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.
More Rain :-)
We received some nice rain this week – the garden’s plants are very happy and beginning to respond with new growth. Our guess is that most of the garden’s animals weren’t as happy, as indicated in these two shots.
Wintering Robins have arrived
American Robins can be found in and around the garden all year, but their numbers increase dramatically in late fall and winter months. They come for the Toyon berries, and the birds will be very happy this year as the bushes are overflowing with the […]
Western Harvest Mouse
It’s always exciting to get a new mammal for our species list, even if it’s a mouse. This week we filmed a Western Harvest Mouse on the lower hillside. This find takes our mammal species to 23 – not bad for a garden in the […]
happy halloween!!
October means it’s time for wolf spider babies!
Fall U.C. Davis Hummingbird Lab Visit
Dr. Lisa Tell and her team were in the garden tagging hummingbirds for the past 3 days. This was their fall 2019 tagging session and we had a really cool recapture; a female Allen’s Hummingbird who is at least 4 years old. Already an adult […]
wildfire in north hills
Wildfires are a natural part of Southern California’s chaparral plant community, but they are all heart-breaking never-the-less; we can only hope that wildlife can get out of their path. The Saddleridge Fire is no threat to the garden, but the air thick with smoke and […]
a formidable winged predator
Now that fall has arrived, our Great Horned Owl couple has begun their courtship and territorial calls. Both the male and female owls like to use this old stump to keep an eye on their territory during breeding season. Play the video below to reveal why they […]
Fall warblers are beginning to arrive
Yellow-rumped Warblers have arrived in the garden – right on time.
California Striped Racer
One of the most active snakes in the garden is the California Striped Racer. As the name implies, they are extreme fast as well as skiddish, so getting a good look at one is tough. This individual is a youngster, most likely from this year’s spring clutch.
Vivid Dancer
Along with skimmers, damsel flies are abundant near all of our water sources, also using them for breeding habitat. At the moment, the most common damsel fly in the garden is the Vivid Dancer and the males can be seen courting the females during the warmest […]