biophilia treehouse/birds and plants

allen’s hummingbird
california scrub-jay
lesser goldfinch
mourning dove
nuttall's woodpecker
oak titmouse
song sparrow
western bluebird

declining pollinator species
males like open areas
females like tree cover

energetically darting from flower to flower. in native american culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck and joy. in central america, they are a sign of love and will bring love to the person who spots them. the allen’s hummingbird breeds only along a narrow strip of coastal california and southern oregon.

an indicator species
enjoys shrubs and backyards
okay with yards
enjoys woodland vegetation

a bird of both brain and beauty. wildfires and spring heatwaves have this species under pressure, and while able to adapt to urban circumstances, the jay is more scrub-wise than streetwise. the ability of the scrub jay to save and store food for later is an aspect of delayed gratification not often seen in animals, anda behavior that humans can learn from.

an indicator species
seedeater and backyard bird
likes patchy habitats with trees
fork in the branches

the early morning chiming and twittering call notes of a small flock of lesser goldfinches lays an enchantment over a neighborhood. it is a cloud of connection and communication between family members, attuned and in harmony. they are sweet and gentle reminders that happiness comes in many different guises.

declining in population
spends tie primarily on ground
will nest in artificial nest cups
likes open areas
feeds on ground in grass and backyards

the international symbol for peace. to the native americans, the mourning dove represents spirit and communication with the spirit. they believe that when the mourning dove appears, there will be opportunities and messages for growth. beyond its sorrowful wooo-oo-oo call lies a message of life, hope, renewal and peace.

an indicator species
excavates cavities in dead trunks or limbs for nesting

woodpeckers are determined and resourceful, able to unearth their sustenance by tapping and probing into the crevices of tree trunks. they finish what they start and do not shy away from exercising their skills to initiate new projects, hammering through any obstacles. native shamans likened their incessant woodpecking to drumbeats, or heartbeats, reminding us of the simplicity of that life-giving force.

an indicator species
needs cavity for nesting
needs branches

the titmouse produces a remarkable clear and loud sound for such a small bird. small, yet significant, this cheerful creature demands to have its influence. nondescript save for its crest, one early naturalist called them “the voice and soul of the oaks.” they remind us to be outspoken and courageous, to forage from branch to branch looking for new opportunities (food) to discover, even hanging upside down if necessary. fear not, they call.

an indicator species
likes being hidden
not a cavity nester
found in lush suburban yards in shrubs

a persistent and powerful song lights up from tree tops in many a californian garden. it is so present it often goes unnoticed, while the song sparrow it originates from seems so common and unremarkable it is easily overlooked. yet to stop and listen to this friendly songbird, you will hear it sing its soul’s own song, and is encouraging you to do so too.

an indicator species
cavity-nester
likes open grassy areas with tall scattered trees

a bluebird flashes into eyesight as a herald of happiness. to see one is said to be a good omen. which makes sense, as to encounter one it means you have stepped out into a wide open park landscape, where the western bluebird thrives. go on that walk in the park and experience the bluebird’s element of air, sense the boundless expanse of space, and let that sense of freedom flow into you. it tells you that you are on the right path, with good luck awaiting in the near future

biophilia treehouse: birds & plants

why birds?