California Natural History Guides #84: Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast

"Coastal southern California offers some of the best birdwatching anywhere. The best way to learn about the birds here would be to go on a field trip with Joan Lentz, but if you can't do that, reading this book is the next best thing. Joan shares her knowledge of birdlife with clear, graceful writing and with contagious enthusiasm, making this book the perfect introduction to the subject."--Kenn Kaufman, author of Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America

"Joan Lentz has a gift for making the complex world of birds and birding accessible to the beginner and the casual enthusiast, and through this gift she celebrates in this attractive volume the bird-rich coastal regions of the nation's most ornithologically diverse state. I hope and expect that Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast will expand the numbers of citizens who appreciate and strive to preserve our imperiled coastal habitats."--Kimball L. Garrett, Ornithology Collections Manager, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

"A 5th generation and lifelong California resident, Joan Lentz has the ability to communicate her extensive knowledge to birders of all levels. This book introduces a whole new generation of birders to the wonders of the southern California coast--it will be invaluable to birders of all levels of expertise."--Jon Dunn

This easy-to-use, concise, informative guide is a must for anyone who wants to leave behind Southern California's noisy freeways and crowded beaches in search of the wild places where birds can be found. An excellent introduction, an indispensable regional guide, and a perfect companion for excursions from San Luis Obispo County to the Mexican border, it is designed to familiarize birdwatchers, hikers, naturalists, residents, and travelers with the appearance and behavior of 120 of the most common coastal birds.

*Features 120 superb color plates and lifelike habitat drawings that depict birds in their natural surroundings

*Sixteen maps show numerous birding sites accompanied by detailed directions

*Species accounts include information on the abundance and seasonal status of each bird and give intriguing natural history details

*Introductory sections describe the coastal habitats of Southern California, provide tips for beginning birdwatchers, and discuss the basics of bird behavior

Joan Easton Lentz is a Research Associate with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She also teaches bird classes for the Santa Barbara Community College Continuing Education Division and is author of Great Birding Trips of the West (1989) and Birdwatching: A Guide for Beginners (1985).

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

A Bird's Eye View

Boundaries of the Coastal Strip

Climate and Habitats

Birding Basics: What to Look For

How Coastal Birds Live

Feeding and Flocking

Migration

Nesting Colonies

Before You Go

Species Accounts

Geese and Ducks

Loons

Grebes

Shearwaters

Pelicans

Cormorants

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Ibises

New World Vultures

Hawks

Falcons

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Plovers

Oystercatchers

Stilts and Avocets

Sandpipers

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Auks

Barn Owls

Kingfishers

Tyrant Flycatchers

Crows and Ravens

Swallows and Martins

Wrens

Starlings and Mynas

Pipits and Wagtails

Wood-Warblers

Sparrows

Blackbirds and Orioles

Birding Sites along the Coast

San Diego County

Orange County

Los Angeles County

Ventura County

Santa Barbara County

San Luis Obispo County

Going by Boat

Shoreline Size Chart

Gull Identification

Seasonal Occurrence Bar Graphs

Suggested Reading

Index