Newsletter - December 2024
Wild Birds Unlimited - San Diego Events:
Reminder - we are now open at 9:00 AM every Saturday! All other store hours will remain unchanged.
December Events:
- Bird Walk, Saturday, December 7th at 8:00 AM - weather permitting. Meet in the parking lot at Los Peñasquitos Ranch House at the west end of Canyonside Park Driveway, San Diego, CA 92129. Bring comfy walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and some water and we'll see what wild birds we can find! Don't forget to install the Merlin app on your phone!
Future Events:
- Every Saturday in January and February – Hawk Watch – suggested arrival 9:30 AM, starts at 10:00 AM (rain or shine) - 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065
- Hawk Watch is an informative educational Biologists Talk and Q&A with falconry or ambassador raptors for you to see up close and personal! Details Here
- As Wild Birds Unlimited - San Diego, will be at Hawk Watch each Saturday, no in-store events will take place in January or February. If you attend, be sure to stop by our booth and say hello!
- February 26 to March 2 – San Diego Bird Festival Details Here
- As Wild Birds Unlimited - San Diego will be a sponsor of this event, there will not be a Bird Chat or Bird Walk on March 1st. If you attend the festival, be sure to stop by our booth and say hello!
Quote of the Month:
“I don't ask for the meaning of the song of a bird or the rising of the sun on a misty morning. There they are, and they are beautiful.” - Pete Hamill
Spotlight:
A Look Back and a Look Ahead
As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey we've been on since we took ownership of the Wild Birds Unlimited store here in San Diego in January. It’s been an incredible year, and Cindy and I have truly loved every moment spent meeting each of you, our valued customers. Your stories, photos, and videos of the birds you attract have enriched our days and deepened our commitment to serving this wonderful community. From joyful chats about seasonal visitors to tips for attracting elusive species, we’re grateful to be part of such a passionate group of nature lovers.
Throughout the year, we’ve also had the privilege of working with our dedicated and knowledgeable team. Their enthusiasm and expertise are at the heart of what makes our store special, and they inspire us every day to provide the best possible experience for everyone who walks through our door.
One of our goals this year has been to keep our prices steady, and we’re pleased to have achieved that for 2024. However, as we look to next year, there are some economic challenges we’re monitoring closely. Forecasts for 2025 indicate potential fluctuations in sunflower seed prices, partly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, weather impacts, and lower-than-usual acres planted. With uncertain crop yields there may be price increases on the horizon.
Our Holscher hardware is made in Fowler, Indiana, Aspects feeders are made in Warren, Rhode Island, and Backyard Nature Products feeders are made in Chilton, Wisconsin. These make up the core of our product offerings, but to keep things fun and interesting, we also get some of our more "peripheral" products from a variety of sources, including imports from China, Great Britain, and other countries. We are constantly searching for high-quality, affordable products and are actively exploring more options from U.S. and San Diego-based suppliers to maintain price stability and support local producers. We're committed to providing you with the best value on the highest quality products available.
As we step into the holiday season, we want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your families. May this season bring you peace, joy, and the simple pleasures of watching nature’s wonders unfold right in your own backyard. Here’s to another year filled with the beauty and inspiration that only bird watching can bring!
Warm regards and happy birding,
Dan Payne
Owner-Operator
Wild Birds Unlimited San Diego
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Bird of the Month: Cedar Waxwing
 Cedar Waxwing, Santee Lakes, Santee, CA
Fun Facts About Cedar Waxwings
- Fascinating Vocalizations
Their soft, high-pitched "sreee" calls are among the most distinctive bird sounds, often described as whistles or trills. These sounds help maintain flock cohesion and signal potential threats.
- Sleek and Silky Appearance
The cedar waxwing is a sleek and elegant bird, recognized by its silky plumage and striking crest. They display a gradient of colors from soft brown on the head and chest to pale yellow on the belly, with a striking black mask edged in white. Their tail ends with a yellow or orange band, and some wing feathers have red tips. The waxwing's name derives from the bright red, waxy tips on its secondary feathers, a unique feature among North American birds.
- Wax Tips with Mystery Functions
The waxy red tips on their wings are more prominent in older birds. Scientists are uncertain of their function but believe they may play a role in mate attraction. Young cedar waxwings lack the distinctive crest as well as the waxy wing tips of adults. Their plumage is streaked, and their masks are less defined, making them easily distinguishable.
Cedar waxwings undergo a complete molt each year after breeding season, an event synchronized across flocks. This ensures that the group maintains similar flying efficiency and reduces vulnerability to predators during the molting period.
- Color-Changing Feathers from Diet
A cedar waxwing's diet can directly influence its plumage. For instance, eating large amounts of certain fruits, like those from the introduced Tatarian honeysuckle, can result in orange-tipped tail feathers instead of the usual yellow—a fascinating example of dietary pigmentation. This color change was first observed in the 1960s and is an example of diet affecting physical traits.
Uniquely among North American birds, cedar waxwings are primarily frugivorous, consuming berries as a major part of their diet. They can survive on fruit alone for extended periods, and their digestion is so rapid that seeds often pass through them intact. Their diet is so dependent on fruit that they’ve evolved to handle high sugar content efficiently. Unlike many birds, they can consume overripe, fermented fruits without apparent ill effects, though there have been cases of temporary intoxication!
- Berry-Seeding Ecosystem Engineers
Cedar waxwings play a crucial role in forest regeneration. As they consume berries, they disperse seeds over large distances, facilitating the growth of new plants and maintaining biodiversity. Their preference for native fruit-bearing trees like cedar and dogwood underscores their ecological importance.
- Expert Aerial Insect Catchers
Although primarily fruit eaters, they consume insects during the summer. Cedar waxwings showcase impressive aerial skills when catching insects over rivers and ponds.
Flocks often descend together to puddles or streams, where they drink and bathe, showcasing their communal tendencies.
- Social and Flocking Behavior
Cedar waxwings are highly social birds rarely seen alone. They are often seen in large flocks, particularly in fall and winter, but even flock during the breeding season. These flocks exhibit synchronized movements, making them a captivating sight in flight. This behavior also extends to feeding, where flocks may descend on a fruit-laden tree and strip it clean in minutes.
Unlike many birds, cedar waxwings don’t maintain strict migratory patterns. Instead, they roam year-round in search of food, often appearing unexpectedly in urban parks, orchards, and gardens. While feeding, they can be seen performing acrobatic maneuvers, such as hovering briefly to pluck berries or perching precariously on thin branches. Their unpredictable movements are a delight for bird watchers.
During courtship, males offer females small gifts such as berries or flower petals. The pair often engages in a "dance," passing the object back and forth, a tender ritual cementing their bond. Once mated, both partners collaborate to build a nest, typically in a forked branch of a tree or shrub.
Cedar waxwings are one of the latest-nesting songbirds in North America, often starting their breeding season as late as June or July. This timing aligns with the peak availability of summer fruits, ensuring ample food for their young. Females build their nests with remarkable dedication, sometimes making over 2,500 trips to collect materials.
The oldest known cedar waxwing lived for at least seven years and one month. It was banded and later recaptured in Maryland, providing valuable data on the species’ lifespan.
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What’s happening in San Diego:
San Diego Bird Alliance (formerly San Diego Audubon Society)
- Speak for the San Diego River Mouth
- Dates: December 1,8, 15, 22,2024
- Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Location: San Diego River Mouth, next to OB Dog Beach
- Event Link
- Christmas Bird Count Practice Session
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: TBD
- Event Link
- Birding Outing: Walker Trail at Lakeside River Park
- Date: December7, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Location: 10030 Marathon Pkwy, Lakeside, CA 92040
- Event Link
- Birding Outing: South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and the SoCal Salt Works
- Date: December8, 2024
- Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: South Bay Salt Works
- Event Link
- 2024 Christmas Bird Count
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Time: All Day
- Location: Various Locations
- Event Link
- Wander the King Tides
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Time: 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM
- Location: Kendall-Frost Marsh, 2055 Pacific Beach Drive., San Diego
- Event Link
- Bird Photography Club: Photo Stroll at the San Diego River Estuary
- Date: December21, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: San Diego River Estuary
- Event Link
- Birding Outing: Famosa Slough
- Date: December 21, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Location: At the sign on Famosa Blvd. north of the Rialto St., San Diego
- Event Link
- Birding Outing: Marian Bear Open Space with Anitra Kaye
- Date: December 28, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Marian Bear Open Space, 5544 Regents Rd., San Diego
- Event Link
- Wondering the Wetlands: Work Party
- Date: December 28, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: 2055 pacific Beach Dr., San Digo
- Event Link
Palomar Audubon Society
- San Elijo Lagoon Bird Walk
- Date: December7, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Location: 899 N Rios Ave, Solana Beach, CA
- Event Link
- Lake Wohlford Field Trip
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Lake Wohlford (directions on website)
- Event Link
- Escondido Christmas Bird Count
- Date: December 21, 2024
- Time: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Kit Carson Park, 3333 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido
- Event Link
- Tijuana Estuary
- Date: December 28, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- Location: Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
Buena Vista Audubon Society
- Rancho Carrillo Trail
- Date: December 6, 2024
- Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
- Location: Rancho Carrillo Trail, Carlsbad
- Event Link
- Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Walk
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Location: Whelan Lake, Oceanside
- Event Link
- Kids Clubhouse
- Date: December 8, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center
- Event Link
- Open House
- Date: December 9, 2024
- Time: 5:15 PM – 7:30 PM
- Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center
- Event Link
- El Corazon Garrison Creek Walk:
- Date: December 11, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Location: El Corazon Garrison Creek, Oceanside
- Event Link
- Learn About Seeds
- Date: December 15, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center
- Event Link
- Preschool Nature Storytime at the Nature Center
- Date: December 23, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, Oceanside
- Event Link
- Coastal 101 Birding (Oceanside)
- Date: December 29, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Location: Buena Vista Nature Center
- Event Link
San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy
- Yoga at the Birdwing
- Dates: December 1, 14 and 15, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Birdwing Open Air Classroom, 15737 San Andres Dr, Del Mar
- Event Link
- Gonzales Canyon Habitat Restoration
- Dates: December 28, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: 13655 Sword Way San Diego, CA
- Event Link
San Elijo Lagoon Nature Collective
- Family Fun Day:
- Date: December 1, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff-by-the-Sea
- Event Link
- San Elijo Lagoon Restoration + Monitoring Presentation
- Date: December 5, 2024
- Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Location: Zoom
- Event Link
- Discovery Tour
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Nature Center Loop Trail, 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea
- Event Link
- Wildlife Tour
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff-by-the-Sea
- Event Link
- Nature’s Allies: A Queer Habitat Restoration Event
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff-by-the-Sea
- Event Link
- Volunteer Restoration Event:
- Date: December 21, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: TBD
- Event Link
Living Coast Discovery Center
- Sweetwater Safari Hike (December 7 is bilingual and from 11:30 to 12:30)
- Dates: Every Saturday in December 2024
- Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Living Coast Discovery Center, Chula Vista
- Event Link
Tijuana Estuary
- Bird Walk
- Dates: December 1, 15 and 29, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Nature Walk: An Eye-Opening Experience Without Sight
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Explore the Colors of the Estuary: A Community Art Therapy Experience
- Date: December 8, 2024
- Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Nature Walk
- Dates: December 14, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: 5th Street & Iris Avenue, 5th St & Iris Ave, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Nature Walk
- Dates: December 28, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
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