Birds at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery

Brewer's Blackbird

Commonly seen in the Fall and Winter, you will often see large numbers of this bird in the raceways eating fish pellets which have landed on the surface of raceway walls. The females are overall brownish and the males are shiny black with yellow eyes. Their natural foods are insects, plant seeds, fruits, and other small invertebrates. Through out the Spring breeding season, you may be able to see nest built on the ground.

Great Egret

Not as large as the Great Blue Heron but larger than the Black-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egret, and Green Heron which we also see at Nimbus. Prior the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which protected birds, Egrets and Herons were hunted for their feathers which were fashionable in ladies hats at the time. Great Egrets nest in rookeries and build large platform like nests high in trees. They hunt along river banks and in wetlands, estuaries, and sometimes in tall grass. Primary foods are small fish, crayfish, frogs, insects aquatic, snakes, mice, and small birds. The Great Blue Heron and Great Egret share the same genus, meaning they are similar in many ways but different enough to be separate species.

Great Blue Heron

Similar in all aspects to the Great Egret except it's size- It is the largest North American Heron. The Great Blue Heron is a wading bird, and wades in water up to its belly searching for food. Its long neck and legs are an asset for its hunting method. On land it stalks its prey by extending its body and neck outward for an advantageous view. When the unsuspecting prey is located it makes a quick strike catching it in its bill. They eat crustaceans, birds, snakes, amphibians, small mammals, insects and fish. The Great Blue Heron and Great Egret share the same genus, meaning they are similar but different enough to be separate species.

Common Goldeneye

They migrate from northern regions like Alaska where they find breeding habitat. We can see them in November through February and early March. Ducks are divided into two major groups: diving and dabbling. Goldeneye are diving ducks and they forage for aquatic insects, crustaceans, amphibians, mollusks and small fish in the American River.

Canada Goose

Can be seen all year but more so in the winter. These large, often vocal, birds are primarily an herbivore feeding on grasses and sedges. Their bills are adapted to nipping plants at the base. These birds, in the past, used to be migratory and would winter here in the Central Valley and return to northern breeding grounds in the spring. However, golf course lawns and parks have provided year-round habit for some.

Anna's Hummingbird

Present year round. They feed on flower nectar, small insects, and often at hummingbird feeders. You may see them with flower pollen on their bill or head and although they don’t forage for pollen they are also an important pollinator for some flower species. Weighing only 4 to 4.5 grams they must feed often to meet their high energy needs. At night they enter into a torpor state and their temperature drops to reduce their energy needs.

Double Crested Cormorant

Year-round but more abundant in fall and winter. They are often seen on the cable across the river. They dive from the river surface searching for fish which they catch with their long bill with a hook at the end. Unlike ducks and geese their feet are fully webbed. The double-crest refers to feather tuffs on their head which are prominent typically during breeding season and not often noticeable otherwise.

Turkey Vulture

Year round but more commonly seen in the winter during the salmon run. This bird is primarily a scavenger, and feeds on dead animals especially salmon along the American River during the salmon run. Their highly developed sense of smell allows them to locate concealed carcasses. They nest on rock outcrops and ledges. Eggs are laid directly on the ground. Their featherless head is an adaptation allowing them to reach into a dead animal and not have to clean up feathers.