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18 | OHCC LIVING | JULY 2020 | Birdwatchers Now and then people say "Why has this bird appeared in my yard?" The answer is almost always "Because of the food." I am not just talking about the feeders full of suet or seed or nectar that we provide, but about the invertebrates and plant life that is found in our gardens. For example, hibiscus is notorious for attracting aphids. Because of these tiny insects, bushtits come twice a day to scour the leaves for the nourishment they provide. Orioles love crane flies and often bring a beakful to the feeder full of jelly in order to dip them into it. We all know that hummers need nectar and plenty of it. My yard is full of tubular shaped flowers – shrimp plant, sage, penta – which suit their needle-like beaks perfectly. But did you know that hummingbirds also need protein? They get this in the form of tiny flying insects. You will often see a hummer perched atop a bush in the evenings pointing its beak this way and that, making rapid forays into the air to capture their prey. During the breeding season many birds are kept very busy searching for invertebrates to feed their young. Bewick's Wrens nesting in a bush just outside my garden wall, come streaking in dozens of times a day for just this purpose. California and Spotted Towhees are attracted to the dead leaves under trees, as are the Song Sparrows. There they forage for bugs which live just under the surface, a good reason not to rake your leaves. Flycatchers, like Black and Say's Phoebes, can often be seen on our rooves, watching out for larger insects like dragonflies and butterflies. Speaking of butterflies, I have encountered when growing milkweed to attract Monarchs. The Monarch female lays her eggs, which grow into stripy yellow and black caterpillars. Guess who enjoys that delicacy – mockingbirds, sparrows, wrens, towhees, etc.! So, unfortunately, very few of my Monarch caterpillars ever turn into butterflies. House Finches are probably our most plentiful species here in OHCC. They love seeds and berries. This year, keeping myself busy during lockdown, I have planted many containers full of flower and herb seeds. The Song Sparrows are absolutely delighted. They wait until each seed has germinated, then they pull it up by the leaves and swallow it! Finally, why are there Red-shouldered Hawks nesting in the pine tree just outside my property every year? The answer is that they eat lizards, snakes, rabbits, and other small mammals, which are plentiful here. Last week I watched in morbid fascination as a hawk stood on a chimney top tearing a rabbit limb from limb, eating most of it, then grabbing a hind leg in one of its talons, and flying back to the nest with dinner for the whole family. Nature isn't always pretty! ~ Ann Baldwin Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time. Do you need a temporary loan of medical equipment? Helping Hands maintains an inventory of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes and shower chairs for people living in Ocean Hills Country Club. Call one of the volunteers listed at the end of this article and we will deliver to your door at no cost to you. You can help a neighbor in OHCC by donating a clean, serviceable item that you are no longer using to Helping Hands. Check your storage areas for the items listed in this article. Gary Lucas, (760) 707-8363; Dan Vervisch, (760) 724-4746; Tom Mazur, (760) 295-1006; Tim Wilbur, (760) 639-5221; Dennis Drake (760) 859-7046 Helping Hands Group