The Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica Nuttalli) doesn't exist anywhere in the world except here in our part of the Central Valley. We have written about them before, but we haven't focused on their habitat. Among other things, they prefer to nest high up in trees like Valley Oaks, Blue Oaks, Sycamores, Monterey Pines and Locusts (☑️ lots of those here) in proximity to flowing water like Arcade Creek, our sloughs and the American River (☑️, including our irrigated yards and gardens) so they can build their nests out of sticks and mud (☑️, we have that, too). They eat butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, ants, bees, beetles, bugs, flies, and spiders (☑️), acorns, seeds, grains, nuts, and berries (☑️), dog food and trash (☑️). The species lost half its population during the height of the West Nile virus epidemic in the early 2000s. The population declined by over 75% from 1968 to 2015, with loss of habitat being the primary reason. Because Yellow-billed Magpies are not found anywhere else, birders all over the world envy our routine proximity to them. Unless we protect the habitat of these birds, though, they are in serious danger. So, while we enjoy their presence and their antics, let's do our best to be good stewards of their habitat.