Birding At the Site  
The gates officially are open between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm every day. Park next to the roads or in designated parking spaces near the office. There are bathrooms at the office, but they are generally locked.  (If the office open, ask for the code.)  Birding is best on weekend mornings, before it gets too busy; weekdays can be noisy. Hazards include the obvious–tripping over uneven ground or tombstones while looking up, but also the remote possibility of falling limbs from these massive old oaks, especially during unusually wet, windy weather. Please remember that this is a cemetery, so be respectful of those visiting the graves of their loved ones.

The most heavily wooded part of this site lies in the central and southern half of the cemetery. As you wander among the oaks, listen for the distinctive chip notes and sweet songs of migrant warblers in spring. Check out the outer exposed branches of the trees for orioles and tanagers and be alert for the sharp call notes of flycatchers. Leaky spigots often attract bathing birds. High above, it is not unusual to hear the parakeet-like chatter of White-throated Swifts as they zoom past, often in the company of Tree Swallows. Soaring raptors include Red-tailed and even Swainson’s hawks, both of which have nested in the deodar cedars here. The opening of dove hunting season in September results in a great increase in Mourning Doves as they seek refuge here. In winter, the old gnarled pepper trees often produce Red-breasted Sapsucker, but other species of sapsuckers have occurred as well. Check out the winter flocks of sparrows for White-throated or something different. Varied Thrushes can sometimes be found skulking among the trees in winter, occasionally in large numbers. Expect Hermit Thrush also. Acorn Woodpeckers are resident and hard to miss. There are some wonderful old granary oaks here. Great Horned Owls nest here but are harder to find these days. Keep your eyes open for regurgitated pellets under the larger evergreens and your ears tuned for the occasional soft “hoo” if you are really lucky. Perhaps the easiest way to locate this or another species of owl is to key in on any concentrated mobbing activity. If you hear an incredible cacophony of jays scolding, stop what you’re doing and follow the sound. As you approach, you should notice other, smaller species joining in the focused mobbing. If you search the leaves patiently enough, you may well find yourself face to face with an owl!

It is worthwhile to check out the northern half of the cemetery as well. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found in the alders along the road in the extreme northwest corner of the cemetery in 1997, near the oaks where Purple Finches have been seen. Some of the more ethnically interesting graves are in this portion. This is much closer to the heavy traffic of Alpine Ave and to Oak Park, so there is more noise. (Another Yellow-bellied Sapsucker spent the winter of 2018-19 around the pepper tree in the southwest portion of the cemetery.)