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.
The New Year Romeos are Singing…
The bird that brings in our New Year with melody is the Song Sparrow. Males can be heard belting out their song everywhere now as they stake-out territory and court females. These birds are early breeders; mated pairs will have nests with eggs before the […]
Band-tails in the Lower Pond
Spa day for a group of attractive birds. Band-tailed Pigeons love to bathe and they bathe often – maybe to keep up their beautiful appearance! Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
Dampwood Termites
It’s not too often that we get up-close looks at winged dampwood termites, but they were out in numbers last night, attracted to our UV lights last night during a nocturnal species review. With the first fall rains come dampwood termite flights. Winged Kings and […]
We had some good rain showers
Copper’s Hawks love to bathe and this one took advantage of our rain showers today. And just like us, after a wash it needs to dry off. This is how one dries off Cooper’s Hawk-style! Copper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii
An Orange-crowned Warbler’s Orange Crown
Orange-crowned Warblers, like many other of our “crowned” birds, usually keep their name-sake crown-colors hidden while they go about their normal business. But if you watch closely while they are bathing, you will sometimes get lucky and see a flash of their hidden crowns! Orange-crowned […]
Many, Many Goldfinches
For unknown reasons, you never really know when Lesser Goldfinches will bless you with their presence at your birdfeeder. For whatever reason, they’re loving Nyjer now! Lesser Goldfinches – Spinus psaltria
Happy Halloween Nature Lovers!
Annoying Mosquitoes
While this California Scrub-Jay was preening to look its best for the other many scrub-jays in the yard, a mosquito decided to take advantage and have a meal. Bloodmeals are important to female mosquitoes as they need lots of protein to produce eggs. This is […]
Red-tail Hawk Washes-up!
We captured some fun images of a hawk having a good splash in the deep-end of our lower pond. When the bird was finished, it must have been the cleanest juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in Beverly Hills! Hit the play button on the image below. Red-tailed […]
Late-in-the-Season dragonflies
The garden is full of many dragonflies and damselflies using every water feature for possible late-season breeding. From a well positioned sentry, this male Flame Skimmer has made claim to the upper water feature, driving away any male intruders from his territory! Male Flame Skimmer […]