Anyone living in Orange with an observant eye might have noticed groups of bright green birds perched in trees or soaring swiftly through the neighborhoods. With a prominent red forehead, these birds look like they came straight from Mexico – or maybe just Los Angeles. 

“They're called red crown parrots. They're not native. They’re an invasive species actually,” said Sahara Zúñiga Fernández, a sophomore double majoring in film and television production and sociology. “I've heard that there was a pet shop in L.A. that burned down and the parrots were able to escape and so they started moving around.”

While the truth behind these beautiful birds might be a mystery, The Panther spoke to members of Chapman’s Birdwatching Association to find out more about the birds students might see around Orange and the love they hold for their feathered friends.  

Fernández is the president of the organization and, along with a few other students, formed the birdwatching club last semester when they noticed there wasn’t already a place on campus to pour their birdwatching skills into. 

The Birdwatching Association meets on Mondays at 8 p.m., and the itinerary usually consists of planning their next outings, fun icebreakers and lectures on different birds. Fernández’s favorite bird, a rock pigeon, was the topic of their latest meeting.

“We talked about the rock pigeon, specifically the type of materials that get stuck on (their feet) and how to prevent that,” Fernández said. “So like, try not to leave plastic trash out, or if you have really long hair, try to dispose of it correctly. It’s also because they come into contact with those materials when they're trying to build a nest. So leave materials for them to build nests so they don't have to engage with the material that is probably going to hurt them.”

Sophomore psychology major Anushka Rai has been surrounded by flocks of birds for as long as she can remember. Growing up in India, Rai became very familiar with the constant shooing of pigeons as they crowded the streets and skies. It wasn’t until coming to California that she truly developed a love for the pesky birds, as she noticed there were hardly any. 

Now a board member of the Birdwatching Association, Rai appreciates sharing her love for birds with new people.

“We went on a nature walk to the farmers market, and I loved it because we were forced to wake up at 9 a.m.,” Rai said. “We went down neighborhoods, and there were a bunch of sparrows, and it was fun. We met all these new people, and the weather was pleasant, and there were so many birds; it was beautiful.” 

Even as the president of the Birdwatching Association, Fernández is still learning about the species and loves sharing and receiving knowledge during club meetings with other members. 

“I would say some people (at club meetings) actually know more than me,” Fernández said. “But most people are just curious and interested. I mean, it's not like a skill that you have to read a lot about. It's just like you start noticing patterns when you see the birds out and about, so it's a pretty learnable skill.”

Ideally, in the future, the group will be able to travel a bit further than just the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Fernández told The Panther that one day it would be neat to check out The Arboretum, also known as the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Fernández is also eager to figure out transportation to Oak Canyon.

“There's Oak Canyon, (which is) 15 or 20 minutes from here. It's like a trail, and there's even a section where they have bird feeders, and they have some signs like types of birds that are common to see around there,” Fernández said. “There's also a person there so you can ask them for more information.”

For those interested in birdwatching who feel intimidated about where to start, Fernández offered a piece of advice on how easy it is to just get started: be observant. 

No matter what your birdwatching background may be, Rai and other members encourage interested students to come check out a meeting to learn a thing or two about paying attention to not only birds but also the world around you. 

“I think birdwatching is a safe space for anyone,” Rai said. “You don't have to be an expert, and that's the beauty. We're all learning. We just want to know about nature.”

For more information about the Birdwatching Association, check out their Instagram.