Miguel Navarro
Staff Writer
The Pomona Valley Bird Alliance hosted its monthly bird walk Sunday morning at the California Botanic Garden in Claremont.
Over 20 bird watchers gathered on the sunny morning to view and hear the birds. They were led by Bird Alliance volunteer Kristen Janicka.
“It’s a wonder looking at birds,” Janicka said. “Each time seems like a new experience, even if it’s the same bird you’ve seen before.”
Bird watchers were given binoculars to easily spot different birds throughout the walk.
They were also referred to a bird-identifying app.
And Janicka also helped the group identify birds based on their color, shape and sound.
“Helping anyone with identifying and pointing out some of the features of the birds is important,” Janicka said. “I have been birding for quite a few years, so I know more than some and less than others.”
Among the birds spotted were the California scrub-jay, the California thrasher, the gold finch and a barn owl.
Bird watchers were excited to spot the owl in its nest inside a palm tree.
“I loved seeing the barn owl, it was my favorite by far,” said guest Laurie Hicks of Fontana. “I got a picture of its tail and feathers, but just knowing that it was there, and I have been into owls this year, so it was fun.”
As the walk progressed, flocks of birds appeared – among the tops of the trees and in the water areas of the trail.
Some birds were easier to identify due to their color and sound, such as the California towhee due to its tapping sound.
Another popular bird that flew closely to the group was the hummingbird, which was easily identifiable based on its long and pointy beak shape.
Besides the birds, other wildlife and plant life included squirrels, lizards, turtles and the canyon oak tree.
For the guests, the walk gave them the opportunity to connect closely with family and nature.
“I’ve been birding with my dad for a couple of months now,” Hicks said. “And we just go out once a month to just kind of look at places around the area. We heard there was an event that happens here each month, so we signed up for the next one available.”
Her father, Steve Lemaster, who also attended the event, shared a similar reason to attend the walk.
“My favorite part is just being a family, so we go out together,” Lemaster said.
For others attending, the nature aspect of bird watching motivated them to attend the walk.
“For me, it lets me disconnect from the craziness of life, the fast pace of my work,” guest Michaeal Farivar of Upland said. “I get to completely disconnect from that to enjoy nature and the birds.”
The bird walk is held on the first Sunday of every month at 8 a.m. at the California Botanic Garden. The next walk will be on Dec. 7 and registration is required.
Miguel Navarro can be reached at miguel.navarro@laverne.edu.
Miguel Navarro is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and is a staff writer for the Campus Times. He also serves as a broadcaster at the University of La Verne, and he hopes to one day work in sports media.
Bajot Rathor is a senior organizational management major with a concentration in leadership and management, along with minors in photography and American law. She is a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine.
