If white millet hasn't been on your shopping list, now would be a good time to add it. Our No-Mess DP blend includes millet, but this time of year some of the ground feeders—California Towhees, Dark-Eyed Juncos and the overwintering White-Crowned Sparrows—have a hard time finding the small seeds that they want. Therefore, adding millet will be just what is needed to keep them well-fed. Millet also will brings the soft coos of doves to your garden.

Left: California Towhee's stout beak is made for cracking seeds

Watch for more Juncos around your feeders, as migrants for farther north join our local birds. These hardy little birds adapt to a variety of environments in the winter, from the mountains to well-watered coastal areas, such as Malibu Canyon. In the spring they quickly pair off, but in the winter you may see large flocks mixed with Goldfinches, other sparrows and Bluebirds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another addition to your winter menu should be live mealworms. They will attract one of our favorite winter migrants, Yellow-Rumped Warblers. Besides eating worms, they will scour your bushes for the last remaining bugs, showing the bright yellow dab of feathers that earns them their nickname, Butter Butts.

Right: a Yellow-Rumped Warbler shows the dab of color at the base of his tail

One of the most beautiful of our local birds, the sleek Cedar Waxwings, show up in winter, looking for berries. Their smooth beige is accented by a black mask, bright red tips on wing feathers and yellow tips on their tails. Sometimes a large flock will take over a whole tree that offers berries. The Waxwings even will pass the berries, bird to bird, along a branch, so everybirdy shares in the bounty.

Left: Two Cedar Waxwings pass a berry

It's the holidays, the time when birds lovers' thoughts turn to . . . well, counting the birds. The most important citizen-science studies of our bird population take place at this time of year. The best part is that you, too, can participate, counting birds a couple of hours a week (Project FeederWatch) or all the birds you see on one day (the Christmas Bird Count). If you want to join in, try to sign up as early as possible, so you will be ready to start counting during the holidays.

 

We're all familiar with the usual behavior of American Robins, running along the grass, stopping to listen for worms, then running again. But, did you know that in winter you are as likely to see them searching for berries in native plants, such as toyon and mistletoe, as well as palms and olives trees.

An American Robin has found a plump berry

Winter is a favorite time to clean the yard, raking up leaf litter beneath bushes. However, one of the best things you can do for birds in the winter is to leave the litter or at least some of it. Leaf litter is a treasure trove of nuts, grubs and other delicacies that birds to survive the cold days. California Towhees are particularly vigorous, scraping and tossing the litter several feet to unearth hidden treats. If you must rake, try to leave small piles of litter beneath bushes. The towhees will thank you.

In December the shore-bird action is off the shore. Use a scope to spot Surf Scoter flocks beyond the surf zone, along with rafts of black and white Western Grebes with their bright-red eyes.