Date: 3/4/26 11:54 am From: Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Fw: a tribute to Jim Pike
Forwarding to the list serve at Jon's request
I learned of Jim's passing from Richard Erickson who wrote to me while I was in Thailand in late February. Needless to say I was shocked and greatly saddened.
I first became aware of Jim through a juvenile Black-billed Cuckoo he found in Huntington Beach on 4 October 1989. I was fortunate enough to see the bird the day after it was found on 5 October. It is only one of two that I have seen in California. While I remember the cuckoo I can't remember if Jim was there on the 5th. Later that fall, a Field Sparrow, the 2nd for California, was found at the west side of Irvine Regional Park by Jeff and Becky Boyd. I was overseas and by the time I returned in mid-December it had already moved on, or so it was thought. But, it was re-found by Jim early in January on the east side of Irvine Regional Park. He found it on the 5th and I managed to eventually see it on the 6th with help from Brian Daniels and Doug Willick. I was grateful to Jim for re-finding it. Memories of birding experiences dim over the decades, but that one and my gratitude to Jim remain firmly "present" for me. I eventually thanked Jim personally. Not unexpectedly, he was nonplussed, and that made me smile.
I can't say I frequently birded with Jim over the decades but was certainly aware of his many ornithological contributions. As others have commented, although Jim is principally known from Orange County and the Prado Basin just to the east, he regularly made sojourns with Kim to the eastern California deserts in Inyo County where they made many important bird discoveries. I knew him better through his three terms on the CBRC. Jim was a thoughtful, steady, and important member of the CBRC. I didn't always agree with Jim, but he delivered his written views with clarity and civility. This carried over into the annual Committee meetings.
Interestingly, it was at one of these meetings that I will most remember Jim. He had a personal gift for me, a book he had just read. It was about the Mexican War of 1846-1848. It was written by Amy S. Greenberg (published by Vintage Books in 2012) and was titled "A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. invasion of Mexico." Jim must have known of my interest in history and thought this book in particular would be of interest to me. Indeed it was. I've read it several times and I use it as a text for a birds and history field trip I do in connection with the Rio Grande Birding Festival which takes place in Harlingen, Texas. Greenburg's book is more about the cultural and political history, less on the military history. In the book it extensively quotes a little known anti-war speech by a little known new Whig congressman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's speech, delivered on the House floor on 12 January 1848 ripped into the false pretext for the war. His mentor, Henry Clay, was also against the war. In the short term Lincoln's speech was used against him. He was not re-elected to Congress in the next election, and failed in his Senate bid against Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. I knew nothing previously of Lincoln's early 1848 speech. The political pundit and Lincoln admirer, William Kristol, did know about it and sent me a short note stating it was one of the best anti-war speeches ever delivered. When I read the excerpts from Greenberg's book of Lincoln's speech during the trip, I think of Jim. I have purchased several copies of the book to send to friends as gifts and purchased an extra copy for myself in case I should misplace it!
Jim spent much of his time birding away from the broader birding community but his colleagues within the CBRC, the environmental community and his closer birding friends know of his many significant contributions to California field ornithology. He will be greatly missed.
Date: 3/3/26 1:44 pm From: Kaaren Perry via groups.io <surfbird1...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
I join the many birders both OC and beyond that are deeply saddened by Jim's passing Despite my moving out of the area we had kept in touch via emails over the past years often prompted by a bird question of mine, a comment to him about one of his posts on OCBirding and sometimes just to say "hi". Last message of his to me was happily telling me of his and Kim's plans for his rapidly approaching retirement.
I have many wonderful memories of Jim as he shared his thoughts, wisdom, and extensive bird knowledge over the years. I remember asking him many years ago how he found so many rarities in OC. His reply was that he just looked for green spots on the map! He has left a big hole in the birding community.
My sincere condolences to Kim, family and friends,
Date: 3/2/26 3:59 pm From: Sherry Meddick via groups.io <wrennietwoburd64.p4...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Situation with Long Canyon Road/Blue Jay Campground/Falcon Campground
Was just at a USFS volunteer meeting and the new Ranger discussed the situation post Airport Fire in regard to these areas a little bit. Wanted to give you a couple heads-ups.
1. Both Falcon AND Blue Jay will remain closed for a while. They are still contracting for danger/dead tree removal which as I understand it will extend to late summer early fall at least. He said there are a lot of trees to be removed. Heartbreaking. You are not/will not be allowed to even walk in these areas. Since I have yet to go to these areas post fire, I cannot say what remains of the area except I know the loss was VERY severe. I really don't know what would be open (including the various trails) when they open. They will announce it.
2. In regard to Long Canyon Road (which many take to get to Blue Jay/Falcon), it MAY open in May if the weather holds and it isn't a wet late spring. I think the target date was the 23rd, but as I understand it, it could be a bit earlier. They will publicize it and I will also let you know.
3. The Main Divide Road to Santiago Peak is closed. It WAS open from Indian TT (E side of mountain entrance) but the road is in such bad shape, they will be closing it. Right now there is NO access to the Trabuco District north of Ortega from anywhere on the mountain's east side. The only way to get in/out by car is Maple Springs. One can reach the very trashed Santiago Peak and continue along the Divide to Indian, but you have to turn around and go back so no point. So for most of you, you will want to go no farther than the seep at Big Cone Springs (which is where Dead Man's Curve II is located ... that's where all the speeders who lose control end up down deep in the canyon there so don't be surprised when you see a lot of dead vehicles down there).
4. After a long hiatus, USFS opened the Upper San Juan Campground, though it is closing in April/May for additional work. So, call the Ranger's office ahead should you chose to go. I have not been over there yet but heard it was nice. Not sure what that means, but I guess I will find out one way or other when I go. It's along a riparian corridor if memory serves so might be an interesting spot.
And a quick note about Holy Jim. Nothing is open. After fires in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022, the place is nuked (the Ranger's words). In total, HJ and surrounding areas represent about 50K burned acres. I've absolutely no idea when this area will reopen. I guess the word "nuked" blocked most of what the Ranger said thereafter.
The road condition on Maple Springs is probably the worst I have seen in 10 years so my advice: don't even consider it if you have a low vehicle.
Date: 3/2/26 12:06 am From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Jim Pike's passing is an enormous blow to birding and conservation both in
Orange County and California. The number of rarities he casually found each
year was astounding, and he had a meticulous attention to detail regarding
bird plumages that he demonstrated time and again through photo analysis of
birds both he and others found. I relied on his expert eye many times when
I was our NAB compiler to help tell birds apart or, contrarily, tell when
the same birds were moving around to different locations.
Jim and I emailed each other a lot over the years, but we only actually met
in person twice since Jim, like me, liked to keep to himself when out
birding in his later years. Back in 2017 I asked Jim if he'd be willing to
help me learn more about Least Bell's Vireo nesting habits and he very
graciously met me out at the Prado Wetlands and took me around for half a
day visiting vireo territories and giving me a behind the scenes tour. He
was especially excited to show me where he had found through his seasonal
work that the exact same vireo nest had been built upon and reused three
years in a row. The following year he sent me a cryptic email asking if I
wanted to see a rare bird he had just found earlier that day, which he then
showed me the next day. This was of course the Tropical Parula that Jim
amazingly found while wandering around in an apartment complex in
Huntington Beach. Doug Willick used to say that Jim's pishing was
deafeningly loud and that his ability to pull in birds from across parks
due to his loud pishing was legendary.
Jim and I found another thing we had in common, and that was our taste in
music. I once complimented him on a T-shirt he was wearing in a CBRC photo
<https://californiabirds.org/CBRCmembers2014.htmla> that had the cover of
the 1980s band The Replacements' album "Let It Be," which then resulted in
many musical exchanges between us. In a rebuttal of "Clapton is God," Jim
once told me that he wasn't sure if God was actually Paul Westerberg (The
Replacements), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), or Pete Townshend (The Who).
Orange County birding, and California birding in general, won't be the same
without Jim's regular contributions to its records, nor his consciousness
about and passion for protecting its birds and their habitats. Thank you,
Jim, for everything you taught me in the time we knew each other, and in
the words of Mr. Westerberg:
If I don't see you
In a long, long while
I'll try to find you
Left of the Dial
On Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 5:51 PM Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster=
<earthlink.net...> wrote:
> Orange County birders and beyond,
>
>
>
> It is with great sadness and heartbreak that I share that Jim Pike passed
> away on February 17, following his diagnosis less than a month before with
> an aggressive cancer. Though Jim was a respected member of the Orange
> County birding community for over 40 years, many will know him only through
> his posts to the OC Birding list serve, where he reported a steady stream
> of rarities, and regularly urged community action to save our park and
> neighborhood trees and plant cover from excessive pruning and removal. Jim,
> with his life partner Kim, moved to Huntington Beach from Wisconsin in
> 1983. Soon after Jim began his OC birding career. His impact was immediate
> with locals asking, “Who is the “new kid on a bike” who keeps reporting
> rare birds?” Shortly thereafter Jim was fully integrated with the area’s
> avid birders.
>
>
>
> Jim was very keen in the field and has a string of “County Firsts” to his
> credit. An incomplete list includes Mississippi Kite and Black-billed
> Cuckoo in 1989, Sedge Wren in 1991, Streak-backed Oriole in 1996, plus a
> Tropical Parula in 2018, the latter being the first state record for
> California. Jim found all these birds in Huntington Beach by concentrating
> his efforts within a limited geographic area and exploring it in depth. In
> the 1990s and early 2000s Jim joined with a small contingent of California
> birders who were exploring the Baja California Peninsula. He and I traveled
> there together in October 1986 where we stumbled upon an Olive-backed Pipit
> - a First Record for Mexico - in Catavina, a small palm oasis and rancho
> in the mid-peninsula portion of Baja. We spotted it independently, but only
> Jim knew instantly what it was. In time, Jim’s skill in bird finding and
> identification were acknowledged statewide, leading to his election to
> multiple terms as a member of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC).
>
>
>
> The late, great Loren Hays was instrumental in recognizing Jim’s skills
> and talent as a naturalist and encouraged Jim to turn his avocation into a
> career. Starting as a seasonal biologist, and later as an independent
> consultant, Jim worked for 36 seasons with various agencies including the
> Orange County Water District, studying the Prado Basin population of
> endangered Least Bell’s Vireos. While the number of vireos nesting there
> varied from year to year, their increase likely made the Prado population a
> major source of fledglings that colonized rehabilitated riparian habitat
> throughout Southern California in subsequent years. Jim’s success there,
> both in monitoring and implementing recovery strategies certainly stands
> as one of his most significant achievements.
>
>
>
> Jim’s work with the vireos was seasonal, and he and Kim took full
> advantage of the offseason. They traveled widely throughout the western
> states, often camping in offroad areas that gave them access to remote
> desert and mountain areas. At home Jim and Kim nurtured multiple
> “fur-children”, a dog and multiple indoor cats, as well as some feathered
> ones.
>
>
>
> As a friend and fellow birder, thank you, Jim Pike, for all you
> accomplished in conservation and for all you shared with the community
> birding. You are greatly missed.
>
>
>
> Tom Wurster
>
> Garden Grove
>
>
Date: 3/1/26 8:15 pm From: John Green via groups.io <bewickwren...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Tom,
Sad news indeed. I will miss Jim. He was one of the good guys in birding. My condolences to family and friends.
John Green
From: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> On Behalf Of Thomas Wurster via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2026 5:52 PM
To: OCBirding <OrangeCountyBirding...>
Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Orange County birders and beyond,
It is with great sadness and heartbreak that I share that Jim Pike passed away on February 17, following his diagnosis less than a month before with an aggressive cancer. Though Jim was a respected member of the Orange County birding community for over 40 years, many will know him only through his posts to the OC Birding list serve, where he reported a steady stream of rarities, and regularly urged community action to save our park and neighborhood trees and plant cover from excessive pruning and removal. Jim, with his life partner Kim, moved to Huntington Beach from Wisconsin in 1983. Soon after Jim began his OC birding career. His impact was immediate with locals asking, “Who is the “new kid on a bike” who keeps reporting rare birds?” Shortly thereafter Jim was fully integrated with the area’s avid birders.
Jim was very keen in the field and has a string of “County Firsts” to his credit. An incomplete list includes Mississippi Kite and Black-billed Cuckoo in 1989, Sedge Wren in 1991, Streak-backed Oriole in 1996, plus a Tropical Parula in 2018, the latter being the first state record for California. Jim found all these birds in Huntington Beach by concentrating his efforts within a limited geographic area and exploring it in depth. In the 1990s and early 2000s Jim joined with a small contingent of California birders who were exploring the Baja California Peninsula. He and I traveled there together in October 1986 where we stumbled upon an Olive-backed Pipit - a First Record for Mexico - in Catavina, a small palm oasis and rancho in the mid-peninsula portion of Baja. We spotted it independently, but only Jim knew instantly what it was. In time, Jim’s skill in bird finding and identification were acknowledged statewide, leading to his election to multiple terms as a member of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC).
The late, great Loren Hays was instrumental in recognizing Jim’s skills and talent as a naturalist and encouraged Jim to turn his avocation into a career. Starting as a seasonal biologist, and later as an independent consultant, Jim worked for 36 seasons with various agencies including the Orange County Water District, studying the Prado Basin population of endangered Least Bell’s Vireos. While the number of vireos nesting there varied from year to year, their increase likely made the Prado population a major source of fledglings that colonized rehabilitated riparian habitat throughout Southern California in subsequent years. Jim’s success there, both in monitoring and implementing recovery strategies certainly stands as one of his most significant achievements.
Jim’s work with the vireos was seasonal, and he and Kim took full advantage of the offseason. They traveled widely throughout the western states, often camping in offroad areas that gave them access to remote desert and mountain areas. At home Jim and Kim nurtured multiple “fur-children”, a dog and multiple indoor cats, as well as some feathered ones.
As a friend and fellow birder, thank you, Jim Pike, for all you accomplished in conservation and for all you shared with the community birding. You are greatly missed.
Date: 3/1/26 6:17 pm From: Jacksnipe via groups.io <wahooking...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Tom and all,
I am deeply saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a birder that I profoundly respected for his depth of birding knowledge and his ability to find rare birds in OC. I guess the two birds that jump out to me that were found by Jim are the OC first and only Tropical Parula, and of course the famous Nutting’s Flycatcher at Mason Reg Park in Irvine. I also enjoyed reading his inland county birding posts about his Mojave birding adventures, and rare birds that would show up at the Prado basin. My deepest condolences to Kim and the rest of Jim’s family. RIP
Date: 3/1/26 5:51 pm From: Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Orange County birders and beyond,
It is with great sadness and heartbreak that I share that Jim Pike passed away on February 17, following his diagnosis less than a month before with an aggressive cancer. Though Jim was a respected member of the Orange County birding community for over 40 years, many will know him only through his posts to the OC Birding list serve, where he reported a steady stream of rarities, and regularly urged community action to save our park and neighborhood trees and plant cover from excessive pruning and removal. Jim, with his life partner Kim, moved to Huntington Beach from Wisconsin in 1983. Soon after Jim began his OC birding career. His impact was immediate with locals asking, “Who is the “new kid on a bike” who keeps reporting rare birds?” Shortly thereafter Jim was fully integrated with the area’s avid birders.
Jim was very keen in the field and has a string of “County Firsts” to his credit. An incomplete list includes Mississippi Kite and Black-billed Cuckoo in 1989, Sedge Wren in 1991, Streak-backed Oriole in 1996, plus a Tropical Parula in 2018, the latter being the first state record for California. Jim found all these birds in Huntington Beach by concentrating his efforts within a limited geographic area and exploring it in depth. In the 1990s and early 2000s Jim joined with a small contingent of California birders who were exploring the Baja California Peninsula. He and I traveled there together in October 1986 where we stumbled upon an Olive-backed Pipit - a First Record for Mexico - in Catavina, a small palm oasis and rancho in the mid-peninsula portion of Baja. We spotted it independently, but only Jim knew instantly what it was. In time, Jim’s skill in bird finding and identification were acknowledged statewide, leading to his election to multiple terms as a member of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC).
The late, great Loren Hays was instrumental in recognizing Jim’s skills and talent as a naturalist and encouraged Jim to turn his avocation into a career. Starting as a seasonal biologist, and later as an independent consultant, Jim worked for 36 seasons with various agencies including the Orange County Water District, studying the Prado Basin population of endangered Least Bell’s Vireos. While the number of vireos nesting there varied from year to year, their increase likely made the Prado population a major source of fledglings that colonized rehabilitated riparian habitat throughout Southern California in subsequent years. Jim’s success there, both in monitoring and implementing recovery strategies certainly stands as one of his most significant achievements.
Jim’s work with the vireos was seasonal, and he and Kim took full advantage of the offseason. They traveled widely throughout the western states, often camping in offroad areas that gave them access to remote desert and mountain areas. At home Jim and Kim nurtured multiple “fur-children”, a dog and multiple indoor cats, as well as some feathered ones.
As a friend and fellow birder, thank you, Jim Pike, for all you accomplished in conservation and for all you shared with the community birding. You are greatly missed.
Date: 3/1/26 12:58 pm From: borodayko via groups.io <adboro...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Western Cattle-Egret
I was at Bolsa Chica this morning, Sun Mar 1, and found the Western Cattle-Egret along the PCH trail near the Heron/Egret Roosting Site. It was foraging along the trail. I posted a photo in the Waders photo album.
Date: 3/1/26 11:07 am From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Crested Caracara posted on SoCAl BIrding facebook page today 2/28/26 in Huntington Beach
Our previous two accepted records of this species in Orange County were
both flyovers. The first bird was seen flying over two different areas (Los
Cerritos Wetlands and then later that day San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary)
and the second bird was seen flying over Santiago Oaks Regional Park. A
third bird was reported flying over Upper Newport Bay but was never
submitted to the CBRC. To my knowledge this Magnolia Wetlands bird is the
first caracara that has even been seen on the ground in Orange County.
On Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 10:57 AM Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Just in case anyone is in Huntington, this Caracara was reported by
> Michael Karal (he said I could share his photos).
> Obviously he did not post. This is now 23 hours ago as of 1030 today.
> Are this usually one-minute wonders or do they tend to hang around when
> out of range?
>
> "HB field by Magnolia wetlands. Flew off hunting."
> Banning/Magnolia Park
> [image: image.png]
>
> On Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 5:28 PM Dawn Garcia <avifan59...> wrote:
>
>> Did anyone see this post with 2 very good photos of a Crested Caracara
>> posted 6 hours ago on SoCal Birding Facebook Page? Saturday 11:04 am.
>>
>> "HB field by Magnolia wetlands. Flew off hunting."
>> Banning/Magnolia Park
>> There were 394 likes
>>
>> Apparently not posted on EBirdI
>> I'm just home from work
>>
>> Dawn Garcia
>> Dana Point
>>
>>
>> *"when I walk with nature, my joy is full, my soul is free!"*
>> Lola
>>
>
>
> --
> Dawn
>
>
> *"when I walk with nature, my joy is full, my soul is free!"*
> Lola
>
> --
> Dawn Garcia
> Dana Point
>
>
>
Date: 3/1/26 10:57 am From: Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Crested Caracara posted on SoCAl BIrding facebook page today 2/28/26 in Huntington Beach
Just in case anyone is in Huntington, this Caracara was reported by
Michael Karal (he said I could share his photos).
Obviously he did not post. This is now 23 hours ago as of 1030 today.
Are this usually one-minute wonders or do they tend to hang around when out
of range?
"HB field by Magnolia wetlands. Flew off hunting."
Banning/Magnolia Park
[image: image.png]
On Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 5:28 PM Dawn Garcia <avifan59...> wrote:
> Did anyone see this post with 2 very good photos of a Crested Caracara
> posted 6 hours ago on SoCal Birding Facebook Page? Saturday 11:04 am.
>
> "HB field by Magnolia wetlands. Flew off hunting."
> Banning/Magnolia Park
> There were 394 likes
>
> Apparently not posted on EBirdI
> I'm just home from work
>
> Dawn Garcia
> Dana Point
>
>
> *"when I walk with nature, my joy is full, my soul is free!"*
> Lola
>
--
Dawn
*"when I walk with nature, my joy is full, my soul is free!"*
Lola
Date: 3/1/26 10:13 am From: Gisele Schoene via groups.io <giseleschoene...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Crested Caracara posted on SoCAl BIrding facebook page today 2/28/26 in Huntington Beach
I looked for the caracara for a couple of hours without success.
Gisele Schoene
Costa Mesa
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> on behalf of Yui Reynolds via groups.io <yui.reynolds...>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2026 6:28:25 PM
To: <avifan59...> <avifan59...>
Cc: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...>
Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Crested Caracara posted on SoCAl BIrding facebook page today 2/28/26 in Huntington Beach
Yes, I saw this post. Everyone was asking date/time/location. But it doesn't look like it's reported on ebird.
Yui Reynolds
Irvine
On Feb 28, 2026, at 5:28 PM, Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59...> wrote:
Did anyone see this post with 2 very good photos of a Crested Caracara posted 6 hours ago on SoCal Birding Facebook Page? Saturday 11:04 am.
"HB field by Magnolia wetlands. Flew off hunting."
Banning/Magnolia Park
There were 394 likes
Apparently not posted on EBirdI
I'm just home from work
Dawn Garcia
Dana Point
"when I walk with nature, my joy is full, my soul is free!"
Lola
Date: 3/1/26 7:49 am From: Gisele Schoene via groups.io <giseleschoene...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Crested Caracara posted on SoCAl BIrding facebook page today 2/28/26 in Huntington Beach
Good morning!
Anybody trying to relocate the caracara?
Gisele Schoene
Costa Mesa
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> on behalf of Yui Reynolds via groups.io <yui.reynolds...>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2026 6:28:25 PM
To: <avifan59...> <avifan59...>
Cc: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...>
Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Crested Caracara posted on SoCAl BIrding facebook page today 2/28/26 in Huntington Beach
Yes, I saw this post. Everyone was asking date/time/location. But it doesn't look like it's reported on ebird.
Yui Reynolds
Irvine
On Feb 28, 2026, at 5:28 PM, Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59...> wrote:
Did anyone see this post with 2 very good photos of a Crested Caracara posted 6 hours ago on SoCal Birding Facebook Page? Saturday 11:04 am.
"HB field by Magnolia wetlands. Flew off hunting."
Banning/Magnolia Park
There were 394 likes
Apparently not posted on EBirdI
I'm just home from work
Dawn Garcia
Dana Point
"when I walk with nature, my joy is full, my soul is free!"
Lola
Date: 2/28/26 10:27 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: February 28, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* February 28, 2026
* CAOC26.02.28
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Bald Eagle
*CRESTED CARACARA*
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Cassin’s Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Brown Creeper
Grasshopper Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
this week, as well as at Tri-City Regional Park in Placentia and the San
Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine.
At least one immature LITTLE BLUE HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve in Huntington Beach through February 28.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through February 28.
A BALD EAGLE continued on the coast at Huntington Central Park in
Huntington Beach on February 28.
A *CRESTED CARACARA* was photographed apparently in a grassy field in the
vicinity of the Magnolia Wetlands in Huntington Beach on February 28.
A HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER was possibly continuing in Hiltscher Park in
Fullerton on February 24.
A CASSIN’S VIREO was at Riverdale Park in Anaheim on February 28.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO continued at Pepperwood Park in Irvine on February 22.
A BROWN CREEPER was in the pine trees at the north end of Campus Village at
UCI on February 26.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS continued wintering at Quail Hill Preserve in Irvine
through February 26.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continued in residential Buena Park on February 23.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in residential Rancho Santa Margarita on
February 22.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was reported from residential Laguna Woods on
February 22.
A NORTHERN PARULA continued at Huntington Central Park West in Huntington
Beach on February 23.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach on
February 25.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER continued at Brenner Park in Buena Park
through February 28.
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was at Riverdale Park in Anaheim from
February 22 through February 28.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Ryan Winkleman separately for consideration to be mentioned in
the current quarterly report for North American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
Information regarding upcoming local events should be considered accurate
at the time of this posting. However, for the most current information
please refer to the field trip list on the Sea and Sage Audubon website at
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/. It is also recommended that you
refer to that website immediately prior to engaging in any field trip to
confirm that trips are still occurring. If you know of additional upcoming
events that are not sponsored directly by Sea and Sage Audubon, please
email Ryan Winkleman for inclusion. #RBA
Date: 2/23/26 12:28 pm From: Cassandra and Xavier via groups.io <xaviandra14...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Distressed pelican at San Joaquin
Thank you Charles for calling animal control. If you can, please call *Wetlands
and Wildlife Care Center* at *(714) 374-5587* to notify them about
the pelican. While they can't pick up the pelican from the field, they do
rehabilitate pelicans and animal control can drive the pelican to their
facility.
More info: https://www.wwccoc.org/found-an-animal.html
Thank you for taking the time to help,
Cassandra Margitan
On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 11:24 AM Charles Baker via groups.io <baker2575=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hi all:
>
> This morning at San Joaquin my wife and I came across an American white
> pelican with a Rapala-type fishing lure stuck in its beak. The pelican was
> on Pond B, near the usual roost of the yellow-crowned night heron (the
> night heron was also present at the time). As we were leaving, an Animal
> Control officer arrived to assist the pelican. I'm not sure how the
> officer planned to capture the bird, since it was situated a fair distance
> from shore, but hopefully he knew what he was doing and was successful in
> his efforts.
>
> Also of interest were three Northern Pintail ducks on Pond E.
>
> Here's a link to the unfortunate pelican and his night heron neighbor.
>
> Charles Baker
> Tustin
>
> Poor pelican | American white pelican with fishing lure in i… | Flickr
> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/50296680@N06/55112406671/in/dateposted/> >
>
>
Date: 2/23/26 11:24 am From: Charles Baker via groups.io <baker2575...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Distressed pelican at San Joaquin
Hi all:
This morning at San Joaquin my wife and I came across an American white pelican with a Rapala-type fishing lure stuck in its beak. The pelican was on Pond B, near the usual roost of the yellow-crowned night heron (the night heron was also present at the time). As we were leaving, an Animal Control officer arrived to assist the pelican. I'm not sure how the officer planned to capture the bird, since it was situated a fair distance from shore, but hopefully he knew what he was doing and was successful in his efforts.
Also of interest were three Northern Pintail ducks on Pond E.
Here's a link to the unfortunate pelican and his night heron neighbor.
Date: 2/23/26 8:48 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Rose-breasted Rosebeak at Riverdale Park
Jason Ketcham saw the bird, and we were able to follow it through the tree before it flew into the bushes in the Kaiser lot where we lost it.
It was in the same tree as reported yesterday by Amanda Gaskin.
33.853924, -117.818552. Large euc with two trunks that start at base.
Edana Salisbury and Jason Ketcham
Buena Park and Orange
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
Date: 2/21/26 11:59 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: February 21, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* February 21, 2026
* CAOC26.02.21
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
“American” Oystercatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
Zone-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Bell’s Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Vesper Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
An AMERICAN-type OYSTERCATCHER continued along the coast, this time at Dana
Point Harbor, through February 19.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
this week, as well as at Tri-City Regional Park in Placentia and Centennial
Regional Park in Santa Ana.
At least one immature LITTLE BLUE HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve in Huntington Beach through February 21.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through February 21. Another was reportedly continuing in
the lower Santa Ana River on February 14.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through February 15.
A BALD EAGLE continued on the coast at Huntington Central Park in
Huntington Beach on February 20.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was over Irvine Regional Park in Orange on February 21.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continued at Tustin Heritage Park in Tustin
through February 21.
A wintering BELL’S VIREO continued at the Fullerton Arboretum in Fullerton
on February 14.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO continued at Tustin Heritage Park in Tustin through
February 18. Another was at Centennial Regional Park in Santa Ana on
February 17, another was at Killefer Park in Orange on February 14, and
another was at Woodbury Community Park in Irvine on February 18. Btw, Loren
Wright is really knocking it out of the park finding rarities at little
hole-in-the-wall places in North County. More people should be covering
neighborhood parks and areas that are getting little to no coverage.
VESPER SPARROWS continued at Irvine Regional Park in Orange through
February 15. Another was in Limestone Canyon on February 14.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at Pepperwood Park in Irvine through February
18, while another continued at Emery Park in Fullerton on February 19.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was reported from residential Laguna Beach on
February 14.
A NORTHERN PARULA continued at Manzanita Park in Cypress on February 21.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Rossmoor Park in Rossmoor on February
20.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER continued at Brenner Park in Buena Park
through February 21.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
BIRDING WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
Sylvia Gallagher’s Learning More California Land Birds Workshop will be
starting in March. Registration doesn’t open until March 2 so I will post
the link when it gets closer!
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Ryan Winkleman separately for consideration to be mentioned in
the current quarterly report for North American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
Information regarding upcoming local events should be considered accurate
at the time of this posting. However, for the most current information
please refer to the field trip list on the Sea and Sage Audubon website at
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/. It is also recommended that you
refer to that website immediately prior to engaging in any field trip to
confirm that trips are still occurring. If you know of additional upcoming
events that are not sponsored directly by Sea and Sage Audubon, please
email Ryan Winkleman for inclusion. #RBA
Date: 2/18/26 8:42 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Black-throated Green Warbler continues at Brenner Park in Buena Park
The bird was out in view in the same ficus tree where it has been seen in the past – last tree east along the sound wall when coming from the west. 33.855573, -118.025887
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
at Irvine ranch historic park/katie wheeler library. Found on Friday, revisit today. Still there.
On right side of the property once you enter the gate. Open till 5pm today.
Spotted a Black-and-White warbler foraging in our pineapple guava bush that is right outside our kitchen window. Observed within about 2 to 3 feet for about 2 minutes. Clear black-and-white warbler markings with white median head stripe and typical nuthatch style of foraging. My phone or camera were not handy at the time.
Date: 2/14/26 2:54 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: February 14, 2026
Happy Valentine's Day!
* California
* Orange County
* February 14, 2026
* CAOC26.02.14
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Tropical Kingbird
Plumbeous Vireo
Grasshopper Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Scott’s Oriole
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Pine Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
this week, as well as at Tri-City Regional Park in Placentia and Centennial
Regional Park in Santa Ana.
At least one immature LITTLE BLUE HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve in Huntington Beach through February 13, with one report of both
immature birds together again.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through February 13.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through February 13.
A BALD EAGLE continued on the coast at Huntington Central Park in
Huntington Beach on February 9.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continued at Tustin Heritage Park in Tustin
through February 13.
An EASTERN PHOEBE continued still at Overlook Park/Harriett Wieder Regional
Park in Huntington Beach on February 12.
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through February 11.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO continued at Bart Spendlove Memorial Park in Mission
Viejo on February 8, while another continued at Tustin Heritage Park in
Tustin through February 14 and yet another was at Columbus Tustin Park in
Tustin on February 8.
Multiple wintering GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS continued at Quail Hill in Irvine.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continued at O’Neill Regional Park in Rancho Santa
Margarita through February 12, while another continued in residential
Orange on February 14.
A VESPER SPARROW was reported from Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on February 13.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at Pepperwood Park in Irvine through February
13, while another was at Bart Spendlove Memorial Park in Mission Viejo on
February 7 and 8.
A SCOTT’S ORIOLE continued at the Ramakrishna Monastery in Trabuco Canyon
through February 8.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach
through February 9.
An immature female PINE WARBLER continued at Good Shepherd Cemetery in
Huntington Beach through February 8.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER was at Brenner Park in Buena Park on
February 13 and 14.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
BIRDING WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
Sylvia Gallagher’s Learning More California Land Birds Workshop will be
starting in March. Registration doesn’t open until March 2 so I will post
the link when it gets closer!
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Ryan Winkleman separately for consideration to be mentioned in
the current quarterly report for North American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
Information regarding upcoming local events should be considered accurate
at the time of this posting. However, for the most current information
please refer to the field trip list on the Sea and Sage Audubon website at
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/. It is also recommended that you
refer to that website immediately prior to engaging in any field trip to
confirm that trips are still occurring. If you know of additional upcoming
events that are not sponsored directly by Sea and Sage Audubon, please
email Ryan Winkleman for inclusion. #RBA
Date: 2/14/26 10:29 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Black-throated Green Warbler at Brenner Park,Buena Park
This morning at around 8:20, Jason Ketcham signaled us that he had the bird in the large ficus where Jonathan Rowley initially saw it. We lost it, although even I could hear at least two of its calls. At about 850 or so it returned to the top of the same tree where we saw it at the very top a couple times and before it disappeared again. There are still several of us here looking.
By the way, the tree involved is more on the west side of the park. Coming from the West most tree along the sound wall and going east, it is the huge one just before a large break with only sound wall and one tiny little tree showing. 33.855709, -118.025932
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
Date: 2/13/26 6:10 pm From: JonathanRowley via groups.io <jonathan.james...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Probable Black-throated Green Warbler
This morning and around midday again, there was a bird that I think is most likely a Black-throated Green Warbler at Bremmer Park in Buena Park. The bird has not been cooperative as a rule, and I link to my initial checklist below for my notes...
Date: 2/13/26 5:07 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Using eBird to plan a trip
This topic is not about birds or birding in Orange County, so I have closed this thread. If you have suggestions for the original poster, please reply directly to him and not to the listserv. Thank you.Tom BensonCo-moderator, OrangeCountyBirding -------- Original message --------From: "David Ornellas via groups.io" <davidornellas...> Date: 2/13/26 4:52 PM (GMT-08:00) To: <OrangeCountyBirding...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] [CALBIRDS] Using eBird to plan a trip Hi Chuck,Just use chatgpt. I just asked it to find me probable locations for a prothonotary wabler at the end of April in Omaha. Just follow up with verification but this is a really good way to get started. You can give dates and locations and it will plan an itinerary for you. If you really want to go all out you can link your ebird life list then tell it to plan a trip in Omaha to maximize species you have not seen before by location. It can generate a PDF with tick boxes for species. It will list each one and can even generate habitat and behaviors. If you were just to respond "yes" at the end it would pull all the live/recent accounts (in chatgpt). here is the output:Here’s a solid likely list of eBird hotspots and good birding places where you could realistically expect to find Prothonotary Warbler in late April around Omaha, Nebraska — note that in Nebraska this species is a rare but regular spring migrant in the Missouri River Valley and reports tend to cluster in riparian, bottomland forest, and wooded wetland habitats. �Birds of Nebraska +1🌳 eBird Hotspots & Top Birding Areas (Omaha Metro & Nearby)Fontenelle Forest – Classic hotspot for warblers and bottomland forest species; prothonotary warblers have been reported here. �eBird hotspot likely: “Fontenelle Forest” (check eBird for latest L-codes & recent sightings)WikipediaNeale Woods Nature Center – Adjacent wooded preserve north of Omaha with good migrant songbird activity (part of Fontenelle Forest system). �eBird hotspot: check “Neale Woods”WikipediaChalco Hills Recreation Area – Mixed woods and wetlands just outside Omaha; may attract migrating warblers in April. �eBird hotspot: “Chalco Hills Recreation Area”Learn Bird WatchingZorinsky Lake Park – Large urban park with wetlands and wooded edges which often host spring migrants. �eBird hotspot: “Zorinsky Lake Park”WikipediaLocal Urban Green Spaces – Small wooded parks like Towl Park and Walnut Grove Park in Omaha see warblers during migration, according to local birders. �eBird hotspots: search these namesReddit🐦 Broader Habitat Spots (Worth a Side Trip)If you’d like to broaden the radius around Omaha for a targeted prothonotary search in late April–early May:Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge – River woods and side channels along the Missouri; excellent for migrants.Check: eBird hotspot “Boyer Chute NWR”DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (IA) – Just across the river from Omaha with floodplain forest that attracts warblers.Check: eBird hotspot “DeSoto NWR (Iowa)”📍 Tips for Prothonotary Warbler SeasonTiming: Prothonotary Warblers in Nebraska are most likely right around late April into early May — so your timing is great for migration. �Birds of NebraskaHabitat: Aim for bottomland forest, wooded wetlands, and river edges with standing water/roots — that’s where they forage and nest.Timing of day: Bird activity (especially warblers) peaks early morning or late afternoon.If you want, I can pull current eBird “recent sightings” lists for each of these hotspots for Prothonotary Warbler (with maps of observations) to give you a live sense of where they’re showing up this spring — just let me know!Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer -- David Ornellas,Costa Mesa, CA
Date: 2/13/26 4:52 pm From: David Ornellas via groups.io <davidornellas...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] [CALBIRDS] Using eBird to plan a trip
Hi Chuck,
Just use chatgpt. I just asked it to find me probable locations for a prothonotary wabler at the end of April in Omaha. Just follow up with verification but this is a really good way to get started. You can give dates and locations and it will plan an itinerary for you. If you really want to go all out you can link your ebird life list then tell it to plan a trip in Omaha to maximize species you have not seen before by location. It can generate a PDF with tick boxes for species. It will list each one and can even generate habitat and behaviors. If you were just to respond "yes" at the end it would pull all the live/recent accounts (in chatgpt). here is the output:
Here’s a solid likely list of eBird hotspots and good birding places where you could realistically expect to find Prothonotary Warbler in late April around Omaha, Nebraska — note that in Nebraska this species is a rare but regular spring migrant in the Missouri River Valley and reports tend to cluster in riparian, bottomland forest, and wooded wetland habitats. �Birds of Nebraska +1🌳 eBird Hotspots & Top Birding Areas (Omaha Metro & Nearby)Fontenelle Forest – Classic hotspot for warblers and bottomland forest species; prothonotary warblers have been reported here. �eBird hotspot likely: “Fontenelle Forest” (check eBird for latest L-codes & recent sightings)WikipediaNeale Woods Nature Center – Adjacent wooded preserve north of Omaha with good migrant songbird activity (part of Fontenelle Forest system). �eBird hotspot: check “Neale Woods”WikipediaChalco Hills Recreation Area – Mixed woods and wetlands just outside Omaha; may attract migrating warblers in April. �eBird hotspot: “Chalco Hills Recreation Area”Learn Bird WatchingZorinsky Lake Park – Large urban park with wetlands and wooded edges which often host spring migrants. �eBird hotspot: “Zorinsky Lake Park”WikipediaLocal Urban Green Spaces – Small wooded parks like Towl Park and Walnut Grove Park in Omaha see warblers during migration, according to local birders. �eBird hotspots: search these namesReddit🐦 Broader Habitat Spots (Worth a Side Trip)If you’d like to broaden the radius around Omaha for a targeted prothonotary search in late April–early May:Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge – River woods and side channels along the Missouri; excellent for migrants.Check: eBird hotspot “Boyer Chute NWR”DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (IA) – Just across the river from Omaha with floodplain forest that attracts warblers.Check: eBird hotspot “DeSoto NWR (Iowa)”📍 Tips for Prothonotary Warbler SeasonTiming: Prothonotary Warblers in Nebraska are most likely right around late April into early May — so your timing is great for migration. �Birds of NebraskaHabitat: Aim for bottomland forest, wooded wetlands, and river edges with standing water/roots — that’s where they forage and nest.Timing of day: Bird activity (especially warblers) peaks early morning or late afternoon.
If you want, I can pull current eBird “recent sightings” lists for each of these hotspots for Prothonotary Warbler (with maps of observations) to give you a live sense of where they’re showing up this spring — just let me know!
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
Date: 2/13/26 3:40 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] [CALBIRDS] Using eBird to plan a trip
Ken,
I wholeheartedly disagree:
1. Lots of people are not on Facebook for various reasons. Some of them
ideological.
2. This is another symptom of the extreme balkanization of bird
communications on the internet. This burger who lives in another state does
not have the ability to reach out and join various groups on WhatsApp or
Discord. The only way you can join those groups is first you have to find
out what the heck the name of the group is, and then you have to find
somebody who's willing to let you join the group, and that assumes that
you're able to find somebody to reach out to and ask them to let you know.
I can tell you stories of groups one County over that wouldn't let people
in my County join their group. How do you think they're going to treat
somebody from another state?
Tom Miko
Claremont 91711
909.241.3300
"We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben
Edwards
On Fri, Feb 13, 2026, 3:02 PM Ken Burton via groups.io <shrikethree=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I think this is a question for the eBird community discussion group on
> Facebook, not CALBIRDS.
>
> Ken Burton
> McKinleyville
>
> On Fri, Feb 13, 2026 at 2:07 PM chuck schussman via groups.io <cschussman=
> <icloud.com...> wrote:
>
>> Hi, I am planning a trip to Omaha, Nebraska. Can eBird be used to
>> identify the best places in or around Omaha to find a particular species? I
>> am hoping there is another way to do this other than just clicking on all
>> the flags on the range map... I am imagining that what I want is some way
>> to display a list of all of the sightings of a particular species in a
>> particular county, sorted by location and then by date. Is something like
>> that possible? How do you all use eBird to plan a birding trip?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Chuck Schussman
>> Tustin, California
>>
>>
>>
>
>
About halfway down the page, you will find a link to a video for Steve's presentation to the San Diego Field Ornithologists on how to use BirdView.
Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA
On Friday, February 13th, 2026 at 2:07 PM, chuck schussman via groups.io <cschussman...> wrote:
> Hi, I am planning a trip to Omaha, Nebraska. Can eBird be used to identify the best places in or around Omaha to find a particular species? I am hoping there is another way to do this other than just clicking on all the flags on the range map... I am imagining that what I want is some way to display a list of all of the sightings of a particular species in a particular county, sorted by location and then by date. Is something like that possible? How do you all use eBird to plan a birding trip? > > Thanks! > Chuck Schussman > Tustin, California > >
Date: 2/13/26 1:58 pm From: chuck schussman via groups.io <cschussman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Using eBird to plan a trip
Hi, I am planning a trip to Omaha, Nebraska. Can eBird be used to identify the best places in or around Omaha to find a particular species? I am hoping there is another way to do this other than just clicking on all the flags on the range map... I am imagining that what I want is some way to display a list of all of the sightings of a particular species in a particular county, sorted by location and then by date. Is something like that possible? How do you all use eBird to plan a birding trip? Thanks! Chuck Schussman Tustin, California
Date: 2/12/26 4:22 pm From: vicleipzig via groups.io <vicleipzig...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] possible Black-billed Magpie? in Laguna Niguel
James, Long ago (over thirty years?) there was a Black-billed Magpie in a residential neighborhood in northwest Huntington Beach. Consensus at that time was that it had to be an escapee from captivity (a "pet").
Vic
On Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 08:02:48 AM PST, James Bailey via groups.io <rivierastarsong...> wrote:
Hi all,I may be hallucinating but for parts of the morning while on remote calls at Upper Niguel Ranch Park, I was hearing what sounded strangely like a magpie. At one point the sound came much closer and at least two “laughter” call variants seemed clear to me. I rushed over but the bird was already departing, so no clear look.
One of my meetings picked up the sound in the background, so I will have a recording of poor quality available for review to make sure it wasn’t some weird scrub jay acting up.
The situation occurred around Upper Niguel Ranch Park, generally around the neighbourhood on La Hermosa Avenue. I imagine YBM is quite implausible, so assume it’s probably a pet/ship carry but just in case someone local had interest.I have not heard anything for the past 30 mins.
Cheers,James BaileyLaguna Niguel
Date: 2/12/26 3:38 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] [LACoBirds] The Merlin/Red-winged Blackbird mystery (solved?)
Wow! Thanks for sending this, David!
Tom Miko
Claremont 91711
909.241.3300
"We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben
Edwards
On Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 10:41 AM David Barton <dagnabbit1956...> wrote:
> There has been a study on touching on this subject by researchers at the
> University of North Texas. See
> https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11264047/#:~:text=Utilizing%20the%20Merlin%20Bird%20ID,31%25%20of%20false%20positive%20identifications.
>
> Their conclusion: "Utilizing the Merlin Bird ID application, we found an
> average accuracy rate of ~81.3%, with mockingbirds contributing ~31% of
> false positive identifications."
>
> David Barton
> Sherman Oaks, CA
>
> On Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 10:31:26 AM PST, <tgmiko...> via
> groups.io <tgmiko...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
> This morning, while walking Duke on our daily bird tour of Wheeler Park I
> heard some Red-winged Blackbirds. I did not see any. I also heard and saw
> Starlings. There were no Red-winged Blackbirds. A light bulb went on over
> my head. This weekend I was a cattle lot in the Antelope Valley, where
> there were many hundreds each of Starlings, Brewer's, and Red-winged
> Blackbirds. I suspect that Merlin "hears Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere"
> because it is hearing Starlings imitating Red-winged Blackbirds.
> Last Friday while looking for the Scott's Oriole in Orange County I stood
> there and watched a Northern Mockingbird imitate Cassin's Kingbird and
> White-breasted Nuthatch, and Merlin identified them as said species. I
> wonder if looking at the spectrograms would detect any difference between a
> Mockingbird and the species that it is imitating?
> Up until now I had always assumed that there would be something on the
> spectrogram that gives it away but now I suspect that not to be the case.
> Tom
>
> Tom Miko
> Claremont 91711
> 909.241.3300
> "We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben
> Edwards
>
>
>
>
Date: 2/12/26 10:23 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] The Merlin/Red-winged Blackbird mystery (solved?)
Hi, This morning, while walking Duke on our daily bird tour of Wheeler Park I heard some Red-winged Blackbirds. I did not see any. I also heard and saw Starlings. There were no Red-winged Blackbirds. A light bulb went on over my head. This weekend I was a cattle lot in the Antelope Valley, where there were many hundreds each of Starlings, Brewer's, and Red-winged Blackbirds. I suspect that Merlin "hears Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere" because it is hearing Starlings imitating Red-winged Blackbirds. Last Friday while looking for the Scott's Oriole in Orange County I stood there and watched a Northern Mockingbird imitate Cassin's Kingbird and White-breasted Nuthatch, and Merlin identified them as said species. I wonder if looking at the spectrograms would detect any difference between a Mockingbird and the species that it is imitating? Up until now I had always assumed that there would be something on the spectrogram that gives it away but now I suspect that not to be the case. Tom
Tom Miko Claremont 91711 909.241.3300 "We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
Date: 2/12/26 8:28 am From: James Bailey via groups.io <rivierastarsong...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] possible Black-billed Magpie? in Laguna Niguel
Hi all,
I may be hallucinating but for parts of the morning while on remote calls
at Upper Niguel Ranch Park, I was hearing what sounded strangely like a
magpie. At one point the sound came much closer and at least two “laughter”
call variants seemed clear to me. I rushed over but the bird was already
departing, so no clear look.
One of my meetings picked up the sound in the background, so I will have a
recording of poor quality available for review to make sure it wasn’t some
weird scrub jay acting up.
The situation occurred around Upper Niguel Ranch Park, generally around the
neighbourhood on La Hermosa Avenue. I imagine YBM is quite
implausible, so assume
it’s probably a pet/ship carry but just in case someone local had interest.
I have not heard anything for the past 30 mins.
Date: 2/9/26 8:22 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Hermit Warbler continues in Tustin at Beneta Way and Prospect
Although I couldn’t find it yesterday, the Bakers warbler is still here - around 33.751409, -117.821654.
The pine tree it was in is across the channel from 17802 Lucero Way. I followed it as it hopped around in one tree for quite a while before I lost it.
Still looking.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
Date: 2/8/26 12:34 pm From: Vincent Baker via groups.io <bakerv1996...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Hermit Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo near Columbus Tustin Park (2/8/2026)
Hi bird enthusiasts,
My dad and I checked out a line of pine trees running along a flood control channel near my old middle school. I had a brown creeper here in 2022 while doing a nesting bird survey, so I’ve always suspected this green space can get interesting migrants, but I rarely get a chance to check.
Today was no exception as we had yet another Tustin Plumbeous Vireo (after seeing the continuing PLVI at Tustin Heritage Park) hanging out in those pines, as well as a nice Hermit Warbler near the west edge of the greenbelt (near the intersection of Beneta Way and Prospect Ave). Also several Band-tailed Pigeons in the pines, though those are expected for this area. No creeper today.
Highly encourage more local birders to check this place out; I'm sure there are other good migrants that have and will continue to winter in this area. Just note that the nearby gym and softball fields are very active today so there's lots of activity/not a lot of parking.
--
Vincent Baker
Long Beach, CA
Date: 2/8/26 10:06 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Brown Creeper at Gilman
I re-found the bird that was reported yesterday by Caleb P. It was about here.:
33.9025985, -117.8777044)m in a set of three trees on the south side of the creek when I was on the north side. . I know the bird is shown as being infrequent, but I have found it difficult to find in the past, so I thought I would report it.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
