Winter Birds

Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri

Birds have a variety of strategies to survive the cold of winter.  Puffing up their feathers keeps in the warmth and keeps out the cold.  Eating as much food as possible when it's available, helps them survive leaner times.  When there isn't much food, they tend to puff up their feathers and rest to conserve energy.  Roosting together or in a cavity keeps them warmer.  When resting or roosting, they perch out of the wind to conserve heat.  When it's raining, their outer feathers are good for shedding water up to a point.  They do have to be careful not to get thoroughly soaked, as they could easily die from hypothermia.  During long periods of heavy rain, most birds seek shelter and become inactive.  Additionally, some birds can drop their body temperature and go into a controlled torpor to conserve energy!  It amazes me that they can survive out there in the rain, wind, snow, and cold temperatures while living on seeds, berries and a few insects! 

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodius

I've been seeing the Great Blue Heron on the river again!  We also saw it fly by yesterday evening at dusk!  I noticed that it was standing on one foot on a rock, and not in the water.  Apparently, standing on one foot is a strategy used to keep their feet warm. "Warm" is a misnomer!  In winter, most birds have very cold feet.  Usually they are just above freezing in temperature.  They don't get frostbite because there's not much fluid in the cells of their feet.  Also, the circulation in their feet is so fast, that the blood doesn't have time to freeze!  The blood vessels going from the feet to the body and body to the feet are right next to each other.  The cooled blood going back to the body is warmed by the warm blood going to the feet from the body!  Wow!

American Dipper - Cinclus mexicanus

American Dippers live year-round on our river. Their main food is aquatic insects and their larvae!  They swim and walk underwater searching for their prey!  To stay warm and dry, they have enlarged oil glands for waterproofing their outer feathers, as well as a thick undercoat of down feathers!  Lately I've been hearing them sing on the river!  They are the only "swimming" songbird in North America!

Grizzly Peak 12/26/18

Weather Update

The last time I reported our precipitation statistics was on 12-16-18.  Since then we have had an additional 3.31" of rain, bringing our total rainfall to 12.72"!  It was wonderful to get the rain!  Mists and clouds were in abundance!  However, it has been about a week since any rain has fallen, and it's been clear and COLD!!!  Temperatures at our house have been in the 30's and 40's!  

   

Sierra Buttes - weasel track - 12/27/18

Lakes Basin Update

We hiked up to Lower and Upper Sardine Lakes this week, which are around 6,000' in elevation.  It was freezing, windy, cloudy, and gorgeous!  There wasn't much snow on the ground on the south facing slopes.  It was patchy with about 3"-5" in the shaded areas!  The Sierra Buttes had a lot more snow, as they are at 8,587' in elevation.  We saw lots of animal tracks, mainly Chickarees, but also saw a lone weasel track (above right)!  The tail drag mark is distinct for a weasel!  

Both lakes were only partially frozen, but the ice patterns were gorgeous!

We could see wind blown "snow banners" up on the crest of the Buttes!  

The wind must have been roaring over the ridge tops!

Upper Sardine Lake 

We had the area to ourselves!  The clouds kept it dramatic and the wind was wild!  We even had a few snow flurries!  It was wonderful to be back in the Lakes Basin in the winter!

Anna's Hummingbirds - Calypte anna

I thought all the Hummingbirds had left our neighborhood, because I hadn't seen any for days.  However, two showed up at our feeders today!  I'm glad I hadn't taken the feeders down.  Maybe these two will spend the winter here.  

Fox Sparrow - Spotted Towhee - California Towhee

Passerella iliaca - Pipilo maculatus - Melozone crissalis

The Fox Sparrows and Spotted Towhees are still feeding regularly down at our feeding station.  New this week, I spotted a California Towhee!  I saw one of these in our garden in October.  Apparently, they can live here year-round!  They are overall grey-brown in color, with an apricot blush on their face and undertail.  They eat seeds, berries (especially Poison Oak!), and insects on the ground.  

  

Hermit Thrush - Gray Fox tracks

Catharus guttatus - Urocyon cinereoargenteus

I also spotted a Hermit Thrush near our feeders, eating Virginia Creeper berries!  Its name comes from its solitary elusive behavior.  Although they are supposed to be common in our area, I rarely see them!  They are well camouflaged when foraging in shrubs.  Hermit Thrushes flit their wings about and pump their tails when they're perching.  They feed on fruit and berries in winter. 

I haven't seen the fox lately, but I see his tracks regularly at our feeding station!

View of the North Yuba River off the Canyon Creek Trail 

12/22/18

The Canyon Creek Trail

Canyon Creek Trail begins where Highway 49 first crosses the North Yuba River.  It parallels the river downstream, and ends at the confluence of Canyon Creek and the North Yuba River.  It is approximately an 8 mile round-trip, fairly level, snow-free hike at 2,300' in elevation.  It's a lovely hike in the winter!     

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus

I always look for birds at the beginning of this trail, and last week I got super lucky!  I spotted a dead tree with what looked like a limp, orange, Maple leaf on the top!  I zoomed in with my camera and was delighted to find out that the orange color was from the feathers of a hawk!!!  I excitedly took tons photos, not knowing what kind of hawk it was.  I stopped in the library and looked it up, and identified it as a Red-shouldered Hawk!!!  I had never seen one before!  Wow!!!

Apparently these hawks are common in the central valley and foothills, but have increased their range into our area in the past few years!  They eat small mammals, frogs, snakes, crayfish, insects, earthworms, Mourning Doves, and sparrows!  Riparian areas and marshlands are their preferred habitat.  While perching they scan for prey on the ground, and then swoop down to catch them.  I was thrilled to see this beautifully feathered hawk!  I watched it for 10 minutes, before it flew off downstream.  Hopefully I'll see it again this winter! 

Mule Deer sp. - Convergent Lady-beetles

Odocoileus hemionus sp. - Hippodamia convergens

I also saw several deer take off into the woods, as well as 1,000's of Lady-beetles in the shrubs, on the sunny beginning of the trail.  If you get a chance, hike this trail this winter!  Let me know what you see!

Whose feet are these?

What's happening with the moss and lichens?

Are there any fungi in the forest?

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

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