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Hooded Orioles are brilliant yellow-orange and black and, like all orioles, are members of the blackbird family. Hooded Orioles occur year round in southeast Mexico southern Baja California and occur in winter in southwestern Mexico. In summer, part of the population migrates north to the southwestern U.S. to breed and have expanded their range to Northern California as more ornamental palm trees are planted. Hooded Orioles in Texas and eastern Mexico are flame orange, but those in the southwestern U.S. and western Mexico are bright yellow (such as the bird pictured here). Hooded Oriole's song is a chattering mix of notes and cries that sometimes includes a few notes from their neighbors. Hooded Orioles eat spiders and insects and also eat fruit and take nectar from flowering plants and hummingbird feeders. Birds in California earned the nickname "Palm-leaf Oriole," and females that nest in palms poke holes in the fronds to sew the nest to the leaf. Hooded Orioles breed in riparian cottonwoods, willows, and sycamores -- the characteristic trees of our riparian habitat along Potrero Creek -- and in palm trees. Thus, at Four Seasons, these birds are seen on the nature trails and in the palms around the Lodge, but are also seen in landscaped areas and at hummingbird feeders, such as this photo of our Bird of the Month. Hooded Orioles have been seen on four of our birdwalks, always in summer. ~ Steve Edelman Birding CLUB Bird of the Month FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2018 59 The Birding Club welcomes beginning and experienced birders to start or hone bird identification skills. The Club's main activity is a monthly birdwalk along Four Seasons' nature trails, which follow native riparian woodlands. We keep a list of all species observed at Four Seasons (currently 77) and take field trips to local birding spots. Our July 7 birdwalk was our first walk of the entire length of Potrero Creek, which produced a modest count of 16 species reflective of the "summer doldrums" bird-wise. We took the opportunity to do a census – a bird count – of "riparian specialists," which are species that nest only in the riparian habitat. We counted six Bell's Vireos (endangered subspecies) and one Yellow Warbler. As our restored riparian habitat matures, we hope other riparian specialists will utilize the habitat, such as Yellow-breasted Chat (a singing male was observed on Trail A in April 2016). Other highlights of the birdwalk included a Bobcat (a birdwalk first), good looks at Spotted Towhee (pictured), and several sightings of Hooded Oriole (our Bird of the Month). We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 8 am in the Lodge RCN Lobby then go on our birdwalk. Email steve.h.edelman@gmail.com for current schedule and other information. ~ Steve Edelman Adult male Spotted Towhee on Trail A. Photo by John Hansen, Birding Club member. Adult male Hooded Oriole at a Four Seasons hummingbird feeder; the female is duller yellow without the black throat. Photo by Mike Lilly, Birding Club member.

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