[EBB Sightings] Huckleberry Preserve: a bonanza of breeders

I was amazed and humbled by the bird activity in this
"bursting with spring" park yesterday. Late morning
found me walking the trail, with birds around every
bend. The entrance had dueling Wilson's warblers,
perched and singing on territory; I had nice looks at
one bright yellow male, forehead adorned with subtle
orange feathering. A Black headed grosbeak sang from
an exposed perch at the top of a towering madrone.

A little ways in I was treated to the sight of another
pair of California quail, foraging alongside the
trail, male on guard, with his sprightly topknot
aquiver. The happy couple hustled into the brush above
the trail as another hiker passed me by.

The bird testosterone was raging in the Selasphorus
hummingbirds. A tiny brilliant male Rufous chased off
a much larger Anna's male, then hovered and perched
directly in front of me, flashing his gorget. He was
so close that I could see each individual feather in
the darker feathering around his face; he was so
beautiful that he made my heart ache.

I used my binoculars to scan the tree trunks spreading
into the canyon, and discovered miniature worlds of
lichens, some producing the low fungal cups that
signified their breeding readiness. As I scanned tree
branches along the lower trail, I discovered another
lichenous cup...the cryptic nest of a Hutton's vireo,
deep and pendulous and covered with the same lichens
that adorned its host tree. The vireo itself hovered
nervously nearby, until I broke off my gaze and
continued on my way. 

Glancing across the canyon to Round Top, I was
heartened to see the hulking form of the female golden
eagle. I had also spotted her there late last week.
But here's a thought. After a number of unsuccessful
and stressful breeding seasons for this pair of birds
(the Sibley fire, construction work atop Round Top,
inadvertant birder harrassment) how 'bout we all just
back off and let them be? If they are lucky enough to
breed and fledge young this year, we'll see them in
their training flights. It is such a privledge to have
these birds living and breeding in our urban space;
why don't we afford them the respect and space that
they deserve? 

May you all be thrilled and nourished by the bounty of
life that surrounds us, here in the magnificent Bay
Area.

Debbie Viess