Date: 5/17/25 10:12 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Migrant movement through the chaparral in Big Tujunga canyon 051725
Hi all,
Lance Benner and I led a hike in Big Tujunga canyon today as part of a series of hikes in chaparral habitat for LA Birders. We went down the old FS road 3N27, which descends down to Big Tujunga creek from approximately the intersection of Angeles Forest Highway and Big Tujunga canyon road in the San Gabriel mountains -- going down from 3060' at the road to 2390' at the creek. Today was heavily overcast with a local cloud ceiling at 3000' - 4000', which made for interesting birding.
Under these low overcast conditions, there was a very large number of landbird migrants moving down the canyon along the canyon walls. Movement lasted from when we began the hike at 7:30 am, and birds were moving all the way to noon. Western Tanagers were the most numerous migrants, but there were also good numbers of Black-headed Grosbeaks, Lazuli Buntings, flycatchers, warblers, orioles, etc moving through. The canyon is oriented roughly ENE-WSW in this area, and the birds were moving downcanyon, heading west-southwest. We are not sure where exactly the birds were coming from locally. I visit this area on and off, and certainly did not expect to see these many migrants -- not only good numbers, but also sustained movement all morning. It is likely that the numbers, time of movement and direction were all heavily influenced by weather conditions today. I haven't heard of any reports from Bear Divide (to our west) from today, but they may have been socked in. In any case, I encourage visiting chaparral habitat in the foothills in the spring -- good things may happen!
There were also several birds setting up for nesting season and even some juveniles out already, and the most thrilling encounter for most participants on the hike was when we witnessed aerial food exchange between a pair of Peregrine Falcons that is probably nesting in the canyon.
