Newsletter - November 2025
Wild Birds Unlimited - San Diego Events:
November Events:
In-Store Guest Presentation: San Diego’s Diverse Bat Fauna, and other Bat Wonders of the World - November 1st at 10:00 AM
Bats comprise more than ¼ of the planet’s mammal species, and San Diego County is home to almost ½ of all U.S. species. Dan Taylor from Bat Conservation International will discuss the worldwide ecological and economic importance of bats and highlight the masters of the night sky that call San Diego home.
Dan Taylor is a Senior Restoration Specialist with Bat Conservation International’s (BCI) Habitat Protection and Restoration (HP&R) Program and has more than 30 years of experience working on a wide range of wildlife and conservation issues in the U.S., Central America, and Africa. He is a member of The Wildlife Society, and the Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Bat Working Groups, and was a founding member of the Society for Conservation Biology.
Quote of the Month:
“I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.” Charles Lindbergh Spotlight:
San Diego Canyonlands: Restoring Nature and Building Resilient Communities
Tucked within the urban landscape of San Diego are hundreds of canyons that serve as vital green corridors for wildlife and people alike. These canyons connect neighborhoods to nature, provide habitat for native plants and birds, and offer natural protection against erosion and flooding. For decades, one local organization has been dedicated to caring for these unique natural spaces — San Diego Canyonlands. Who They Are and How They Began San Diego Canyonlands began as a grassroots movement of volunteers determined to protect the city’s overlooked canyons from development and neglect. Over time, their efforts evolved into a respected nonprofit organization that now partners with city agencies, scientists, and community groups to restore natural habitats across the region. Habitat Restoration and Community Involvement At the core of San Diego Canyonlands’ work is habitat restoration. Their restoration teams and volunteers focus on removing invasive species, re-establishing native plants, and improving the natural function of canyons and creeks. Native plants like mulefat, willows, and elderberries not only stabilize soil and slow runoff but also provide vital shelter and food for birds, pollinators, and small mammals. The ECO Initiative: Training for Tomorrow Another cornerstone of San Diego Canyonlands’ mission is the Environmental Career Opportunities (ECO) Initiative — a paid training program that gives participants hands-on experience in habitat restoration and land stewardship. The program is designed to help people, often from underserved communities, gain the skills needed to start careers in environmental conservation. Outreach and Education San Diego Canyonlands believes that lasting conservation begins with awareness. Their outreach and education programs connect people with nature by offering guided canyon walks, community presentations, and school programs. These experiences help residents understand how their local canyon systems support biodiversity, regulate temperature, and provide critical nesting and feeding grounds for native birds. Wildfire Resiliency and Fire-Safe Landscapes In San Diego’s dry climate, wildfire is a constant concern — particularly where homes meet wildland areas. San Diego Canyonlands has made wildfire resiliency a central part of its work, combining ecological restoration with fire prevention strategies. Their teams conduct fuel-reduction projects in key canyons by removing dead brush, invasive grasses, and non-native palms — all of which act as tinder during fire season. They replace these with native plants that retain more moisture and burn less readily. This approach not only makes neighborhoods safer but also strengthens the ecological balance of the area. The organization also works directly with homeowners in canyon-adjacent neighborhoods, teaching residents how to create defensible space — a protective buffer around homes that reduces fire spread — while maintaining natural habitat. Homeowners learn how to prune responsibly, choose fire-resistant native plants, and avoid invasive ornamentals that increase fire risk. These combined efforts protect homes and lives while also safeguarding the ecosystems that birds and wildlife depend on. Volunteers often play a role here too, helping clear brush, manage trails, and educate neighbors about fire-safe practices. How Homeowners & Bird Lovers Can Help & Benefit Bird lovers are uniquely positioned to support canyon biodiversity while making their own yards more resilient. Here are ways homeowners can plug in and benefit:
- Create native habitat buffers: Plant drought-tolerant, low-flammability native species in your yard, especially along canyon edges, to serve as natural transitions between wild open space and your home. This reduces fire risk and provides resources for pollinators, insects, and birds.
- Implement defensible space wisely: Prune dead wood, cut lower branches, thin shrubs, and manage ground litter. But do so thoughtfully — maintain habitat structure and avoid leaving bare, erosion-prone slopes.
- Reduce invasive plantings and remove escapees: Avoid palm species, pampas grass, Arundo, or other highly flammable ornamentals near canyon edges. Replace them with native alternatives. These invasive plants often escape into wildland areas and increase both fire risk and ecological stress.
- Set up nest boxes and wildlife features: Installing appropriate nest boxes for species like wrens, bluebirds, or owls can supplement habitat and bring birds into your space — just ensure safe placement relative to vegetation and perches.
- Avoid rodenticides: Using chemical poisons to kill rodents can kill raptors, owls, and other predators that depend on rodents. Instead, use habitat management and deterrents.
- Volunteer with Canyonlands: Join habitat restoration events, canyon trail cleanups, invasive removal days, or wildfire-resiliency work. You’ll help the wider landscape and learn hands-on conservation practices. Visit their Volunteer page to see current opportunities.
- Support ECO or recommend candidates: If you know neighbors, students, or community members who may benefit from the ECO Initiative, encourage them to apply or partner. Restoration and community workforce training go hand-in-hand.
- Advocate for funding and equitable investment: Support policies and local funding that direct restoration and fire resilience toward underserved neighborhoods — the same places Canyonlands often prioritizes.
When homeowners and canyon stewards act in tandem, the effect is multiplicative: healthier canyon ecosystems, safer neighborhoods, more birds and wildlife, and greater community resilience. A Shared Vision for San Diego’s Future San Diego Canyonlands has shown what’s possible when science, community, and passion come together. Through habitat restoration, workforce development, outreach, and wildfire resilience, they are rebuilding San Diego’s natural systems — one canyon at a time.
|
Bird of the Month: California Towhee
 California Towhee, Ramona Grasslands California
The California Towhee
A humble brown bird with a big personality
A True California Original
- Homegrown and proud: The California Towhee is one of the few bird species that exists almost entirely in California and northern Baja. This isn’t just its name - it’s its identity. From the coastal canyons of La Jolla to the chaparral hills of Mission Trails, this bird thrives in the sunshine and scrub.
- Songs and Calls: Their song is a series of squeaky chips on the same pitch, accelerating into a rapid trill. The call is a sharp, metallic beep used for various purposes such as establishing territory, communicating with other towhees, and warning off predators. During the breeding season, males emit a series of sharp beeps to attract a mate. They also produce other vocalizations like trills, whistles, and chattering sounds to communicate effectively with other birds.
- Perfectly camouflaged: Its soft brown feathers may look simple, but they’re a survival masterpiece. The warm, dusty tones blend perfectly into dry leaf litter and native chaparral, keeping Towhees hidden from predators like Cooper’s Hawks and cats. Many people see them daily but don’t know their name. Once you learn to recognize that rusty patch under the tail and the rhythmic leaf-scratching, you’ll start spotting Towhees everywhere.
- Subtle beauty: In the right light, those plain feathers reveal rich chocolate-browns and a warm rusty-orange patch under the tail - a pop of color that glows like autumn leaves in the morning sun.
- A species reborn: For years, scientists thought the California Towhee and Canyon Towhee were the same bird. But DNA research revealed that this coastal bird was distinct - uniquely adapted to our Mediterranean climate and lifestyle.
Life, Love, and Loyalty
- A devoted partner: California Towhees mate for life, forming strong pair bonds that last for years. You’ll often see a mated pair side by side - foraging together, preening, or perched shoulder to shoulder on a backyard fence.
- Neighborhood regulars: Once a pair claims a territory, they rarely leave it. Many San Diegans have Towhees who visit their yard daily. A Towhee that visits your feeder this fall might still be there next spring - and the spring after that.
- Tiny bird, big territory: A mated pair can defend several acres with surprising determination. Don’t be fooled by their size - these little brown birds can be fierce when guarding their patch of paradise. Some pairs have been seen chasing off jays and mockingbirds several times their size.
- Mirror match: During breeding season, Towhees sometimes attack their own reflections in windows or car mirrors, thinking they’ve spotted an intruder. It’s not aggression toward you - it’s a passionate defense of their turf!
- Love language: Males woo females with soft, understated courtship displays - gentle hops, fluttering wings, and quiet songs that you’ll only catch if you’re paying close attention. It’s a secret serenade to their mate and a subtle claim on their territory.
Diet and Foraging
- Seed lovers with a twist: California Towhees are primarily seed eaters, especially fond of millet, cracked corn, and sunflower hearts.
- Insect aficionados: During spring and summer, insects make up a major part of their diet - especially when feeding their young. Beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and caterpillars provide the protein their growing chicks need - they also love live mealworms.
- Ground foragers extraordinaire: Towhees spend most of their time on the ground, using a distinctive “double-scratch” - hopping forward, then quickly backward - to toss leaves and uncover fallen seeds or insects. If you hear rustling under your shrubs, it’s likely one of these industrious foragers at work.
- Fruit connoisseurs: Towhees enjoy small berries and fruits such as elderberries, toyon berries, and manzanita. In San Diego, they’ll also snack on ornamental berries found in residential gardens.
- Natural cleanup crew: They often forage under bird feeders and shrubs, eating spilled seed and leftover fruit - keeping your yard a little tidier.
- Adventurous eaters: Some backyard watchers have even seen Towhees sample unexpected snacks like raisins, oatmeal, or bits of suet. They’re curious and willing to try something new!
- Water enthusiasts: Though not often seen bathing in birdbaths, they do rely on water sources for drinking, especially in dry months - so a shallow basin can help them thrive year-round.
Everyday Habits and Hidden Talents
- Nature’s little gardeners: By eating weed seeds and insects, Towhees help keep our landscapes balanced and healthy. They may be plain, but they’re pulling their weight in your garden’s ecosystem.
- Messy eaters (with purpose): Their energetic leaf-flinging may look chaotic, but it’s incredibly efficient. Each toss helps them uncover tiny seeds and bugs that other birds miss.
- Sunbathers at heart: You might spot a Towhee sprawled out on the ground, wings spread and feathers fluffed. It’s not injured - it’s sunning! This helps regulate temperature and control parasites, like a natural spa day.
- The neighborhood alarm system: When a hawk, cat, or snake enters their territory, Towhees sound off with sharp, repetitive calls that alert every bird in the area. They’re the unsung heroes of backyard security.
Home Life and Raising a Family
- Hidden nests: Towhees prefer privacy when it comes to nesting. They build well-camouflaged nests deep inside shrubs, using twigs, grass, and even pet hair. Common species include live oaks; Ceanothus, coffeeberry, and other shrubs of the chaparral; poison oak; willow; eucalyptus; and many ornamental shrubs and trees.
- Dedicated parents: Both mom and dad share feeding duties and guard the nest together. Their chicks grow fast, and within a couple of weeks, fluffy brown fledglings start following their parents around the yard - learning the ropes of Towhee life.
- Generational residents: Some pairs stay in the same territory year after year, raising multiple broods and greeting homeowners who recognize them like old friends.
Our San Diego Towhees
- A local favorite: The California Towhee is one of the most common native birds in San Diego - yet one of the most overlooked. They thrive in our canyons, coastal sage scrub, and suburban neighborhoods where native plants still grow.
- Canyon companions: You’ll find them hopping along trails at Marian Bear Park, Tecolote Canyon, and Mission Trails. They’re often the first bird you’ll see when you step outside in the morning.
- Urban survivors: Despite habitat loss, Towhees have adapted beautifully to city life, finding food and shelter in gardens, patios, and even parking lot hedges. They remind us that wildlife and urban life can coexist beautifully.
The Beauty of Ordinary The California Towhee may not wear bright feathers or sing elaborate songs, but it embodies the quiet beauty of Southern California’s wild heart. It’s loyal, adaptable, unpretentious, and wonderfully local - a year-round neighbor who asks for little more than a safe place to scratch for seeds and a sunny spot to bask. So next time you see that little brown bird hopping under your feeder, pause and watch. You might just find that your most ordinary backyard bird is, in fact, one of the most extraordinary.
|
|
What’s happening in San Diego:
Please note: This information is compiled by hand and mistakes or changes are possible. Please be sure to confirm dates/times/locations on the pages linked before leaving for an event.
San Diego Bird Alliance (formerly San Diego Audubon Society)
- Celebrate Day of the Dead: Sweetwater Bike Path
- Date: November 2, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: 1045 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista
- Event Link
- River Mouth Restoration
- Date: November 7, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Ocean Beach – Dog Beach, 5156 W Point Loma Blvd, San Diego
- Event Link
- Bird Photography Club: Photo Stroll at Batiquitos Lagoon
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Location: Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad
- Event Link
- Monthly Morning Chorus
- Dates: November 8, 2025
- Time: 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Location: Anstine Audubon Preserve, 2437 Hutchison St., Vista
- Event Link
- Friends of Famosa Slough Work Party
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Famosa Slough, 4285 W. Pt. Loma Blvd, San Diego
- Event Link
- Wander the Wetlands: Fish Seining
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Crown Point Dr,San Diego
- Event Link
- Queer Hike: Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary
- Date: November 13, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: 13003 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Lakeside
- Event Link
- Bird Outings: Famosa Slough
- Date: November 15, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: 4285 W. Pt. Loma Blvd, San Diego
- Event Link
- Planting Party at Grand Caribe
- Date: November 15, 2025
- Time: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: 598 Grand Caribe Causeway, Coronado
- Event Link
- Art and Wellness at Silverwood
- Date: November 15, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: 13003 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside
- Event Link
- Birding by Trolley: San Diego River to Mission Bay
- Date: November 16, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Location: Fashion Valley Transit Station off the Green Line Trolley, San Diego
- Event Link
- Rose Creek Habitat Restoration
- Date: November 21, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Rose Creek Cottage 1900, 2525 Garnet Ave, San Diego
- Event Link
- Olivia Canyon Birding Outing with SD Canyonlands
- Date: November 22, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Location: Olivia Canyon: 4590 Myrtle Ave – intersection of Myrtle Ave and 46th St, San Diego
- Event Link
- Wander the Wetlands: Work Party
- Date: November 22, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: 2055 Pacific Beach Dr, San Diego
- Event Link
- Bilingual Bug & Native Plant Walk at Rose Creek
- Date: November 23, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Location: 2620 N. Mission Bay Dr., San Diego
- Event Link
- Famosa Slough Habitat Restoration and Maintenance
- Date: November 28, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Famosa Slough, 2551-2599 Famosa Blvd, San Diego
- Event Link
Palomar Audubon Society
- Ramona Grasslands County Preserve & Rangeland Road
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Location: 17278 Highland Valley Road, Ramona
- Event Link
- Dairy Mart Ponds and Bird & Butterfly Garden
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Location: 2564 Dairy Mart Rd, San Diego
- Event Link
- Lindo Lakes Field Trip
- Date: November 15, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: 12637 Lindo Lane, Lakeside
- Event Link
- Bolsa Chica & Huntington Central Park
- Date: November 22, 2025
- Time: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: 18000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach
- Event Link
- San Jacinto Wildlife Area Field Trip
- Date: November 30, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: 17050 Davis St, Lakeview
- Event Link
Buena Vista Audubon Society
- Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Walk
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 7:45 AM – 10:00 AM
- Location: Whelan Lake, 3850 North River Road, Oceanside
- Event Link
- Rancho Carrillo Trail (Carlsbad)
- Date: November 7, 2025
- Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
- Location: Rancho Carrillo Trail, Carlsbad
- Event Link
- Kids’ Nature Clubhouse and Trail Exploration
- Date: November 9, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: Buena Vista Nature Center,2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
- Event Link
- El Corazon Garrison Creek (Oceanside)
- Date: November 12, 2025
- Time: 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Location: El Corazon Park, 3210 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside
- Event Link
- Birding with Barbara
- Nature Journaling
- Date: November 16, 2025
- Time: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Location: Buena Vista Nature Center,2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
- Event Link
- Recognize this Non-native species
- Date: November 19, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Location: Zoom
- Event Link
- Coastal 101 Birding (Oceanside)
- Date: November 22, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Location: Buena Vista Nature Center,2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
- Event Link
- Preschool Nature Storytime at the Nature Center
- Date: November 24, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
- Location: Buena Vista Nature Center,2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
- Event Link
San Diego Botanical Gardens
- Bird Walk
- Date: November 12, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM
- Location: San Diego Botanical Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
- Event Link
San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy
- Creekside Critters with Jeff Nordland
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Del Mar Branch Library, 1309 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
- Event Link
- Yoga at the Birdwing
- Dates: November 1, 2, 9, 15, 16 and 23, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Location: Birdwing Open Air Classroom, 15737 San Andres Dr, Del Mar
- Event Link
- Yoga at the Birdwing
- Dates: November 8 and 22, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Birdwing Open Air Classroom, 15737 San Andres Dr, Del Mar
- Event Link
- Special Presentation: Raptors of the River Valley with Sharyl Massey
- Date: November 13, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Location: Del Mar Town Hall, 1050 Camino Del Mar, Del mar
- Event Link
San Elijo Lagoon Nature Collective
- Discovery Tour
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Nature Center Loop Trail, 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea
- Event Link
- Wildlife Tour
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: San Elijo Lagoon (location will be emailed)
- Event Link
- Volunteer Restoration Event
- Date: November 15, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Will be shared before the event
- Event Link
Living Coast Discovery Center
- Bilingual Sweetwater Safari Hike
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista
- Event Link
- Sweetwater Safari Hike
Tijuana Estuary
- Nature Walk: An Eye-Opening Experience Without Sight
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Bird Walk
- Dates: November 2, 16 and 30, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Nature Walk
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: 5th Street & Iris Avenue, 5th St & Iris Ave, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Nature Book Club
- Date: November 22, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
- Nature Walk
- Dates: November 22, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
- Event Link
|
|
|
