Northern Californian Birding.
Birding can invite a myriad of exciting sightings, including nests of baby birds. In Northern California birding is a popular hobby, but it can be a little perplexing when you find a nest of unidentifiable juveniles. However, with some simple tactics, you can identify the bird's identity with only the baby bird for a clue.
Instructions
1. Start by packing your supplies in the backpack. Northern California can bring on sudden showers and sometimes rough terrain, so be prepared.
2. When you spot a nest of baby birds, first use your binoculars to take a closer look.
3. Note the shape of the beak, the size and shape of the nest, and where the nest is located (on a cliff, in a tree, etc.). These can all be big factors when it comes to correctly identifying the bird type.
4. According to the shape of the beak, the baby bird can be identified as a duck, water bird, or a common Northern California bird. A duck's bill at birth is long and flat and usually matches their feathers. A water bird, such as a Sandpiper, has a long and narrow beak. A common Northern Californian baby bird, such as the American Robin, has a small and squat beak that looks like a triangle.
5. The size and shape of the nest are larger clues as to identifying the bird's identity. If the nest is in a tree hollow, it may be a Wood Duck's nest. If the nest is on the ground, made of grass or moss, and has a shallow in dimple in the middle, it might belong to the Sandpiper. If the nest is six to seven inches in circumference and is only an inch to two inches high and made of local branches and twigs, the nest might belong to the American Robin.
6. When looking at the bird's nest and the baby birds, make sure to identify the location. If the nest is located in a wooded swamp, a dense marsh or near water such as a pond or small lake, the nest may be a Wood Duck's. If the nest is located close to water and/or on the ground it may be a Sandpiper's nest. If the nest is high in a tree located near forest, in an urban environment, or even close to a building, it may be the American Robin.
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