surfbirds.com

MAY 29TH, 2000

Smuggler's Gulch, Tijuana River Valley, Southern California

California certainly gets its fair share of birds with contentious origins. Last winter it was the Blue Mockingbird and the winter before it was a Gray-silky Flycatcher. Birders were able to make convincing arguments for both species' potential vagrancy from Mexico. Other more cautious birders cite the presence of the Tijuana bird cage market where these species are common in captivity just across the Mexican border.

Another bird that will also fall into this camp of contention is a male Black-backed Oriole discovered in Smuggler's Gulch in the Tijuana River Valley right on the Mexican border.

I take the long drive south and arrive early and join the twenty or so birders looking for the oriole. Amongst the many Bullock's, I soon see the male Scott's Oriole that the Black-backed has been associating with and also a male Northern Cardinal.

After a short wait, someone spots the oriole at the top of its favorite eucalyptus and we all enjoy good views of it for the next half an hour as it chases some female Bullock's Orioles around. Whatever its origins it really is a smart bird.

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