Early Birds!

Spring Migration is happening!  I heard and saw Sandhill Cranes flying by, as well as American White Pelicans!  Neither one of these birds live in this area.  They are headed east to their nesting grounds.  Some of the Pelicans and Cranes nest in Sierra Valley, but most of them head farther north.

   

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos                 Sandhill Crane - Antigone canadensis       
         
The Pelicans fly by at a lower elevation than the Cranes, when they migrate through our area, and they're usually in groups of 12 or more.  Cranes fly by at very high elevations, in large groups of 100 or more!  I usually hear the Cranes before I see them.  They have a distinct rubbery sounding call (like balloons being rubbed together), 
that can be heard a long way!

American White Pelicans - Pelicanus erythrorhynchos

This week as I was walking along the North Yuba River, an American White Pelican flew by, following the course of the river!  It was too quick for me to get a picture, but I took these photos a few years ago on the North Yuba River, near Indian Valley!

This western population of Pelicans migrate through here in the Fall and Spring.  They spend their winters on the coast, in estuaries, marshes, and lagoons, as far south as Central and South America!  In the Spring they return to their nesting grounds, mainly in northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Canada!  Their nesting colonies can be quite large, with up to 5,000 pairs of Pelicans!

The color of their feet really surprised me!  Apparently, during breeding season the color of their feet, bills, irises, and the skin around their eyes becomes really saturated!  The males and females both grow horns on their bills, during the breeding season, which are shed once their eggs are laid.  You can see this horn, on the upper bill of the Pelican that has its beak open.

American White Pelicans are one of the largest birds in North America.  They are approximately 4 feet tall, weigh 16.4 lbs, and have a wingspan of 9 feet!   They eat up to 4 lbs. of fish daily, which they scoop up in their bills as they swim along.  They do not dive to catch fish.  They work in groups and corral the fish to shore, where shallow water makes them easier to catch.  

Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis

This western population of Sandhill Cranes, spends the winter in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys of California.  There their winter population can be in the tens of thousands!  In Spring they migrate to their nesting grounds in northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Canada and Alaska!  

Sandhill Cranes are another one of North America's large birds.  They are approximately 4 feet tall, weigh 10 lbs, and have a wingspan of up to 7 feet!  They are mainly herbivores, but will also consume small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles and amphibians.  They do not hunt in marshes or lagoons, but can be found on dry land near wetlands.   They will however lay their eggs, and nest on small "islands" in bogs and marshes. Their young are born precocial (covered in down and with their eyes open) and can leave the nest within one day!  However, they usually stay together as a family group for 9-10 months.

    

     Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans          Brewer's Blackbirds - Euphagus cyanocephalus           American Robin - Turdus migratorius

Ok, so LOTS of birds are showing up in my neighborhood!  Phoebes, Blackbirds, more Robins, Pigeons, and Kinglets, to name a few!  I'll talk more about them next week!  Also, it's time for newts, and lizards (finally!) to be active, so next week I'll focus on them also!

Sierra Newt - Taricha torosa