Ospreys are creatures of habit, returning to the same nest sites year after year. Across 132nd Ave SE from Soos Creek Botanical Garden is Auburn Mountain View High School. On one of the tall light standards that illuminate the baseball field, Ospreys have built a large nest of sticks each year. Winter wipes it out but in April these migrating birds build again and launch their cycle of nesting, hatching and fledging a new brood. In Summer, visitors to The Garden can be treated to their calls and aerial dynamics

The hardy Anna’s Hummingbird is a year-round resident in our northern latitudes, at least where the marine environment moderates the temperatures in the winter. They have adapted to the scarcity of flowering plants by becoming very good at two things: First, gathering the energy they need by finding overwintering insects and capitalizing on the high sugar content of tree sap. Feeders put out by birding hobbyists also play a role. Second, they are expert in energy management by not wasting effort on activities not directly associated with survival and being able to put their little bodies into a lowered physiological state called “torpor” to conserve resources. Tough and smart little guys

The Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon variety (Junco oreganus) is one of the sub-species of the Dark-eyed Junco and is usually seen west of the Rocky Montains, showing up in the eastern regions during the winter months.
The Dark-eyed Junco is a member of the sparrow family. This forest dwelling bird is regularly seen around backyard birdfeeders for a few weeks during the spring and fall migration periods. Although it is usually a ground feeder, it is not uncommon to see them singing from trees. They are an easy find in the 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count, part of citizen science over a 4-day period from February 16th to February 19th this year.

We have wild birds throughout the garden but also a few in the Louie/Christensen Aviary. Though he doesn't have a mate, our Golden Pheasant/ Chinese Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) is already wearing his dating plumage for spring. What a beauty!

Even though they look like ducks, American coots are technically considered rails. As they swim around, acting like ducks, they have a secret lurking beneath the water. That's right, it's their odd chicken-like feet!
While coots don't have webbed feet like ducks, they have long toes with lobes of skin that help them swim. These lobes stay out of the way as coots walk and run.