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.
Dark-eyed “Oregon” Junco
Dark-eyed Juncos are active breeders in the GNG and are not shy as they move about the area. Here a junco surveys the grounds from one of the many trail cameras used to automatically capture the garden’s abundan wildlife. Dark-eyed Junco ♂
Bushtits Take a Bath
Bushtits are social birds that travel in flocks for most of the year. During breeding season they break-up into smaller groups and will sometimes cooperatively nest. It’s clear by this video just how social this bird really is!
Great Horned Owl
For the last couple of months, adult Great Horned Owls have been seen regularly in the garden and we were convinced that a nest was in the area. Although the nest site was never found, three fledglings were recently observed begging for food. Here mom, […]
Mule Deer
Mule Deer are common throughout the Santa Monica Mountains, this buck and doe were caught walking a trail at the bottom of the property.
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 […]