin and a hermit thrush, both alighting […]
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The Walmart Picnic Table Effect
A long-held belief in the world of birding is that when a rare bird is reported at a specific location, birders who flock to the spot to see it find other rare birds, attracting even more birders, who then find — well, you get the idea. This phenomenon, known as the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect, […]