It seems as if 2020 needed to squeeze in a bit more
bad news as the year comes to an end. The District as well as the
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have observed a
high number of dead bird calls describing a sparrow-like
bird. SMCMVCD laboratory staff have identified these birds
to be Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus), which can often be
confused for other finches or even American sparrows. Pine
siskins are fairly small with yellow patches on the wings and a
short, forked tail.
If you take walks in the early morning or evening
you may have recently seen clouds of fluttering insects rising
from the ground. They don’t fly well, but when backlit by the
sun, it makes you think of quiet days sitting by a lake in the
morning mist.
