As the Gottlieb Native Garden’s naturalist, Scott Logan documents the ever-changing array of wildlife species as they vary with the garden’s blooms, seasons and migratory patterns. While bringing these observations to life for all to experience, he also coordinates scientific research projects, and monitors the overall health and biodiversity of the garden. The Naturalist’s Journal also highlights the work the Gottliebs and Scott are doing to educate and inspire people to start gardening for wildlife with native plants.
Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeaks are neotropical migrants that begin to arrive in late March. Once here, they quickly stake out their breeding territories by singing from high perches. Black-headed Grosbeaks are dimorphic, so this bathing female has very different looking plumage than her male counterpart.
My Bath!
Some bird species can be very protective of their personal space. This female Hooded Oriole lets a male House Finch know whose bath time it is!
Coyotes Find Trouble
As you may know, coyotes seem to get into trouble when encountering urban spaces. All to often they are to blame for missing pets and raided trash cans with little proof they are the culprits. Many don’t understand the role they play in insuring your […]
Female Flicker!
GNG was very excited to catch a glimpse of a male Northern Flicker, but we didn’t expect to catch the female in the same spot foraging for ants. If you look closely you can see the length of her tongue as it darts between blades […]
Coyote Pair
Catching coyotes during the day is always a treat for their coats are so detailed, and rarely enjoyed. These two are lurking around a woodrat nest, waiting for a rabbit or anything else hiding within the tangled mass of sticks and grass to run out. […]
Northern Flicker, The Ant Eater
GNG was lucky enough to catch a rare glimpse of a Northern Flicker hunting for insects on the ground. Flickers eat vegetation (seeds and berries), but insects make up 40 – 50% of their diet. They also practice a behavior called “anting” where they rub […]
Great Horned Owl Perch Walk – Gottlieb Native Garden
We noticed one day that a low hanging laurel sumac was playing host to a day roosting great horned owl. I noticed pellets under an adjacent sumac, but their number and quality lead me to believe the spot was a one-time stop. We inspected the […]
Cooper’s Hawk Loves our Bath
This Cooper’s Hawk has bathed here twice in the past week. He is not shy about it at all!
Wilson’s Warbler Spotted
GNG cameras capture up to 400 images a week and during the fall months the bird diversity dwindles. So, it was very exciting to see a flash of golden plumage pop up on the screen while looking through recent cam photos. The Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia […]
Fox Squirrel Surprise
Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger) are a sore subject for GNG for they are not native and pushed out populations of native western gray squirrel. Yet, they have been living in California for over 100 years. History states the first population arrived in Los Angeles by […]