October 30, 2025 – Note: Inspired by the birds who have been visiting the feeders I’ve put up outside of my office window in the Science, Math, and Nursing Building at the main campus of the College of Marin, I thought I’d blog about my sightings. I’ll be making posts about sightings at both the Kentfield and Indian Valley campuses, and though I’ve titled this “Birds at College of Marin,” I’ll document other wildlife here, as well.
October 13, 2025
One of my favorite things about my new office (other than the beautiful view) is the fact that there is roof access that allows me to walk right up to my window on the outside. That, plus a concrete beam that runs along the side of the building, I’m able to hang bird feeders outside of my window!
So, I put Operation Feed the Birds into effect as soon as I could! I got a platform feeder for seeds, a suet feeder, and a bunch of uncooked in-shell peanuts so I could put out a smorgasbord of goodies for my little neighborhood friends. Of course, on my first pass at buying feeders and food, I completely forgot to sort out how I was going to hang them, so I picked up some straps for horse feeding bags, and they’re working great!
On this first day, I really did expect birds to show up pretty much immediately – within 15 or 20 minutes at most. But I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . and no birds! I did have a few Dark-eyed Juncos come up and peck at some seeds that had spilled (and I’d seen juncos out on the railing previously, which was what first gave me the idea to put out some food for the birds). But no one came to the feeder that day.
October 14, 2025
More Dark-eyed Juncos today.
October 15, 2025
Today I put out some raw in-shell peanuts, and it didn’t take long for the American Crows to find them. They weren’t shy at all about coming down to the roof – I didn’t put the peanuts right underneath my window; instead, they’re on a little rectangular section that juts out from the wall (hard to describe, but you can see it in the photo). My understanding is that someone else (maybe the person who had this office before me) also put food out for the birds on the ledge, so maybe there are still some birds with a memory of that.
Also, not a bird sighting, but this evening on campus (just as the sun had gone down, but before it was fully dark), I spotted a Columbian Black-tailed Deer. I was in the courtyard in front of SMN, and the deer wandered past, up the path parallel to Corte Madera Creek. So gorgeous!
October 21, 2025
Juncos, eating seeds that I put on the ledge. Still no action at the feeders themselves. I’ve also been putting out peanuts for the crow regularly, which they seem to appreciate. I think there might have been a raven or two – or maybe just crows that looked extra big?
October 22, 2025
More crows, and the juncos are also here every day.
October 23, 2025
Crows, crows, crows. It’s fun to watch them try and fit multiple peanuts in their beaks at the same time. I’ve been putting a few peanuts right beneath my window, as well, and the crows are clearly hesitant. They’ll come to sit on the railing near the window and take tentative steps closer. Eventually, one or two of them got up the nerve to come and snatch up a peanut before promptly flying away. I suspect they’ll come to trust soon enough. I’ve also noticed the crows pecking at the smaller seeds I’ve spread on the ledge – both under the window, and where I put out the bulk of the peanuts.
Unlike the crows, the juncos aren’t at all shy about being next to the window.
October 27, 2025
A new bird outside the window today . . . a Mourning Dove was perched on the rail when I arrived on campus today. It didn’t seem interested in the food, but was certainly a welcome guest.
October 28, 2025
Exciting day! More birds have discovered the feeders. In addition to my friends the crows and juncos, I saw a couple of finches – female House Finches, I think – that were actually ON the feeder! YAY! They flew away as soon as they saw me come into the office, but this means they have found the feeders!
A few minutes later, an Oak Titmouse came to investigate. I was so excited that I started bouncing in my chair (Becky was here chatting with me, and told me that it was adorable how excited I was, haha).
Last, but not least, a gorgeous Western Scrub-jay swooped over to snatch a peanut off the window ledge, and then flew away again.
I expect more visitors in the near future!
October 29, 2025
Morning: After I put out some peanuts, the American Crows came through, mostly one at a time, to grab them. However, I also had a much larger visitor: this time the larger bird was definitely a Northern Raven! Such a different facial profile when seen from close up. YAY! The image below is two photos stitched together, to see the size difference between the raven and one of the crows.
The Oak Titmouse was back, along with a Dark-eyed Junco or two. Plus, a few of the crows are getting bolder near the window. I didn’t put peanuts there this morning, but a couple came to nibble at the finish mix I’d spread out on the ledge.
Afternoon: On my way back to SMN, I saw a hummingbird (not sure of the species, but probably Anna’s) visiting the California Fuchsia growing in the courtyard. I did get a hummingbird feeder to put up in the window, but it’s still at home, and I’m not sure if I want to put it up now, or wait until the spring. But it is good to know there are hummingbirds around!
This afternoon after lab, I put out more peanuts (around 3:30), but the birds have been acting a bit strange about them. Right after I put them out, a couple of crows swooped by, but as they circled to land, they swerved away, as though there was something that made them nervous. Then, a whole bunch more birds did the same thing. At least a dozen came by, looked like they were coming down for peanuts, and then decided not to land at the last minute. Eventually, one bird did fly down and snatch one up without landing, but it’s been almost an hour, and most of the peanuts are still on the ledge. It makes me wonder if there is some predator out there I’m not seeing (a cat? I’m not sure how one would get up on the roof, and I certainly don’t see anything). But it’s kind of uncanny. Maybe they’re just not used to multiple peanut feedings in the same day?
A few minutes ago, an Oak Titmouse came to the white feeder (although I wasn’t able to get a photo),
Oh! A crow just landed and picked up a couple of nuts. And now two more. Good. The peanuts weren’t sabotaged, I promise! I wonder if maybe the rooftop is hot from the sunlight? It’s not all that warm today, but the sun has been shining all day. They seem to be landing in shady spots, so maybe that’s the problem? I do notice some heat waves (or some sort of anomaly in the air) coming up the side of the building, so perhaps I’m right about the temperature (or maybe a weird smell from what I think is HVAC equipment below that section of roof.
I do love the crows. They’re so gorgeous and majestic, and it’s fun to watch them swooping around. Sometimes they sit on the rail very near my window. There is one that has a couple of feathers that are bent out on its shoulder – at least I think it’s the same crow that I’ve seen a few times. They are out there again right now, along with about 5 others – the peanuts are getting eaten. (YAY).
Ah, and a Mourning Dove just landed on the railing, although not anywhere near the food. I wonder what sort of seeds they might like. I might add something to the menu for the doves. AND a little female House Finch just came to eat from the seeds on the ledge beneath the feeders. I am very optimistic that pretty soon, it’s going to be birds galore out there! 🙂
More house finches and juncos. And I got my very first photos of an actual bird ON THE FEEDER OH YEAH!!!’’
One of the juncos is a bit territorial – I’ve seen it defending the ledge against other juncos. And just now, I think it might have been a bit peeved with the house finch, but I don’t think it scared the finch away. On its own, the finch flew away and landed in one of the tall pines (ponderosa? I’m not sure) next to the Performing Arts Building. (Not the tallest of the trees, but the second-tallest).
Oh, and now a junco and male house finch have shown up, and a mourning dove hopped over to eat some of the seeds on the ledge. YAY! So, I guess I already do have food that they like. So gorgeous! I feel like mourning doves might be some of the most underrated birds in terms of just how beautiful they are. Their colors are so soft and pretty, and they have gorgeous faces. And now two more doves have arrived on the railing, and one more just hopped over to the ledge. Actually, make that three.
Oops I think I might have scared them away by taking a picture.
And a little tail-less junco who I’ve noticed several times before is here, for the first time today (at least that I’ve seen).
5:37 – A California Scrub-jay just landed beneath the window to grab a peanut. Gorgeous! And now a second one. This one is the most gorgeous blue! (The other one was also pretty, but the second one’s color seemed a bit richer).
Let me know what you think!