Olivia is a researcher from WSU who came out twice to survey birds on the farm, once at the end of May & once at the beginning of July. Here are the results…

First visit in May:

“Thanks for allowing me to survey Fifth Crow today! The farm is a great addition to the study since it is a mid-sized farm with livestock.

I observed 24 species while on the farm. The average from last year was about 14, so your farm was on the high end. The densities were pretty close to the average. I observed Barn Swallow, Brewer’s Blackbird, California Towhee, Common Raven, and European Starling in the row crop fields. I observed Song Sparrow in the orchards. I observed Barn Swallow, Brewer’s Blackbird, Cliff Swallow, European Starling, Great Blue Heron, and Savannah Sparrow in the pasture. The Savannah Sparrow is my favorite sparrow, and it was the first I’ve seen this season, so that was really awesome. I also haven’t previously observed a Great Blue Heron in a pasture during a survey, although they are common fly-overs.”

Second visit in July:

“I saw quite a few birds, with 34 species total. I heard Grasshopper Sparrows singing in the pasture, which was really cool! I haven’t found them at other farms and instead usually hear the similar Savannah Sparrow. I saw Norman [our resident heron] in the pasture with the cattle on my drive out, but he/she was absent during the actual surveys. Stan and Earl were also gone during the survey this time, though they were foraging in the row crop fields last time I surveyed the farm.

The total list of species observed in the row crops were American Robin, Anna’s Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, Brewer’s Blackbird, European Starling, and House Finch. In the pastures, I observed Barn Swallow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Cliff Swallow, European Starling, Grasshopper Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Savannah Sparrow. I observed Brewer’s Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling foraging in the chicken pen.”

Here’s the full list of spotted birds on the farm: American Crow, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Anna’s Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, Black Phoebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brewer’s Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bushtit, California Quail, California Towhee, Cassin’s Finch, Chestnut-backed, Chickadee, Cliff Swallow, Eurasian Collared-Dove, European Starling, Grasshopper Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, House Finch, House Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Lesser Goldfinch, Mallard, Pacific Wren, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swainson’s Thrush, Western Scrub-Jay, Wilson’s Warbler, and Wrentit.