PERSON OF INTEREST

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Rancho Santa Margarita resident Ryan Winkleman is a biologist and prominent member of the Orange County birding community. by Astgik Khatchatryan

How did you get into birding? I started around 2010. I took some ornithology classes through UC Riverside extension, and then it became my hobby as well as my occupation. Before birds, I was focusing mainly on amphibians and reptiles. But birds are much more ubiquitous. There are 10,000 species in the world, and in California alone there are almost 700. So it became a fun challenge to learn them all.

What do you do for the community? I keep track of status and distribution, which means knowing how common a bird is in this area and where it can be found. I compile a quarterly report of the county for a scientific publication published through the American Birding Association. I also co-run the Orange County Birding online discussion forum where people post their sightings. I along with Jeff Bray put together a weekly Rare Bird Alert that lists the rare birds that have been spotted.

What are some of the rare ones to look for? During the spring and fall migrations, you’ll see calliope hummingbirds, gray flycatchers, vesper sparrows, and yellow-billed cuckoos. This month, you might see the rufous hummingbird, as well as many of our shorebirds returning such as sandpipers.

Do you have a favorite species? My favorite—and some people would probably roll their eyes at this—is the broad-tailed hummingbird. I personally found the first record of it in Orange County, in 2016. It’s a cool bird. They usually breed in the mountain states, and they’re known for going into a state of torpor at night, which means they slow down their heartbeats and shut down their bodies to save energy in the cold. I just love them.

LEARN MORE!

Winkleman recommends joining the Sea and Sage Audubon Society on birding field trips around O.C. seaandsageaudubon.org