The Delta

Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis

We went down to the Sacramento River Delta this week primarily to see the Sandhill Cranes, as well many other overwintering bird species. These birds migrate down in the Pacific Flyway from British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and northeastern California, to overwinter in California's Central Valley. 

I had never been to the delta before, and was hoping to see lots of cranes. We arrived at Staten Island, near Walnut Grove, in the late afternoon. Luckily we spotted some cranes right away in the stubble of a harvested cornfield! Our luck held out through the afternoon, and we also saw many different species of ducks, Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, and thousands of Canada Geese. In the evening, we were privileged to watch 80+ Sandhill Cranes land in a nearby wetland! WOW!!! It was so beautiful with the soft, pink light of dusk illuminating these large, graceful birds. It was absolutely astonishing!

Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis

The Sandhill Crane is a prehistoric species. One fossil dates back to 2.5 million years ago!  They were once common breeders throughout the intermountain west, wintering primarily in the Central Valley of California.  Sandhill Cranes mate for life!  However, due to loss of habitat (95% of California's wetlands have been destroyed through development/farming) and unregulated hunting they became endangered by the 1940's. At that time, there weren't any breeding pairs in Washington, only 150-200 breeding pairs in Oregon, and only 5 breeding pairs in northeastern California!!!  Through conservation efforts, all populations of Sandhill Cranes have since increased. In 2000 there were an estimated 465 breeding pairs in California!  This increase in local populations is due mainly to conservation groups working together with local farmers, to set aside farmland managed specifically for these birds.  Currently the U.S.Fish & Wildlife objective is to maintain an estimated 20,000-25,000 cranes in wintering populations.  There are several agencies that are doing conservation work to help maintain bird populations.  If you would like to donate your time or resources to this cause, they would love to hear from you.  Here are a few websites to check out: https://www.nature.org/en-us/explore/animals-we-protect/sandhill-crane/, http://ca.audubon.org/birds-0/sandhill-crane, and https://www.wildlife.ca.gov.

Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis

These large birds (4' length, 7'7" wingspan) roost at night in shallow wetlands but feed by day in agricultural fields.  The are mainly herbivores, and eat corn, roots, seeds, cultivated grains, and berries, as well as small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles, and amphibians.  Their feeding and roosting areas are typically less than 2 miles apart.  The cornfields and wetlands we observed them in were all on Staten Island.  Apparently we were super lucky to see them in both areas!

Snow Geese - Anser caerulescens

Like Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese mate for life.  They migrate to the High Arctic/Sub Arctic to breed in large colonies.  Thousands overwinter in California's Central Valley.  They roost on water, but forage on land for grains, bullrushes, marsh plants, sedges, willows, horsetails, and grass.  We saw a huge flock of them land in the far distance.  Their loud calls filled the air!

Tundra Swans - Cygnus columbianus

We also saw several Tundra Swans in the wetlands!  These large birds (52" length, 66" wingspan ) mate for life, and breed in the High Arctic.  Their annual migration route is a 5,000 mile round trip!!!   They eat the leaves, stems, tubers, and seeds of aquatic plants, as well as the seeds and shoots of rice and other grain crops.

Belted Kingfisher (male) - Megaceryle Alcyon 

The next day we drove around the delta to several small historic towns and harbors.  Lots of birds were visible along the waterways, and our driver was kind enough to stop for photos!  She actually backed up so I could get this shot of a Belted Kingfisher!  In my neighborhood kingfishers are elusive and difficult to watch or photograph.  This one looked like it had recently got wet, probably diving for a fish, and posed for quite a while!!!  The water in the sloughs and rivers was a clouded, mocha color,
which must make it harder for birds to catch fish.   

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus

In the morning, I spotted two Red-shouldered Hawks perched in a cottonwood tree on the edge of a slough!  I think I even saw them mating!  The Delta and Central Valley are the preferred habitat for these hawks.  They feed on small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, crayfish, insects, earthworms, and even other birds!  Their feather pattern is just gorgeous, and the burnished-orange color of their head and breast is so striking!  I watched them for more than 20 minutes!  What beauty!

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis

Raptors were everywhere, especially Red-tailed Hawks!  It seems like we saw one perched in a tree or shrub, every couple of miles!  These hawks will sit and wait on perches, while scanning for prey.  I actually saw one of them swoop down and catch some critter in the roadside weeds!

Great Blue Heron - Great Egret

Ardea herodius - Ardea alba

We also saw several sieges (groups of herons) of Great Herons, and a few lone Great Blue Herons along the waterways.  Both of these bird species mainly eat fish, but will also consume small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, crayfish, and aquatic insects.  They hunt in belly-deep or shallower water in marine, brackish, and freshwater wetlands, alone or in groups.  They may wade while searching for prey, or just stand still to wait for prey to approach.

The Great Egret is the symbol of the Audubon Society, which was founded to stop the killing of birds for their feathers.  Wikipedia states, "In 1895, the first Audubon Society was created. Cousins and Boston socialites Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall, disturbed by the destruction left by plume hunters, organized a series of afternoon teas with other wealthy local women, encouraging them to avoid feathered garments. They also sent literature asking these women to, in Hall's words, "join a society for the protection of birds, especially the egret."  Later that same year, they founded the Massachusettes Audubon Society. Over 900 women came together with Hemenway and Hall, and across the country, many others were doing the same.  These boycotts were largely successful, and the efforts of the early society members helped bring about the end of the plume trade and assisted in the introduction of early conservation legislation such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act." 

Coyote - Canis latrans

At Stone Lakes NWR we saw these coyotes!  They were a distance away, but definitely looked like they were a pair.  Coyotes mate in late January and are monogamous during the breeding season.  Their dens are dug by the female and can have several entrances and passages that branch out from the main chamber.  They may dig a new den, use an abandoned badger or skunk den, or den in a hollow tree or under a rock ledge.  The pups are born about 2 months after mating, with 6 pups per litter being the norm.  The male coyote brings food to the female during the nesting period, and also helps with the feeding, grooming and guarding of the pups.  They eat deer, rabbit, hares, rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and fruits.  

Coyotes - Canis latrans

Coyote populations have surfaced in many urban environments in recent years, where they are valuable for their control of rodent populations.  Problems arise when coyotes have access to human food and garbage. There is lots of information on the internet about how to keep coyotes "wild" in urban areas.  Here's a link to the official California Department of Fish and Wildlife website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/keep-me-wild.

Sierra Buttes 1/24/19

This Week's Weather

It's been sunny and in the 40's this week.  There's about 3' of snow on Yuba Pass, and the skiing is great!  The forecast for this coming week is cloudy with some rain.  We still need a lot more rain and snow, so hopefully February will be a wet month.  In the meantime, it was a gorgeous blue-sky week!

 West facing slope of the Sierra Buttes 1/25/19

Cedar Waxwing - Western Bluebird 

Bombycilla cedrorum - Sialia mexicana

Last week I asked, "What kinds of birds are these?"  

They are a Cedar Waxwing (left) and a Western Bluebird (right). 

I photographed them down in Bridgeport a few weeks ago!

I also asked, "What kind of ducks are these?"

They are Common Goldeneyes.  I'll talk more about them next week.

 What makes the foreheads of the Sandhill Cranes red?

Are the willows and alders blooming yet?

Whose track is this?

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

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Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com!