Birds Observed in a Redwood Grove
Birds Observed in a Redwood Grove
I was pleasantly surprised at the number of birds I heard and saw while spending a few hours in the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, near Wawona, Mariposa County, California. The first birds to greet me were a pair of Northern Pileated Woodpeckers, fit denizens of such a magnificent forest. They were busily engaged in chipping off large pieces of wood from a dead log, presumably looking for insects, and admitted of close approach.
Next in line came a male Western Tanager, perching on a lichen-covered stump and catching his noon meal of insects. Blue-fronted Jays and Robins were everywhere. Sierra Creepers looked exceptionally small as they were running up the huge tree trunks. From every direction came the songs of the Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Mountain Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Occasionally an Audubon Warbler could be seen; and a Modoc Hairy Woodpecker came quite close in his quest for food.
What impressed me was not so much the variety of birds encountered, but rather the number of individuals heard and Seen.
Junea W. Kelly
Alameda, California, June 16. 1921
