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.
Packrat in the Garden
A California native, the nocturnal Big-eared Woodrat lives in dense vegetation, preferably in oak woodland habitat. To build their nest, they collect and accumulate sticks, leaves, bark or any available small object. Over time these nest-piles can become quite eclectic and grow very large in […]
Dragonfly takes over the Pond
Many insects take advantage of the GNG pond. Not only is this dragonfly taking advantage of the pond’s eco-system, it’s doing so by hunting the very insects that the pond attracts. Taking its size into account, nothing on earth can out-perform a dragonfly’s phenomenal aerial capabilities! Neon […]
European Honey Bee Management
Managing bees in the GNG is a constant issue. Although European Honey Bees are an important crop plant pollinator, they are as their name implies “non-native”. Our native bees (which for the most part are solitary, not social) have evolved to pollinate our 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.