Hummingbirds of the Palos Verdes Peninsula By Local Photographer Randy Harwood
As a Volunteer Trail Watch member with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy as well as an enthusiastic birder and photographer, I can generally count on always seeing hummingbirds when I get out into nature, very often on the 1,400 acre Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. Thanks to the Conservancy and thousands of supporters, the hummingbirds have an area to call home on these protected lands.
Hummingbirds are some of the tiniest, fiercest and most amazing birds in the world. Here in Palos Verdes, we find two common species. The adult male Anna’s Hummingbird is mostly emerald green with dark wings, while the male Allen’s Hummers are green with rufous flanks and backs and are a little smaller (and bolder) than the Anna’s. I’ve only occasionally seen two other species here, the darker Black-chinned Hummingbird and the Rufous Hummingbird.
All four depend on a good source of nectar and insects, as well as appropriate places to nest and raise their chicks and find shelter. The native coastal sage scrub plants grown and planted by the Conservancy are ideal for these wonderful little birds as well as a host of other plants and animals, many only found in these fast-disappearing California habitats.
I enjoy seeing hummingbirds while I monitor trails as a Volunteer Trail Watch member and speaking to visitors about birds and other wildlife, as well as leading free guided nature walk hikes around the nature preserves on the Peninsula every second Saturday of each month. Additionally, I enjoy birding as part of a community science program with the Conservancy. In this group of community science members, we conduct surveys of Cactus Wren to observe and monitor the numbers of count the threatened Coastal Cactus wrens.
Actively participating as a volunteer or joining one of the Conservancy’s activities in nature is a great way to make a real difference while enjoying wildlife like the beautiful hummingbirds. To learn more, please visit: www.pvplc.org/volunteer
Randy Harwood Occupation is a retired Dentist. He is a past member of the West Los Angeles Dental Society (WLADS) Board of Directors; Past member and Chairman of the WLADS Peer Review Committee; Past member of the California Dental Association (CDA) Council on Peer Review; Past clinical instructor at the UCLA School of Dentistry; Past member and President of the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society; certified California Naturalist; Co-Coordinator Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Volunteer Trail Watch.
To find out about volunteer opportunities and upcoming activities, please visit: www.pvplc.org
