Date: 8/20/26 2:13 pm From: lavin_fara via groups.io <pdunten...> Subject: [southbaybirds] California Bird Atlas - Birds Feeding Young
I wasn't expecting to get many breeding confirmations for the California Bird Atlas on 19 Aug and was pleasantly surprised to see American Goldfinches feeding young and a bedraggled Ash-throated Flycatcher feeding its sharp-looking fledgling along the section of Coyote Creek trail near Ogier Ponds. With the Goldfinches, I didn't see anything in the adult's bill, which fits with their method of feeding. As the Birds of the World account notes, "All food is provided in form of a sticky, semi-solid mass primarily of seeds, regurgitated by parents . . ."
Looking at the Atlas results so far, I can see there are many fun adventures awaiting. We have confirmations for Bullock's Oriole in Santa Clara county (and not San Mateo county). We don't have any observations of Carrying Nesting material or Nest Building, and it would be so fun to see a nest being weaved. It would also be great to have those observations with dates, to see if the timing of nesting is shifting relative to previous atlas efforts.
Another awesome opportunity is getting out at night to listen for Marbled Murrelets in San Mateo or Santa Cruz county parks. It wasn't until late July that reports came in from two blocks, and Murrelets should be present in many more.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
