Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

A house finch and acorn woodpecker munch on seeds in Freddie Howell's front yard.

For the Birds

Feeders offer 'fast food' for feathered friends

By Shari Kaplan

What do cheerful chickadees, blustering blue jays and docile doves have in common, aside from the fact that all are birds? Although they do not flock together, these and many other birds of a feather are all either temporary or permanent residents of Los Gatos. And with a lot of time and a little bit of luck, even beginning birdwatchers can view, feed and perhaps even meet their local feathered friends face to face.

According to Los Gatos mountain residents Freddie and John Howell, along with "town-dwellers" Jean and Pat DuBois, feeding and watching birds is a lifelong source of both entertainment and education.

Thanks to "bird walks" with her parents in her native New Jersey, Freddie Howell says she has been a "birder" since age 7.

"There were a lot of wonderful places back there. We went birding quite a bit, and we always had bird feeders, even before they were readily available," she recalls. "It was just something that was part of life: You always hung up a bird feeder, you always had a birdbath."

Their love of birds, their desire to share this love and their interest in a business venture led the Howells to open the Wild Bird Center of Los Gatos nearly two years ago. Ironically, running the franchise and planning outreach activities such as children's projects and weekly and monthly bird-watching expeditions ("bird walks") leaves the Howells less time to enjoy the birds in their own back yard.

Somehow, though, they do make time for what could aptly be described as a deluxe mountain retreat for birds of all shapes, sizes and feeding preferences.

On the secluded Howell property, located several miles off Black Road, there are nearly a dozen bird feeders--some freestanding, others hanging from trees or attached to windows. A lanky madrone in the front yard and a lush live oak growing tenaciously on the slope below the back deck lend their limbs to several hanging bird feeders, while their foliage offers shelter and shade for many of the same birds.

Howell says one of the reasons she finds bird-watching so enjoyable is that birds differ so much in terms of personality and behavior--and she has anecdotes to prove it.

Of the corvidae family, which includes all types of blue jays as well as crows, ravens and magpies, Howell says "they're some of the most intelligent birds around but probably also one of the nastiest." Western scrub jays, for example, are known to steal eggs from other birds' nests.

Acorn woodpeckers--one of the few birds the blue jays respect--like to snatch acorns off oak trees and then jam the nuts into wooden poles or the trunks of other trees. "They're cheerful, talkative and gregarious birds," Howell says.

Despite their bright plumage, orioles are "very discreet, almost modest," while chickadees are "cute" and full of antics. Hummingbirds are "very feisty; they have very definite personalities." A month or so ago, Howell witnessed a bird-watcher's delight: three types of hummers--Anna's, Allen's and black-chinned--all sipping from her kitchen window feeder at the same time without fighting.

Another territorial and aggressive bird is the mockingbird. During mating season, when the males sing from a high perch at all hours of the day and night, "they're trying to tell everyone, 'this is my territory--and ladies, if you're interested ...' " Howells explains with a grin.

Of mourning doves, known for their whistling wings and mournful cooing, Howell says they are among the worst nest builders. "They usually use about three or four sticks, and that's their nest," she says, adding that many people discover doves nesting in hanging or potted plants.

"A lot of people think that if you feed wild birds, either they won't migrate or they won't be able to fend for themselves. There's no worry in that because they actually get less than 20 percent of their food through our feeders," Howell explains.

"They basically eat constantly. This is just a nice bonus for them, especially during nesting season when it's nice to have a 'fast food' restaurant near the nest so they don't have to fly too far looking for food. And water is always important," she adds. Along with birdbaths for drinking and bathing, Howell says, many birds are attracted by the movement and cool spray of small fountains.

Among popular feed choices are sunflower seeds, sunflower chips, white millet, cracked corn, shelled peanuts and suet. Some birds have specific food preferences, however, so a "generic" type of seed mix for all birds may not be the most appropriate, according to Howell. Grosbeaks, for example, love sunflower and safflower seeds but not much else available in bird stores, while nuthatches prefer sunflower seeds and shelled peanuts.

Keeping birds happy and healthy not only provides fodder for bird-watchers, but also benefits many aspects of the environment, Howell says. Without some birds, for example, the insect and rodent population would get out of hand. Additionally, seed-eaters distribute seeds through their droppings, while nectar-drinkers such as hummingbirds pollinate flowers.

"Bird-watching is something that becomes a lifelong passion, and you can do it anywhere. There's such an excitement and joy in it that I love sharing with people. I could sit for hours with my binoculars looking at birds. It's a connection with nature, and it's very relaxing and entertaining," Howell says.

In addition to the Santa Cruz mountains, Howell says, there are also plenty of good bird-watching venues in town. Among her recommendations are Vasona Lake County Park, Oak Meadow and Belgatos parks, the Los Gatos and Campbell percolation ponds ("one of the best-kept secrets for birding in this area") and the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, part of which can be accessed via Kennedy Road in east Los Gatos.

Sometimes one's own back yard can be the best and most convenient bird-watching spot of all. From their house, located near Villa Felice restaurant and lodge, Jean and Pat DuBois can survey a wide portion of Vasona Lake and its surrounding vegetation.

Jean DuBois, a native of Marin County, says his parents were always interested in the outdoors. A bird field guide someone gave him when he was 6 years old was among the things that drew him to bird-watching as a hobby. In the 1940s, he joined the national and local branches of the Audubon Society and has remained an active member ever since.

"For one thing, they're very visible; you can bird-watch almost anywhere, even in downtown [San Jose] surrounded by skyscrapers," DuBois says of why he enjoys being a birder. His back yard is a better viewing area, though, because the tree- and brush-covered slope beneath the property attracts many birds.

Some of his favorite birds to watch are band-tailed pigeons, which he says will stand on top of each other to get to food and "spend more time fighting over the food than eating."

The six to eight feeders in the DuBois yard attract many of the same birds Howell sees in the mountains. Three years ago, however, DuBois sighted the first black-throated green warbler ever reported in Santa Clara County. The small, golden-headed bird is common in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States but rarely ventures near the West Coast.

DuBois also gets to view many water birds out on the lake, including various geese, ducks, herons and coots. Another treat for him was sighting a pelagic cormorant; although these birds eat saltwater fish and rarely if ever venture inland, he once watched one living on an island on Vasona Lake for several days.

Currently from his back yard, DuBois has been keeping an eye on a great blue heron nest secluded on a Vasona island. Using a spotting scope, DuBois watches the birds and takes notes to share with the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, which is conducting a study on Bay Area heron rookeries.

"It's always a challenge," DuBois says of his lifelong hobby. "You can't identify every bird you see, but you try to do your best. Some of them look beautiful; some of them have pretty songs. They're all interesting. Things are always happening out in the yard."

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