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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JUNE 2024 17 By Suzette Stauss, Resident On April 13, I took an unusual Saturday morning walk with a group of people I had never met and saw things I had never seen before. I went on a Bird Walk at EMWD San Jacinto Wetlands. Guests can view many of the 120 species of birds that either consider the wetlands their home or timeshare. It lends new meaning to the term 'snowbirds' for me. Our adventure began at 8 am with an introduction from Allan Freetage, Public Affairs Specialist and some helpful guidelines by Antonio Corona, Volunteer. en we were off and walking. For those who thought the two-and-a-half-hour walk might be a bit much they offered to have a service vehicle follow behind the group at a distance. Also, they were so wonderful to lend binoculars to those of us who forgot to bring ours… Yay! e group made many stops as both our guides and guests spotted varieties of winged performers. We witnessed a Ruddy Duck doing his mating water hip-hop moves, showing off his white and blue beak but perhaps he needs to step it up since the lady duck was not impressed. We also got to see Red Tail Hawk parents on their nest doing their best to block the view of their downy babes. (Photo taken by my friend Mike at another location). Others sighted: American Coot, White-faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, Barn Swallow, Great-tailed Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-head duck, Cattle Egret and a first-time sighting of a Merlin Falcon. My highlight was a first-time discovery of a rare visitor. I had stopped at one point because something caught my eye. Even through the binoculars I wasn't sure what I was seeing… something with an unusual beak in the tree across one of the smaller areas of the wetlands. I called to Antonio to ask what he thought it was and to his surprise he said, "is is a first-time sighting." It was a Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile. Suddenly, its sibling arrived to join us. Like many species, their color is more of a camouflage when they are young, and the more distinct colors come with maturity. ese will eventually have a black "crown" on their head and down their back. eir face will become white causing their "crown" to stand out. I highly recommend this little adventure whether you are a bird enthusiast or not, we all need to do something different now and then. I feel being in nature is beneficial in a multitude of ways. A special thank you to Allan, Antonio and Joyce who made it a Saturday to remember. Your knowledge, high powered monocular sets, and courtesy warrants me boasting about you all. e next opportunity to join a Bird Walk is Oct. 13, Nov. 9, or Dec. 14. Register at www.emwd.org/bird-walks. For the Birds For the Birds

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