JT Birds

JT Birds Birds. Community. Connection. Helping people connect with birds, nature, and each other through events, education, photography, and experiences.

JT Birds discovered birding at the beginning of the pandemic-and he's gone out EVERYDAY since, looking to learn and share more about this vast and fascinating subject.

Little gem only weighs a few ounces…but I don’t think it knows that. From what I can see, it’s a BOSS…pushing around eve...
13/06/2026

Little gem only weighs a few ounces…but I don’t think it knows that.

From what I can see, it’s a BOSS…pushing around every other creature in its path.

Despite its physical size, it goes to Mexico and back every year.

That takes fuel.

They feed every few minutes, visiting well over a thousand flowers in a single day.

A thousand.

Smallest workhorse around.

Allen’s Hummingbird, North Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 6/12/26

We watched him lose his balance. I coulda sworn he looked at us…like, “you guys didn’t see that, did you?”Yeah buddy…we ...
12/06/2026

We watched him lose his balance.

I coulda sworn he looked at us…like, “you guys didn’t see that, did you?”

Yeah buddy…we sure did.

I can’t say for sure, but he looked embarrassed…like he knew I snapped these pics.

Do you think that’s possible?

Great Blue Heron, North Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 6/9/26

Most people on the planet will NEVER see this bird, but if you live in San Francisco, you can walk right past it any day...
09/06/2026

Most people on the planet will NEVER see this bird, but if you live in San Francisco, you can walk right past it any day of the year.

Nuttall’s carry “local celebrity” status.

A quick range map check shows you this dude’s range is EXTREMELY limited, mostly just seen in California.

Birders visiting this region NEED to see this bird while they’re here. Often it’s the only chance they’ll ever have.

By the way, have you ever really LOOKED at a woodpecker?

Or noticed that their tail feathers are extra stiff, holding their weight as they hunt the tree for insects….

And those TOES. Woodpeckers have LONG back toes they wedge into the bark for support.

One more fact??? The woodpecker’s TONGUE is extra long, and wraps around its brain to cushion it from all the repetitive drilling on the tree.

Sounds made up, but it’s a thing.

Woodpeckers…CTE free for MILLIONS of years.

Respect.

Nuttall’s Woodpecker, North Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco CA, 6/7/26

Look again. Florida offers much more than Mickey Mouse and gated golf courses, in case you missed it…The WILDLIFE in Flo...
07/06/2026

Look again.

Florida offers much more than Mickey Mouse and gated golf courses, in case you missed it…

The WILDLIFE in Florida is worth the price of admission alone.

You won’t find manatees in my town (San Francisco). Probably won’t find any alligators either, at least in the wild.

Nor will you find a whole SLEW of wading birds like this Tricolored Heron-or several of its cousins.

Birds like Little Blue Herons, Wood Storks, Limpkins, Roseate Spoonbills, White Ibises, and ANHINGAS are waiting there for you.

And no, I’d never see ANY of those birds in California.

It’s easy to forget...

…how large the world is, and thus how small we-and ALL of its inhabitants-are in it.

That thought gives me tremendous freedom, some cosmic permission to explore and wander.

Somewhere YOU wanna go?

Travel wide homies.

Do it NOW, if you can-WHILE you can-because nothing stays the same.

You’ll never be as young as you are right NOW, so don’t wait for anything.

TODAY will never happen again.

Tricolored Heron, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, 2/15/26

Baltimore Oriole (male), the Ramble, Central Park, New York, NY, 5/7/26Oddly enough, this was the first photograph I eve...
06/06/2026

Baltimore Oriole (male), the Ramble, Central Park, New York, NY, 5/7/26

Oddly enough, this was the first photograph I ever got of a Baltimore Oriole.

Even though I was raised in Jersey, well within their range, I have no memory of ever seeing them in my yard like I did Robins and Blue Jays and Cardinals. (Not that I would have much cared).

I spent five days in Central Park, and these pics were snapped early on the first day.

Didn’t see another male Oriole for the rest of my time there. This was the ONLY one.

Couple lessons for ME to remember there…

Be READY, like right away (I was). If I needed to stop, take out my camera, pop off the lens cap, find it and focus, that bird is looooong gone. And as we know, no photo for JT=sad JT.

And remember, this Oriole was one of the first birds I saw, at the start of the first of 5 NYC birding mornings.

Sometimes, the coolest stuff happens at the very beginning of the meal. It’s not always about the main course or the dessert.

That amuse bouche can be pretty epic.

Try to appreciate the whole journey homie.

Only one you got.

Wood Duck, Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, CA, 6/4/26Spent a while hanging at Buteo Books in San Rafael with the proprieto...
06/06/2026

Wood Duck, Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, CA, 6/4/26

Spent a while hanging at Buteo Books in San Rafael with the proprietor Lyzy and her mom Kathryn. Such lovely people and they’ve got a massive selection of books and field guides…you need to stop in there to say hi and grab some LITERATURE!

I was there to grab a copy of Solid Air by Daniel Klem Jr. His book discusses his decades of research detailing the perils and effects of birds colliding with windows…a must read.

I asked them for a spot to see some birds in the rough vicinity and somehow I’d never been up to Lake Lagunitas before.

I was told there’d be some baby Wood Ducks, and that was indeed correct. There were four of the little ones cruising around. (Last photo for a pic).

Huge thank you to Lyzy for the rec, and for doing the work you do. Keep it going homie.

JT

Pine Siskin, Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, CA, 6/4/26They live in my neighborhood, but I almost NEVER see them. Not alwa...
05/06/2026

Pine Siskin, Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, CA, 6/4/26

They live in my neighborhood, but I almost NEVER see them.

Not always, but USUALLY, they hang high in the trees, foraging around the pine cones.

I saw two of them drop down from the heights, landing near the ground-which surprised me. And whenever I see a behavior that surprises me, I associate it with baby birds. And this is the time of year they’re around, and their parents are chasing after them.

Not saying that’s the case here, but that’s where my mind went.

That swath of neon yellow is like nothing else you might see around here.

Stunning to see it shine in the sunlight.

05/06/2026

HOMIES-please read this.

In the US alone, a billion birds die from flying into buildings.

Billion with a B.

Every year.

This isn’t a new issue, and I’m not so naive that I think one more voice might move the needle. But I KNOW that I need to try to help.

So I had to pick up a copy of Dr. Daniel Klem’s book Solid Air.

He’s been studying bird collisions and developing EFFECTIVE preventive measures for decades.

I’ve recently (re)connected with him, as he’s a professor at , my Alma Mater.

I was a Literature major, and he’s in the Biology department, so we didn’t really connect there more than once.

But as my work in the bird world deepens, I’ve been seeing some interesting signs leading me right to his work.

We’ve spent a few hours talking lately, and I’m looking forward to learning more from him and helping him move this work forward.

Losing 30% of our birds over the last few decades…

Simply not sustainable.

Majority of building collisions happen in 1-3 story buildings. That’s YOUR house. YOUR office building. Not just high rises…

If you have ever walked outside your house and seen a dead bird that hit your windows, then yes, I AM talking to YOU.

We can prevent that.

Window patterns and UV reflective glass reduce bird strikes drastically.

Please look up Daniel Klem, and watch his videos on YouTube and DEFINITELY grab a copy of his book, Solid Air.

Let’s try to figure this out homie.

JT Birds

04/06/2026

Elk Glen Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 6/3/26

YO-you might not know it, but baby birds are EVERYWHERE right now, bouncing around city parks, paths, sidewalks, and even sometimes streets.

They’re totally new in the world. They LITERALLY have no idea what they’re doing or where to go. Or at least, they’re working it out…

You’ll sometimes see them out there, looking a bit lost…maybe you’ll see them spastically flapping their wings and shouting with all they got. Begging for food-or help from mom and dad.

This often happens under the cover of a bushes or tall grass, so you might HEAR them crying out-but not see them.

It sounds almost like an insect buzzing. That tone. That vibration.

These sounds are millions of years old.

I guarantee you’ve been hearing it your whole life, at THIS time of year, but you may not have known it.

Slow down…listen near those low bushes in the park.

And be COOL out there on the sidewalks and park trails...

These fledglings are completely relying on YOU to care about them.

To pay attention to them.

Can you?

If you’re still reading this…thank you.

We need more homies like YOU paying attention, so please pass it on.

👊👊👊

JT Birds

Purple Finch (juvenile), Lake Merced-Concrete Bridge, San Francisco, CA, 6/2/26Ok, I thought this was pretty cool…Sittin...
03/06/2026

Purple Finch (juvenile), Lake Merced-Concrete Bridge, San Francisco, CA, 6/2/26

Ok, I thought this was pretty cool…

Sitting at home tonight, looking over my pics from today…and I *think* this is a young Purple Finch.

In the moment, I was pretty sure this was a House Finch. They’re common here, and I’ve been seeing and hearing a TON of them lately.

With such limited experience with juvenile Purple Finch, it’s possible that I’ve mistaken the ID. And I can’t tell you how much I love that. Remember that I’m out here learning too.

See, there are a number of species that closely resemble another…the House Finch and Purple Finch are close, and juveniles are weird, not always consistent with their markings.

Sometimes in the field, it’s easy to be on autopilot, and not properly assess what’s in front of you.

This happened FAST-the bird was in my view for only 6 seconds. And then it vanished.

This would be a first for me. Not sure I’ve EVER seen a Juvenile Purple Finch, anywhere.

Any of my bird ID peeps out there wanna weigh in on what they think this is, and WHY they make the claim??

And what other species “trip you up” with your bird IDs?

Address

CA

Opening Hours

Monday 07:00 - 05:00
Tuesday 07:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 07:00 - 17:00
Thursday 07:00 - 17:00
Friday 07:00 - 17:00
Saturday 07:00 - 17:00
Sunday 07:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+14157933798

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when JT Birds posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to JT Birds:

Shortcuts

  • Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization?

Share