Bird Alliance of Oregon Backyard BioBlitz Report: May 19, 2020

By Bob Sallinger, Conservation Director

Thank you for participating in week four of the Bird Alliance of Oregon Backyard BioBlitz. 

We had 99 reports submitted in the fourth week of the Backyard BioBlitz. The heavy rain we saw on Tuesday may have suppressed participation but it did not reduce sightings. We will continue to do the BioBlitz each Tuesday for the rest of the summer so please keep participating and inviting your friends. We have summarized the data from the first four weeks below so that you can see what other folks are seeing. 

One of the species people have been seeing in increasing numbers the last two weeks are Black-headed Grosbeaks. Bird Alliance of Oregon Naturalist Dan van den Broek writes the following about this beautiful species:

The Black-headed Grosbeak is one of our prominent spring migrants and a frequent visitor at bird feeders. They announce their presence with an exuberant, robin-like song. Black-headed Grosbeaks arrive during the last week of April and the beginning of May, from Western and South-central Mexico. After breeding, they migrate south to Arizona and northwest Mexico (Sonora and Sinaloa) to undergo a complete molt during the “second spring” monsoon. These June-August monsoon rains bring an abundance of food which supports the birds during their energy-consuming molt. They then migrate further south, usually by October. Black-headed Grosbeaks belong to the Cardinalidae family (which includes the Western Tanager and the Lazuli Bunting). They are not related to the Evening Grosbeak, which is a type of finch in the family Fringillidae.”

The following is a summary of species reported on April 28, May 4 , May 12 and May 19. (Species and the percent of participants reporting. — indicates that species was not tracked this week)

A Black-headed Grosbeak perches on a small branch with its feathers fluffed out.
Black-headed Grosbeak - Photo by Scott Carpenter

Birds April 28 May 4 May 12 May 19
American Robin 76% 53% 55% 56%
American Crow 72% 71% 76% 76%
Black-capped Chickadee 66% 67% 65% 64%
Anna’s Hummingbird 62% 73% 71% 71%
Dark-eyed Junco 56% 57% 54% 58%
Song Sparrow 53% 60% 68% 60%
California Scrub Jay 49% 42% 42% 45%
House Finch 46% 55% 55% 56%
Spotted Towhee 44% 35% 52% 48%
Steller’s Jay 40% 40% 37% 39%
Bushtit 37% 34% 27% 24%
Mourning Dove 30% 20% 25% 26%
Lesser Goldfinch 30% 43% 40% 41%
Downy Woodpecker 29% 24% 27% 36%
American Goldfinch 29% 38% 24% 27%
European Starling 26% 30% 34% 33%
Red-breasted Nuthatch 25% 26% 26% 25%
Bewick’s Wren 22% 15% 17% 22%
House Sparrow 22% 23% 21% 19%
Rufous Hummingbird 21% 32% 14% 19%
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20% 6% 1% 1%
Mallard 18% 12% 12% 13%
White-crowned Sparrow 16% 14% 13% 9%
Red-tailed Hawk 15% 7% 5% 7%
Canada Goose 15% 10% 5% 11%
Pine Siskin 13% 14% 5% 7%
Vaux Swift 12% 15% 13% 12%
Red-breasted Sapsucker 10% 5% 7% 3%
Hairy Woodpecker 8% 9% 8% 7%
Band-tailed Pigeon 8% 6% 6% 5%
Great Blue Heron 8% 4% 3% 9%
Black-headed Grosbeak 7% 6% 24% 22%
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7% 3% 2% 0%
Northern Flicker 6% 20% 8% 15%
Tree Swallow 6% 4% 6% 5%
Cooper’s Hawk 5% 5% 2% 4%
Brown Creeper 5% 4% 3% 3%
Pileated Woodpecker 5% 4% 25% 2%
Violet-green Swallow 4% 3% 5% 5%
Wilson’s Warbler  4% 9% 4% 1%
Orange-crowned Warbler 4% 6% 2% 1%
Raven 4% 3% 5% 5%
Western Tanager 3% 2% 10% 7%
Barred Owl 3% 2% 2% 4%
Barn Swallow 2% 2% 1% 6%
Golden Crowned Sparrow 2% 1% 1% 0%
Black-throated Gray Warbler 2% 2% 1% 2%
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1% 2% 1% 4%
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1% 3% 2% 7%
Western Screech Owl <1% 0% 0% 1%
Green Heron <1% 0% 0% 1%
Peacock <1% 0% 1% 0%
Bald Eagle <1% <1% 1% 2%
Belted Kingfisher <1% <1% 1% 0%
Eurasian Collared Dove <1% <1% 1% 1%
Turkey Vulture <1% 2% 1% 3%
White-breasted Nuthatch <1% <1% 1% 3%
Red-winged Blackbird <1% <1% 1% 2%
Purple Finch <1% <1% 1% 2%
Hermit Thrush <1% 0% 0% 0%
Ring-necked Pheasant <1% 1% 0%

Also seen week of May 4: Turkey Vulture, Rock Dove, Purple Finch, Warbling Vireo, Cowbird, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Winter Wren, Osprey, White Pelican

Also seen the week of May 12: Northern Oriole, Great Horned Owl, Wood Ducks, Chipping Sparrow, Rock Dove, Brown-headed Cowbird, Evening Grosbeak, Black Chinned Hummingbird

Also seen week of May 19: Cowbird, Mountain Chickadee, Pacific Wren , Red-winged Blackbird, Mountain Chickadee, Brewer’s Blackbird, Swainson’s Thrush, Wood Duck, Killdeer, Cedar Waxwing. Osprey

Mammals April 28 May 4 May 12 May 19
Eastern Gray Squirrel 39% 50% 53% 66%
Free-roaming Cat 23% 29% 21% 26%
Fox Squirrel 23% 25% 29% 28%
Douglas Squirrel 15% 20% 24% 25%
Bat Species  5% 4% 2% 5%
Raccoon 3% 5% 8% 11%
Coyote 3% 1% 2% 3%
Opossum <1% 2% 3% 3%
Red Fox <1% 0% 0% 0%
Beaver <0% 0% 1% 1%
River Otter 0% 0% 0% 1%
Brush / E. Cottontail 11%
Black-tailed Deer 3%
Townsend’s Chipmunk 5%
Striped Skunk 2%

Also seen on April 28: Brush Rabbit, Chipmunk, Norway Rat, Grey Fox, Nutria, California Ground Squirrel

Also seen on May 4: Townsend’s chipmunk, striped skunk, brush rabbit, eastern cottontail rabbit, mole, deer

Also seen on May 12: Townsend’s Chipmunk, Brush Rabbit

Also seen on May 19: Nutria, Mole

Insects April 28 May 4 May 12 May 19
Bumblebee 46% 59% 51% 60%
Honey Bee 37% 47% 47% 51%
Mason Bee 23% 29% 20% 15%
Common Green Darner 1% 4% 2% 1%
Tiger Swallowtail 0% <0% 2% 1%

Other insects observed on May 4: White cabbage moths, earwig, phidippus jumping spider, stinkbug, wasp, lady bugs, box elder bugs, gnats, crane flies, painted lady butterfly, various ant species, various moth species, various butterfly species, various spider species,

Other insects observed on May 12: White Cabbage Moths, Crane Fly, various wasp species, various spider species. Various fly species, various ant species

Other insects observed on May 19: Spider species, Cucumber Beetles,  Hoverflies, Water Strider, Sweat Bees, Wasps Syrphid  Flies. Ladybugs, Fly Species, Ant Species, White Cabbage Moths, Cranefly

Reptiles and Amphibians Observed:

Week of May 4: Ensatina Salamander

Week of May 12: Garter Snake

Photo of the Week

A stunning male Black-headed Grosbeak by Diane Pinsonault. If you’d like to share your photos, please post them on the Backyard BioBlitz Facebook page.

Tip of the Week:

Bird Feeding Basics: Hanging bird feeders can be a great way to attract birds to your yard. If you provide the basics of wildlife habitat, food, water and shelter, even the urban backyards will likely experience greater bird diversity. However, bird feeding can have a downside. Birds naturally move from spot to spot to feed, but bird feeding can cause large numbers of birds to gather in the same spot day after day increasing predation and spread of disease. The following are tips to help you practice safe bird feeding:

  • Provide Lots of Natural Cover: The best way to help birds is to plant your yard with native shrubs and trees. This will provide food, shelter and nest sites for the birds that visit. 
  • Feed High Quality Foods: Use high quality, fresh seeds, suet, fruit for the birds. Avoid feeding processed foods, bread, and stale human foods—they provide little nutrition and attract predators.
  • Provide a Water Source for Drinking and Bathing: Use a flat bottomed pan filled no more than 1-1.5 inches high and change water daily.
  • Feed Small Amounts and Avoid Overcrowding: Only feed enough to supply birds for a few hours. Feeding several days worth of food at one time can result allow for bacteria and other pathogens to accumulate and result in increased disease transmission. 
  • Keep Feeders Clean: Feeders should be washed with a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part bleach at least twice a month. Water dishes should be cleaned daily. The area below feeders should be raked regularly to remove rotting seed debris.
Blackheaded Grosbeak, photo by Diane Pinsonault‎

 

  • Protect Birds from Window Collisions: Birds do not recognize glass as a solid object. To prevent window strikes, place feeders either within 2-3 feet of windows OR at least 25 feet away from windows. 
  • Keep Cats Indoors: The number one cause of injury for animals brought to Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wildlife Care Center is “caught by cat.” Bird feeders and free-roaming cats make a terrible combination.
  • Hawk Predation is Natural: Where there are lots of songbirds, there are also likely to be hawks (Hawks have to eat too!). The best way to limit hawk predation is to provide lots of cover and feed intermittently rather than every day.
  • Avoid Feeding Mammals: Mammals such as squirrels and raccoons can quickly become habituated to human handouts and become neighborhood nuisances. Our Nature Store can help you with products and feeder placement that will help reduce mammalian use of feeders.
  • Rats: Rats can quickly accumulate around feeders creating hazards for both humans and birds. The best way to avoid rats is to keep feeders and surrounding area clean, feed small amounts of food, and feed intermittently. 

If you see Sick of Dying Birds at your Feeder, Stop Feeding! Contrary to common opinion, birds do not depend on feeders for survival. If you see sick or dying birds at your feeder, the best thing you can do is to stop feeding for a period of 4-6 weeks. This will cause the birds to disperse and reduce disease transmission among birds.

To Learn More:

Bird Alliance of Oregon BioBlitz Facebook Group Page: You can post pictures, information or questions about what you are seeing at any time on our Backyard BioBlitz Facebook Group Page. We are also posting information and opportunities to learn more about the region’s wildlife here as well.

Ask a Birder: Every Wednesday from 7-8 pm, Bird Alliance of Oregon experts will be online talking about the birds that are passing through our region and answering questions. Learn more.

Learn About Birds that Are Passing through Portland on Migration: Each week Bird Alliance of Oregon naturalist Dan van den Broek provides information about the species you are likely to see passing through. 

Need Birdfeeding Supplies?  The Bird Alliance of Oregon Nature Store is now online! Everything from feeders to birdseed and suet to guides and optics is available for online purchase and can be either shipped or picked-up curbside.