Our Local Birds, Pollinators, Wildlife

We are in the Pacific Migratory Flyway Zone

It is one of the major migratory bird routes in North America, stretching from Alaska down the west coast of the Americas to Patagonia. It’s a critical path for millions of birds and monarchs each year. Over 300 species of birds migrate including hummingbirds, and many birds of prey. “But the Flyway is only as strong as each stop along the birds’ journey. Critical connecting habitats are being lost at an unprecedented rate due to land use conversion as well as impacts from climate change including drought, disease, and wildfire.” quoted from: Columbian Land Trust

The mix of coastal bluffs, beaches, estuaries, creeks, and forested areas in El Granada supports an impressive variety of migratory birds.

Photos taken by our local El Granada photographer and artist over the course of the last 40 years here in El Granada and along our coastside.

Our Local Wildlife in town and in our Parks

In El Granada, if you look and listen closely, patiently, and quietly you can see them. Sometimes you just need to look up in the median trees in town, take a hike in the hills, or watch carefully on the Burnham strip or the open meadows within town or the Park. You will see them. Examples: Monarchs, humming birds, Great Horned Owls, wood peckers, Yellow Warblers, swallows, thrushes, song birds, Canda Geese, Great Blue Herons, Egrets, Red Tailed Hawks, falcons, Golden Eagles, Ospreys, coyotes, bob cats, red and grey foxes, and more rarely, mountain lions. They were here before us. We are encroaching on them. Give them space and respect.

Some of Our Migratory Birds

🦅 Raptors

  • Hawks (Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk)

  • Falcons (Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel)

  • Eagles (Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle)

  • Ospreys

Others that we see in our area:

humming birds, warblers, songbirds, black crows, many types of shorebirds

References: American Bird Conservancy, Bird Life International, Pacific Birds

Monarchs

Overwintering Sites Nearby: Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz, but they do pause in sheltered coastal groves, including eucalyptus and cypress trees in Half Moon Bay and the midcoast..

Threats: Loss of nectar plants, milkweed, pesticide use, and tree removal (like eucalyptus!).