Calling all bird lovers, corvid fans, and Audubon friends!

​There’s something magical about seeing Yellow-billed Magpies flashing their bright wing patches and chattering away right outside my home at Washington Commons Cohousing in West Sacramento. These clever, social birds — endemic to California and once nearly lost to West Nile Virus — are making a remarkable comeback. And so am I, after years away, I’ve returned to Sacramento and found my forever home in this vibrant, eco-conscious community.

Magpies are part of the brainy Corvidae family (think crows, ravens, scrub jays), known for tool use, memory feats, and the uncanny ability to recognize individual humans. (Yes, they remember who’s been naughty or nice!) For fellow bird nerds, I can’t recommend John Marzluff’s “Gifts of the Crow” enough, a fascinating deep dive into how these birds think and feel.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of spotting a Yellow-billed Magpie recently, consider joining a trip with Yolo Bird Alliance or Sacramento Audubon, both have expert guides and passionate volunteers. Or better yet, swing by Washington Commons; I’d be thrilled to point out a few local magpies myself. 🌿

Let’s keep celebrating biodiversity, smart birds, and community living.

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