DRAW IT

What is Sepulveda Basin?

The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve lies in

the mid-San Fernando Valley. Developed in
Draw any birds you see around the
basin. Let your creativity flow!
1979 by the Corp of Engineers the reserve
was created with a pond, riparian SEPULVEDA BASIN
woodlands, and coastal sage. In 1988, the
60-acre habitat north of Burbank Boulevard
was installed with pathways, the lake, and
plantings of native annuals, shrubs, and
trees.

What is Multiplying Good?

Multiplying Good is a national nonprofit

focused on elevating public service as a
mean to empower individuals. Students
in Action is a unique youth service,
leadership, and recognition program that
immersive training, opportunities for
engagement, and a prestigious awards
platform that honors achievement.

What is Valley Changemakers? BIRDS OF THE

Valley Changemakers Students in Action
chapter is a youth program within
WILDLIFE RESERVE
Multiplying Good. As a response to the
increased wildfires, we are educating
others about wildfires and are focusing
on restoring parts of the Sepulveda
Basin by planting California native plants IF YOU TRULY LOVE NATURE, YOU
and cleaning up trash.
WILL FIND BEAUTY EVERYWHERE.

-VINCENT VAN GOGH-

Valley Changemakers Students in Action

2020-2021
Valleychangemakers.weebly.com
Instagram @valleychangemakers
MALLARD
LENGTH: 23”
The mallard is a dabbling duck. Mallards occur
throughout North America in ponds and parks as well
as wilder wetlands and estuaries. The male’s
gleaming green head, gray flanks, and black tail-curl
possibly makes it the most easily identified duck. The
majority of its diet is plant material, insects,
crustaceans, mollusks, tadpoles, frogs, earthworms,
and small fish.
AMERICAN COOT
LENGTH: 15 ½ “
Coots are tough, adaptable water birds. A coot
paddles at the surface of the water, upending in
shallows, dives, grazes on land, and steals food from
various ducks. The coot is a medium-sized diving bird
with a white bill, yellow legs, and lobed toes. Their
feet look oversized. The body is dark gray to black
with a blackish head and neck. Some of the undertail
feathers are white and visible.
TURKEY VULTURE
LENGTH: 27”
The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger and finds carrion
(decaying flesh of dead animals) by soaring over open
or partly wooded country, watching the ground and
the actions of other scavengers. Unlike most birds, it
has a well-developed sense of smell. The vulture is
black with brownish tones, especially on the feather
edges Their legs are dark to pinkish in color, and they
have an unfeathered head. The red skin color of the
head contrasts with the ivory bill and dark feather
ruff on the neck.
GREAT BLUE HERON
LENGTH: 4’6”
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird and forages mostly
by standing still or walking slowly in shallow water, waiting for
fish to swim near and then striking with a rapid thrust of its bill.
The heron may also forage from shore, from floating objects, and
in grassland. Eats mostly fish, but also frogs, salamanders,
turtles, snakes, insects, rodents,and birds. The Great Blue Heron
is a large bird with a slate-gray body, chestnut and black accents,
very long legs and a “s”-shaped neck.
RED-TAILED HAWK
LENGTH: 18 - 25”
The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most recognizable birds in
North America. This hawk is a rich brown color on top with a light
underside. There is a dark bar on the wing between shoulder and
wrist. The tail is pale below and a cinnamon red above. This bird
of prey does most of its hunting by watching from a high perch
and then swooping down to catch its prey.
Their food of choice are mice, rabbits, voles, and squirrels. This
hawk can dive at up to 120 miles per hour. They also mate for
life.
A Great Place to Birdwatch
Birdwatching is an excellent way to connect with and
appreciate nature. This is a year-round activity that
can be done wherever you are.
The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve bird list has over
200 species. In the winter, the lake sees almost every
species of waterfowl that visits Los Angeles County. In
the summer, Pied-billed Grebes, American Coots,
Anna’s Hummingbirds, Cliff Swallows, Double-crested
Cormorants and Blue Grosbeaks breed.
G PIED-BILLED GREBE
LENGTH: 12-15”
Pied-billed grebes are part bird, part submarine.
These small stocky short-necked brown birds have
thick bills that turn silver and black in summer.
Grebes are expert divers diving up to 20 feet for 30
seconds. They live in sluggish rivers, freshwater
marshes, lakes, and estuaries. They use their
chunky bills to kill fish, amphibians,, snalis, and
tadpoles. They are rarely seen in flight and often
hide in vegetation.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
LENGTH: 27”
The prehistoric-looking, matte-
black fishing bird with yellow-
orange facial skin is the Double-
crested Cormorant. These birds
are almost always near water
fishing or resting. When resting,
a cormorant can be found on a
bare branch or rock with wings out, drying their
feathers after fishing. Their diet consists of fish, some
insects,, and amphibians. The tip of their upper bill is
shaped like a hook, helpful in catching food.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
LENGTH: 6.7-9.1”
The Red-winged Blackbird, a medium-sized
songbird, is one of the most abundant birds in
North America. Males are glossy-black with
scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches. Females
are a muted, streaky brown resembling a dark
sparrow. Being omnivorous they feed on
millipedes,, insects, snails, seeds, berries, and
fruit. The Red-winged Blackbird lives in open
grassy areas preferring wetlands and they nextin
cattails., ,