Greg and Michelle Steffens 909.336.7971 direct | 909.534.8183 cell | info@gregsteffens.com
LOCAL BIRDS
I love birds. In fact, I studied birds in college (migratory waterfowl, to be precise)! There are tons of birds that make their homes here, whether they're here year 'round or just migrating through.
We are part of the Pacific Flyway and have a number of species of birds that move through this area on their way to warmer southern climes. Here's a partial list of some of these birds that you may see:
BALD EAGLE -click here. Bald Eagles are a rare treat. When they migrate through this area in the fall and winter, many people keep an eye out for them. If you're not fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of one in the wild, consider a trip to the Moonridge Zoo in Big Bear to see one.
Birds that are here all year long are quite plentiful as well. You may see some of the following:
MOUNTAIN QUAIL -click here. Mountain Quail are some of our favorite birds. They are very entertaining as they run hither and yon. We frequently have these little guys in our own yard and in the neighborhood. Their long, straight, black topnots and blue-gray bodies (with chestnut and white bars on their sides) are good identifying marks.
VALLEY QUAIL -click here. Our state bird, the Valley Quail is also known as the California Quail. It is more blue than gray in body color with black topknots in the shape of an apostrophe. They are smaller than the Mountain Quail but inhabit some of the same areas. It's distinctive call sounds like "chi-ca-go."
MALLARDS -click here. This is the duck that you most people identify with. It is common at parks and local lakes and ponds. You will undoubtedly see many of them in Lake Arrowhead Village and on Grass Valley Park. They are loud and raucous with their quacking. Many are local birds that do not migrate, but many others migrate through.
AMERICAN COOT -click here. This little guy is not actually a duck. It's feet are lobed, but not webbed like a ducks are. They have a little tougher time gaining flight due to their smaller wings and must run across the surface of the water to get airborne.
