AVC Campus Bird List

ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE LANCASTER CAMPUS BIRD LIST (1984-2025)

Compiled and updated by Callyn Yorke, Ph.D.

TOTAL = 125 Species

Background

I began surveying the AVC Lancaster campus for birds upon arrival in the autumn of 1984. Within the first few weeks of the Fall semester, I had documented about thirty-five bird species on the campus. It was soon clear to me that birds, predominantly regional and long distance migrants, were obtaining suitable resources on the campus; many more species would be added to that initial tally through the years. Indeed, teaching on the AVC campus provided me with an interesting and convenient opportunity for pursuing projects in ornithology.

In the1980s, the campus comprised about 110 acres and included a large variety of mature ornamental (exotic) shrubs, trees (e.g. Mulberry, Sycamore, Maple, Locust, Cypress, Aleppo Pine) and lawns, interspersed with multiple buildings of the1950s vintage – dating to the campus opening in 1959. There were also patches of native Joshua Tree – California Juniper desert on and adjacent to the campus. Those marginal areas supported the typical avifauna of the Western Mojave Desert, e.g. Greater Roadrunner, Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Cactus Wren. To my knowledge, there was no written record of birds on the campus prior to my arrival. Apparently, I was the first AVC faculty member with more than just a passing interest in birds.

The Antelope Valley, as a growing commuter suburb in northern Los Angeles County, was changing rapidly. Student enrollment at AVC had doubled by the late1990s and the college district initiated an ambitious master plan for expansion, including land acquisition, demolition and construction of large, modern buildings – projects that would dominate the campus in the decades to follow.

Fast-forward twenty-five years and the AVC campus is almost unrecognizable. During a recent campus visit (11/10/24), I was like a disoriented freshman rambling amongst unfamiliar buildings, walkways and new construction surrounded by a maze of chain-link fences and safety barriers. Some of the original mulberry trees and pines provided points of reference. A surprising amount of demolition and construction had occurred since I had carted away the last load of books from the office at the onset of my retirement in June, 2020.

Such dramatic modifications, i.e. addition of new buildings, removal and replanting of ornamental shrubs and trees, correlated with changes in the numbers and kinds of birds found on the campus. Some resident species disappeared altogether, e.g. nesting Black-chinned Hummingbird and American Robin, while others appeared to thrive, e.g. Say’s Phoebe, Common Raven, European Starling and House Finch. Migratory birds, including seasonal residents, e.g. Western Kingbird, Lawrence’s Goldfinch and Black-headed Grosbeak, became scarce. Itinerant species continued to appear on campus during the spring and fall months but were generally found in low numbers (1-2) and became increasingly irregular, e.g. Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and MacGillivray’s Warbler. Birds typically associated with ruderal fields, drainage ditches and desert scrub, e.g. Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, Cactus Wren, Lark Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow and Brewer’s Sparrow, largely disappeared as land was converted to playing fields and paved parking lots. By the time I retired in 2020, there was absolutely no natural desert habitat remaining on the college campus. The places on the north and west sides of the campus, where I had for many years taken my biology classes on desert ecology walks, sadly, were gone forever.

Bird surveys, both casual (i.e. walking to and from my classes) and systematic (largely done during relatively quiet periods, including weekends), sometimes involved other AVC faculty and students. In particular, two of my colleagues, Charles Hood and Dan Byrne, made multiple contributions to the AVC campus bird list through the years. My biology classes also engaged in field ornithology, taking advantage of the relative ease of making behavioral observations of birds on or near campus for their term projects. Currently, Dr. Zia Nisani and his students in the AVC Biology Department are using this bird list and other reports I have published online, as part of an exciting new undergraduate research program.

For this, an essentially historical AVC Lancaster Campus Bird List, frequency of occurrence (i.e. common, uncommon) and abundance (numerous to scarce) in most cases have been omitted. Campus-wide construction and landscaping has resulted in significant changes in bird populations. Furthermore, it appears likely that the remarkable bird diversity formerly found on the AVC campus, as indicated by this list, at best, will be very slow to return.

Meanwhile, I trust that the current and future AVC Board of Directors, administration, staff and students, in view of this campus bird list, will see the urgent need for reversing a global decline in wild bird populations. The college district should consider doing its fair share for local nature conservation by revising the Antelope Valley College Master Plan to include significant mitigation measures for the massive loss of natural resources. This could be accomplished by using natural landscaping, i.e. establishing an oasis of native herbs, shrubs, trees and water features, wherever open, undeveloped space remains.

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KEY

Observers and Date (M/D/Y) of first sighting, if known: Dan Byrne (DB); Charles Hood (CH); Callyn Yorke (CY); Ethan Yorke (EY). * a species with fewer than four documented sightings; (n) = nesting and/or presence of fledglings on or immediately adjacent to the campus. (E ) = exotic, introduced. (?) = questionable record; details lacking.

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Taxonomic Bird List

DUCKS AND GEESE (Anatidae)

  • Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (CY 4/5/03)

NEW WORLD QUAIL (Odontophoridae)

  • California quail Callipepla californica

PARTRIDGES (Phasianidae)

  • Chukar Alectoris chukar (E) * (DB 10/3/95)

GREBES  (Podicipedidae)                                                                  

  • Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps * (CY 7/08/94)

PIGEONS AND DOVES (Columbidae)

  • Feral Rock Pigeon Columba livia (E) (n)
  • Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto (E) (CY 4/26/11)
  • Mourning dove Zenaida macroura

CUCKOOS (Cuculidae)

  • Greater roadrunner Geococcyx californianus

SWIFTS (Apodidae)

  • Vaux’s swift Chaetura vauxi

HUMMINGBIRDS (Trochilidae)

  • Black-chinned hummingbird Archilochus alexandri (n)
  • Anna’s hummingbird Calypte anna (n)
  • Rufous hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
  • Allen’s hummingbird Selasphorus sasin * (CY 4/21/04)

RAILS and COOTS (Rallidae)

  • Sora Porzana carolina * (CH 11/ 96)
  • American Coot Fulica americana * (CH 11/23/11)

PLOVERS (Charadriidae)

  • Killdeer Charadrius vociferus (n)
  • Mountain plover Charadrius montanus * (DB 3/07)

SANDPIPERS (Scolopacidae)

  • Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus * (CY 4/16/91)
  • Wilson’s snipe Gallinago delicata * (CY 11/6/94)

GULLS and TERNS (Laridae)

  • Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis
  • California gull Larus californicus

CORMORANTS (Phalacrocoracidae)

  • Double-crested cormorant Nannopterum auritum (CH 4/01)

HERONS and EGRETS (Ardeidae)

  • Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis * (CH 4/4/96)
  • Great egret Ardea alba

NEW WORLD VULTURES (Cathartidae)

  • Turkey vulture Cathartes aura

OSPREY (Pandionidae)

  • Osprey Pandion haliaetus (CH 10/17/15)

KITES, HARRIERS, EAGLES and HAWKS (Accipitridae)

  • White-tailed kite Elanus leucurus * (CY 9/25/95)
  • Northern harrier Circus cyaneus * (CY 1/24/94)
  • Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus * (CY 10/19/94)
  • Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii
  • Red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus  (CY 8/10/98)
  • Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis (n)
  • Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni (CH 4/10)
  • Ferruginous hawk Buteo regalis

BARN OWLS (Tytonidae)

  • Barn owl Tyto alba

TYPICAL OWLS (Strigidae)

  • Great horned owl Bubo virginianus (n)
  • Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia (n)

WOODPECKERS (Picidae)

  • Red-breasted sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber * (CY 3/22/99)
  • Ladder-backed woodpecker Picoides scalaris
  • Hairy woodpecker Picoides villosus * (CH 4/91)
  • Northern (red-shafted) flicker Colaptes auratus

FALCONS (Falconidae)

  • American kestrel Falco sparverius
  • Merlin Falco columbarius * (CY 12/21/96)
  • Prairie falcon Falco mexicanus * (DB 1991)

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannidae)

  • Western wood pewee Contopus sordidulus
  • Willow flycatcher Empidonax traillii
  • Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii (CY 4/21/12)
  • Hammond’s flycatcher Empidonax hammondii
  • Dusky flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri * (CY & CH 4/20/98)
  • Pacific slope flycatcher Empidonax difficilis
  • Black phoebe Sayornis nigricans
  • Say’s phoebe Sayornis saya
  • Cassin’s Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans (CH 12/14/24)
  • Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis (n)
  • Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus (CH 12/16/23)

SHRIKES (Laniidae)

  • Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus

VIREOS  (Vireonidae)                                           

  • Plumbeous vireo Vireo plumbeus * (CY 5/11/91)
  • Cassin’s vireo Vireo cassinii * (CY & DB 4/19/12)
  • Warbling vireo Vireo gilvus

JAYS and CROWS (Corvidae)

  • California Scrub jay Aphelocoma californica
  • American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos * (CH 2/2/96)
  • Common raven Corvus corax (n)

LARKS (Alaudidae)

  • Horned lark Eremophila alpestris

SWALLOWS (Hirundinidae)

  • Tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor
  • Violet green swallow Tachycineta thalassina * (CY 3/15/91)
  • Cliff swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
  • Barn swallow Hirundo rustica

CHICKADEES and TITMICE (Paridae)

  • Oak titmouse Baeolophus inornatus * (DB 10/1/96)
  • Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli

NUTHATCHES (Sittidae)

  • Red-breasted nuthatch Sitta canadensis
  • White-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
  • Pygmy nuthatch Sitta pygmaea

WRENS (Troglodytidae)

  • Cactus wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (n)
  • Northern House Wren Troglodytes aedon
  • Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus * (?)
  • Marsh wren Cistothorus palustris * (CY 9/19/95)
  • Bewick’s wren Thryomanes bewickii

KINGLETS (Regulidae)

  • Ruby-crowned kinglet Regulus calendula

THRUSHES (Turdidae)

  • Western bluebird Sialia mexicana * (CY & EY 3/11/07)
  • Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides * (CY 1/8/15)
  • Swainson’s thrush Catharus ustulatus
  • Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus
  • American robin Turdus migratorius (n)

MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS (Mimidae)

  • Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos (n)

STARLINGS (Sturnidae)

  • European starling Sturnus vulgaris (E) (n)

WAXWINGS (Bombycillidae)

  • Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

OLD WORLD SPARROWS (Passeridae)

  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus (E) (n)

PIPITS and WAGTAILS (Motacillidae)

  • American (buff-bellied) pipit Anthus rubescens

FRINGILLINE AND CARDUELINE FINCHES (Fringillidae)

  • Cassin’s finch Haemorhous cassinii
  • House finch Haemorhous mexicanus (n)
  • Red crossbill Loxia curvirostra
  • American goldfinch Spinus tristis
  • Lesser goldfinch Spinus psaltria
  • Lawrence’s goldfinch Spinus lawrencei (n)

WOOD WARBLERS (Parulidae)

  • Tennessee warbler Oreothlypis peregrina * (?)
  • Orange-crowned warbler Oreothlypis celata
  • Nashville warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla
  • MacGillivray’s warbler Geothlypis tolmiei
  • Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
  • American redstart Setophaga ruticilla * (CY 9/7/97)
  • Yellow warbler Setophaga petechia
  • Yellow-rumped warbler Setophaga coronata
  • Black-throated gray warbler Setophaga nigrescens
  • Townsend’s warbler Setophaga townsendi
  • Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla
  • Yellow breasted chat Icteria virens * (CY 9/19/97)

EMBERIZIDS (Emberizidae)

  • California towhee Melozone crissalis * (CY 6/5/07)
  • Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina
  • Brewer’s sparrow Spizella breweri
  • Lark sparrow Chondestes grammacus
  • Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
  • Lincoln’s sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
  • Song sparrow Melospiza melodia * (CY 11/6/94)
  • Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca
  • White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii
  • Oregon Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis thurberi
  • Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis hyemalis

TANAGERS, BUNTINGS and GROSBEAKS (Cardinalidae)

  • Western tanager Piranga ludoviciana
  • Black-headed grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus
  • Lazuli bunting Passerina amoena * (CY 9/24/95)

BLACKBIRDS & ORIOLES (Icteridae)

  • Red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
  • Yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus * (CY 5/30/03)
  • Brewer’s blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus (n)
  • Great-tailed grackle Quiscalus mexicanus * (CY & DB 4/9/08)
  • Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater (n)
  • Bullock’s Oriole Icterus bullockii

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