At the moment of sunrise, two prominent birds in the short sunrise sample are: Northern mocking bird (Mimus polyglottos), and ashy-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens). This example was made just outside of the front door of the temporary dwelling my wife, Kat, and I currently live in.

Normally, the dawn chorus in this rural grape-growing agricultural area of Northern California, is populated with white crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys), song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), juncos (Junco hyemalis), California towhees (Melozone crissalis), and American robin (Turdus turdus). But the on-going drought that began in 2011 and continues today, combined with the damage that the recent fires in our area have caused, seems, in combination, to have affected the vocal populations and the representative density and diversity. Our records indicate that spring now occurs two weeks earlier than 15 years ago, for example. It is also exponentially more quiet for the past six weeks with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic mandates to remain secure in our homes.