Still Smoky

North Yuba River - July 30, 2018

Fires are still raging across California, but luckily (knock on wood) not in our area.  However, a lot of smoke continues to blow in from these fires.  In the mornings the sun is bright orange, and the river is a silken copper color.  The sparkles on the water reflect the smoke colored sun!  Wind continues to dry out the area even more.  Visibility was the worst yesterday, with the smoke even obscuring the sun!  Our thanks go to all the firefighters battling these terrible fires!  Be careful!  Be safe!

River Sparkles

 Osprey - Pandion haliaetus  &  Peregrin Falcon - Falco peregrinus

Raptors!

I spent several mornings watching the North Yuba River this week.  On Thursday, I spotted an Osprey perched on a snag above the river!  I watched it, from a good distance, for about 20 minutes!  It remained focused on the river that whole time.  99% of an Osprey's diet consists of fish.  They catch fish by plunge-diving feet first into a river, lake, estuary or ocean.  Their talons have little barbs that makes them able to grasp slippery fish.  They do not dive deeply into the water, usually less than 1 meter.  They mainly catch fish in shallow water, but also catch surfacing fish in deep water.  After capturing a fish they use powerful wing strokes to take off after being partially submerged in water!  They are the only raptor in North America that captures fish this way!  Once, my sister and I watched an Osprey plummet into the North Yuba River and fly off with a trout in its talons!  It was amazing!

As I was walking home after watching the Osprey, a different raptor came screeching down the river canyon!  It careened around and landed in a dead tree right above me.  It only stuck around for a few seconds, but I managed to get a quick photo!  It turned out to be a Peregrin Falcon!  WOW!  Peregrin Falcons do not eat fish.  They mainly prey on birds, some bats, and a few rodents!  They dive at astonishing speeds to catch their prey!  Dives, or "stoops", usually occur at an angle of 30-60 degrees, and range in speed from 66-86 mph!  Their vertical stoops, however, can reach speeds of 228-238 mph!  To reach these high-speeds, a stoop needs to start from 3,000'-5,000' above a targeted prey!  Obviously, Peregrin Falcons have extraordinary vision, to be able to pinpoint prey from such extreme distances!

Peregrin Falcon and Osprey populations both experienced a severe decline worldwide between 1950-1970, due to the widespread use of persistent organochloride pesticides, such as DDT.  This pesticide caused thinning of the birds' eggshells, and  subsequent poor hatching success.  Habitat destruction also contributed to their decline. Fortunately, this pesticide was banned in North America by 1972.  Both species of bird also became federally protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1970, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1972.  Additionally, the construction of nest platforms by concerned citizens has greatly helped their reproduction success.

Currently, both species have recovered their population losses, and in some cases have surpassed their historical numbers!  They have also shown an increasing ability to use man-made structures for their nest sites!  How lucky we are to still view these beautiful, amazing birds in their natural habitat!

  Small Water Strider - Gerris incognitus  &  Common Water Strider - Gerris remigis

Water Striders

Water Striders can "walk on water" because  they have fine water-repellent hairs on the underside of the tarsi (legs), that makes it possible for them to walk on the water's surface.  As reported in National Geographic, "Water strider legs are covered in thousands of microscopic hairs scored with tiny groves.  These grooves trap air, increasing water resistance of the waters striders' legs and overall buoyancy of the insect.”

The water strider has 3 pairs of legs. The front legs are short and allow the strider to quickly grab live or dead insects on the water's surface.  The middle legs act as paddles. The back legs are longer and provide additional power, steerage, and braking.  The buoyancy and paddling legs allows striders to be fast.  As stated in National Geographic, "striders are capable of speeds of a hundred body lengths per second. To match them, a 6-foot-tall person would have to swim at over 400 miles an hour.”  Amazing!  Also, many species of Water Striders have wings, which they use to fly to a new wet area, once their area dries up!

 Rainbow Trout fingerlings

Rainbow Trout

The most common fish in the North Yuba River are Coastal Rainbow Trout, which are native to California, but have been planted locally.  It will take about 1 year for these small fish to become juveniles and reach a length of about 6 or 7 inches.  At about 2-3 years of age they will have grown to around 18 to 20 inches in length and become mature adults, ready to reproduce.

 Common Mergansers - Mergus merganser

River Birds

I saw a mother Merganser with three adult-sized young diving in the river this week.    These are a different group of Mergansers than the ones I photographed a few weeks ago.  These young Mergansers are a lot older and more developed.  I had never noticed how low they sit in the water!  They are really quite submerged!  The mom is the one with the darker head.  Mergansers are mainly fish eaters, so Coastal Rainbow Trout fingerlings are probably one of their main prey!  

 Common Mergansers - Mergus merganser

 Rufous Hummingbirds - Selasphorus rufous 

Hummer Update!

There are still LOTS of hummers at our feeders! It is such fun to hear them twittering and watch them competing for a place at the feeders! They are also feeding on the flowers in our garden! So beautiful!

 Rufous Hummingbird - Selasphorus rufous  

The longest lunar eclipse of the century, almost 4 hours long, took place on Friday, July 27th.  However, we were unable to view the eclipse from North America.  The moon during this eclipse was called a "Blood Moon."  

Where are the bear?

What's happening with those Hairy Woodpeckers?

Are there any reptiles and amphibians around?

 What kind of baby birds are these?

 What has this Black Bear been eating?

Is this a "Blood Moon"?

 Warbling Vireo - Lincoln's Sparrow

 Vireo gilvus - Melospiza lincolnii

My friend, Peggy, identified these little birds for me!  

I have never seen them before!  Thanks Peggy!

Is that Yellow-billed Magpie still in the area?

Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!

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Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com