Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Revisited

Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus

About a week ago we decided to drive down to the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, for one last visit before all the birds migrated north.  When we got there almost all of the Snow Geese were gone but there were still quite a few ducks and shorebirds. As we drove around we saw a huge bird perched in one of the cottonwood trees.  When we got closer I realized it was a Bald Eagle!  Wow!!!  I have never seen one this close before!  Bald Eagles are LARGE birds, measuring 31" in height, with a wingspan of 80" (6.5 feet!)!!  Fish, waterfowl, and mammals are their main prey.  They are uncommon in our area, and it's a rare privilege to see one!

Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Congress made the Bald Eagle our national emblem in 1782.  However, within approximately 200 years, illegal shooting, habitat destruction, and poisoning from DDT brought the Bald Eagle to the brink of extinction.  

The American Eagle Foundation states: "Bald Eagles were once very common throughout most of the United States. Their population numbers have been estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 birds in the early 1700s. Their population fell to threatened levels in the continental U.S. of less than 10,000 nesting pairs by the 1950s, and to endangered levels of less than 500 pairs by the early 1960s. This population decline was caused by humans. The mass shooting of eagles, use of pesticides on crops, destruction of habitat, and contamination of waterways and food sources by a wide range of poisons and pollutants all played a role in harming the Bald Eagle's livelihood and diminishing their numbers. For many years the use of DDT pesticide on crops caused thinning of eagle egg shells, which often broke during incubation.

Strong endangered species and environmental protection laws, as well as active private, state and federal conservation efforts, have brought back the U.S.A.'s Bald Eagle population from the edge of extinction.  The use of DDT pesticide is now outlawed in the U.S.  This action has contributed greatly to the return of the Bald Eagle to America's skies.  The Bald Eagle is presently protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and the Lacey Act.  It is listed as a "threatened" species in the lower 48 states."

Currently there is approximately 10,000 breeding pairs in mainland U.S. and approximately 35,000 breeding pairs in Alaska.  It is my sincere hope that they remain protected by laws, and that their population continues to thrive.  How lucky we were to see one these magnificent eagles!

Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps

We also saw a Pied-billed Grebe!  These birds are uncommon.  I had never seen one before!  This one is an adult in its breeding colors.  "Pied" means having two or more colors.  They eat crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects.  They forage for food underwater, as well as on the surface of ponds and bays.  Curiously they also eat a lot of their feathers!  Apparently this helps in the formation of pellets that they cast to rid their intestine of undigested material.  The Cornell Lab states:  "Regular ejection of stomach contents minimizes buildup of gastric parasite population in upper alimentary tract."  To escape predation they dive or sink slowly out of view, or hide underwater with only their eyes and nostrils just above the surface!  Together the male and female build their floating platform of a nest out of dead and rotting aquatic plants.  Additionally, they share the brooding of eggs and raising of the young.  They are fierce defenders of their nesting territory, often attacking other waterfowl from underwater!  What interesting, different habits this bird has!  I'm always so amazed at how everything has evolved so specifically! 

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus

We also so a Killdeer on the shoreline!  They forage for earthworms, insect larvae, snails, crayfish, minnows, tree frogs, grasshoppers, beetles and small seeds in damp or wet soil.  They nest on the ground in shallow "scrapes" or depressions out in the open, which they often "decorate" with white objects (bones, pebbles, feathers...) which may help to camouflage their eggs!  To avoid predation of eggs and nestlings they have evolved several unique techniques.  "False brooding" is when an adult acts like they are sitting on a nest, but are actually just sitting on the ground. "Broken wing display" is when an uninjured bird acts injured and runs away from the nest area dragging its wing and crying piteously.  Both of these techniques are intended to lure predators away from the nest site!  Amazing!!!  I think they are just lovely with their dramatic black and white bands, and bright-red eye-ring!

Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scriptaelegans

Unfortunately we also saw several Red-eared Slider turtles.  Although these turtles are native to some areas in the southern United States, they are NOT native to California and have become a destructive invasive species in the sluggish waters of local ponds and lakes.  They are a worldwide problem, and are considered one of the top 100 invasive species in the world! 

Wikipedia states: "Invasive red-eared sliders cause negative impacts in the ecosystems they occupy because they have certain advantages over the native populations, such as a lower age at maturity, higher fecundity rates, and larger body size, which gives them a competitive advantage at basking and nesting sites, as well as when exploiting food resources. They also transmit diseases and displace the other turtle species with which they compete for food and breeding space."

It is currently illegal to sell these turtles or their eggs in the United States.  Hopefully, this will stop the further enlargement of their population.  

Pacific Chorus (treefrog) Frog - Pseudacris regilla 

Neighborhood Update!

This past week was rainy, with a total of 3.05" of rain.  This brings our water-year total to approximately 68.28".  Temperatures were warmer, and the river-flow rate increased to 2,500 cfs on Wednesday.  There are still 9+ feet of snow on Yuba Pass!  

With the warmer temperatures the tree frogs have emerged, and our neighborhood is filled with their cumulative male chorus!  Females do not croak!  Their color varies from green to brown, depending on their habitat!  They have spent the winter under decomposing leaves on the ground.  Now is their mating time.  Eggs will hatch in 1-3 weeks, and it will take 7-12 weeks for the tadpole to mature.  Spring has arrived!

 

 Hoary (Zephyr) Comma - Polygonia gracilis zephyrus

Butterflies have suddenly appeared!  The most common one is the Hoary Comma. These butterflies overwinter as adults, probably in some protected crevice.  Sometimes these butterflies can appear quite tattered in the spring, as they have lived for 8-10 months.  Most adult butterflies only live for a few weeks!  Right now Hoary Comma butterflies are mating and laying their eggs.  Ribes or Gooseberries are the plants that they usually lay their eggs on.  The caterpillars will hatch from the eggs within 5-10 days, feed on the leaves of their host plant, pupate, and emerge as adult butterflies by mid-summer!  It's nice to see them flitting around our neighborhood again!

Convergent Lady Beetles - Hippodamia convergens

The Ladybird Beetles are starting to move around now that the temperatures have warmed up.  Soon they will migrate to the lower elevations, where green plants are blooming, and aphids are plentiful!  They mated last fall, and the females will lay their eggs soon!  The eggs will hatch into larvae in 3-5 days.  The larvae will feed on plants for 2-3 weeks, and then pupate.  The pupae will hatch into adults about a week later and start eating aphids!  

Gray Fox - Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Next week I promise I'll talk about the Gray Foxes,

as well as what's happening on the river, and

what other birds have migrated to our neighborhood!

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

If suddenly you stop getting my blog in your email, you need to sign up again. This is a glitch with blogspot.com, and I can't figure out how to fix it. Thanks!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. 

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com!

They're Back!

Anna's Hummingbird (male) - Calypte anna

I had just cleaned out my hummingbird feeders, when two Anna's Hummingbirds arrived! Unlike most California Hummingbirds, they are short-distance migrants and have probably been down in California's coastal chaparral for the past 2 months. They eat large numbers of small insects and spiders in the winter when nectar is not available. 

It's really important to thoroughly clean your hummingbird feeders frequently when in use. Fungus or molds that can grow in feeders will infect hummers and kill them. The Audubon Society states, "This infection causes the tongue to swell, making it impossible for an afflicted hummingbird to eat. Ultimately, it will die of starvation, slowly and painfully. A mother can pass this infection on to her babies; they will die of starvation." 

So keep your feeders clean to ensure an "infection free" season of hummer watching! As the weather warms up you should change your sugar water, and clean your feeders, every 3 days. Use hot water without soap or detergents to clean them. Avoid "fancy" feeders that have areas inaccessible to cleaning where mold and fungus can grow. Your sugar water should be mixed at a ratio of 4 parts water (boiled and cooled), to 1 part sugar. Use only white granulated sugar.

For more information on the maintenance of hummingbird feeders I highly recommend the following website:   http://seaandsageaudubon.org/Conservation/TreeTrimming/HummerFeederCare.html

Band-tailed Pigeon - Brewer's Blackbird

 Columba fasciata - Euphagus cyanocephalus

Band-tailed Pigeons and Brewer's Blackbirds showed up at our feeding station this week.  Both of these birds can be seen traveling in flocks year-round.  Several of last year's Blackbird nests still remain in the bushes across from our garden!  

The Band-tailed Pigeons used to arrive in time for the ripening of our local cherry trees.  Hundreds of them would descend on our neighborhood and eat every single cherry in a few days.  Then they would leave.  For the past few years, they arrive way before the cherries are even tiny buds, and stay all summer!  I guess our neighborhood suits their needs!  The field guides indicate that they could live here year-round.  However, for the past two years I have watched them leave our area when the weather gets snowy and then return months later in the spring. They probably drop down to snow-free elevations in California and forage on acorns, grains and berries.

The Brewer's Blackbirds have been nesting here for years. They return to our neighborhood every spring, after spending the winter in the Central Valley of California.  Right now their local flock is about 16 in number.  They will nest in colonies of just a few, or up to 100, pairs!  It will be interesting to see how many pairs stay and nest in our neighborhood.  They have been enjoying the seed I put out at our feeding station lately, but they are also great insect eaters!

 Violet-green Swallows - Tachycineta thalassina

 The Violet-green Swallows have recently returned from overwintering in Mexico, or even as far south as Costa Rica!  The one above was facing the sun at first, and then turned around and let the sun light up its beautiful green feathers!  I've watched them inhabit a cut bank on the highway, several summers in a row.  They like to nest on rocky cliffs above river gorges.  They cannot walk, but can perch, and fly with agility and speed (up to 28 mph!)  They search high above the river for flying insects to eat.  I always look forward to their return, as well as all the other birds that spend their summers here!

 Manzanita - Arctostaphylos sp.

Now Blooming!

The warmer temperatures and longer days have triggered the blooming of a few local plants!  The white manzanitas down at Conflict Flat are once again in full bloom, as well as the pink manzanitas in our neighborhood!  These are one of the early-flowering plants that are important nectar sources for Hummingbirds and insects in the spring.

Willow catkins - female/left & male/right 

Salix sp.

After many months of having colorful but bare branches, the local willows have burst into bloom!  Willows are dioecious, and have separate male and female plants!  Right now both male and female plants are bursting out of their "Pussy Willow" stage.  Their soft silvery hairs help keep the developing reproductive parts of the plant warm!  Unlike most "non-attractive" (dull colored) flowers, willows are insect pollinated.  The female flowers will produce a large amount of strongly scented nectar, and the male flowers will produce a ton of pollen! We'll just have to wait and see what insects they attract!

Sierra Valley 3/18/19

Sierra Valley 

We went over to Sierra Valley twice in the past 10 days! I wanted to check out what birds were showing up. The Steel Bridge is a great place to bird watch, and luckily the dirt road wasn't too wet to drive on. Often the road is a quagmire and impassable at this time of year. We spent several hours bird watching and enjoying the expansive views. We saw Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, a Bald Eagle, seagulls, Tree Swallows, Killdeers, Starlings, raptors, and Red-winged Blackbirds! We also saw a Coyote and a herd of Mule Deer. It was gorgeous!

Located at 4,850' in elevation, Sierra Valley is the largest alpine valley in the Sierra Nevada. It is approximately 120,000 acres in size! Over 230 bird species frequent this valley. It is a key stopover on the Pacific Flyway. It is also rich in plant life with over 1,000 documented species of plants! I want to go back in a month or so to see what other birds have arrived, as well as what's blooming.

Sandhill Cranes - Grus canadensis

Sandhill Cranes mate for life.  Sierra Valley is the southernmost breeding/nesting area for these cranes.  Most Sandhills migrate farther north into Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Canada, and Alaska to breed.  They do not breed in large numbers in Sierra Valley, probably under 20 pairs nest here.  We saw 16 cranes as we drove through the valley, always in pairs.  These are LARGE birds, measuring up to 4' feet in height, with wingspans up to 7'7" in width!  The red color on their foreheads is not feathers, it is rosy, papillose, bare skin!

Tundra Swans - Cygnus columbianus

These lovely Tundra Swans had stopped over on their spring migration north to the High Arctic.  Their migration route is a total of 5,000 miles round-trip, from the Central Valley of California to the High Arctic!  These birds mate for life, and travel in small and large "bevys" or "wedges" (groups).

 Red-winged Blackbirds (males) - Agelaius phoeniceus

We saw several large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, that were predominantly males.  The males are distinguished by their beautiful bright-red and pale-yellow shoulder feathers (coverts).  These birds are widespread across the U.S. year-round.  In winter they mainly eat grains, seeds, plants, as well as some insects.  They usually spend their winters in snow-free areas, sometimes even traveling down to Costa Rica.  I did see a lot of these blackbirds down in the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, in California's Central Valley, this winter.  These strikingly colored birds were beautiful to watch!

 European Starlings - Sturnus vulgaris

We also saw several large flocks of European Starlings.  These birds are non-natives, but have spread across the entire U.S. since their introduction (from Europe) in New York in the early 1890's!  The following quote from Birds of North America states, "Starlings flourished in North America because of their varied diet and ability to adapt to new food sources supplied either directly or indirectly by humans.  They mostly feed on the ground and readily devour many types of insects, fruits, cultivated grains, and weed seeds."  Starlings have had a significant negative impact on native cavity-nesting birds, because they will take over their nest sites.  As yet no one has figured out how to deal with this huge problem. 

 European Starlings - Sturnus vulgaris

 Red-tailed Hawks - Buteo jamaicensis

We also saw several raptors perched on fence posts throughout the valley.  Both of the raptors pictured above are Red-tailed Hawks, even though they vary greatly in coloration.  From youth to adulthood the feathering of raptors can change a lot!  So far I've learned that the distinguishing marks of a Red-tailed Hawk are its dark head, a white breast with a band of brown streaky feathers below, and its red (orange) tail feathers.  I still have lots to learn! 

California Mule Deer - Odocoileus hemionus californicus

We saw this herd of Calfornia Mule Deer as we wandered through Sierra Valley.  They can be distinguished by the black tip of their tails.  The other commonly see Mule Deer in our area is the Columbian Black-tailed Deer (also a species of Mule Deer).  It has a black stripe extending down the tail to a black tip. This herd above is probably a group of females, as none of them have any "buttons" or beginning antlers.  It was a nice surprise to see so many of them all together.  In my neighborhood, the biggest group I have ever seen was only six in number.

 Sierra Buttes 3/19/19

Weather Update

This past week has been cloudy, cool, and rainy, with a total rainfall of 1.5".  The coming week is predicted to be cloudy and rainy as well.  The river flow is staying around 1,000 cfs.  I went skiing up the Gold Lake Road again last Monday, and there was still 7.5' of snow at 6,000' in elevation.  On Yuba Pass, there is still about 10' of snow.  We are so lucky to have such a good snow pack!  It doesn't look like we'll be hiking in the Lakes Basin anytime soon, maybe not until May at the earliest.  In the meantime the skiing is great!

How are the Gray Foxes?

What's happening on the river?

What other birds will migrate through our neighborhood?

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

If suddenly you stop getting my blog in your email, you need to sign up again. This is a glitch with blogspot.com, and I can't figure out how to fix it. Thanks!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. 

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com!

Check back Tomorrow!

I've been super busy lately! No time to blog! I'll post my blog tomorrow, Monday, March 25th. You'll enjoy what's coming up, including a trip to Sierra Valley!  Check back then for the latest natural history news from my neighborhood. Thanks!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. 

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com!

Blue Skies!

Sierra Buttes from Sierra City 3/14/19

On Tuesday we got .14" of rain.  Since then we've been enjoying beautiful, blue-sky days and warmer temperatures this week!  It's been heavenly!  Most of the snow is gone from our neighborhood, but there is still a LOT of snow at the higher elevations.  The Sierra Buttes are plastered in snow, and there is 13' of snow on the ground at Yuba Pass!  The river has slowed down to approximately 1,000 cfs. They are forecasting more wet weather this coming week, but no snow at our elevation.  Yahoo!  Spring is on the way!

Sierra Buttes from the Gold Lake Road 3/15/19

I skied up the Gold Lake Road on Friday and there was 4'-5' of packed snow on the ground!  The skiing was great, and it was incredibly beautiful!!!

Sandhill Cranes - Grus canadensis

   

Recent Sightings

All week long there have been 100's of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead!  I love hearing their loud rubbery honks!  Some of them got close enough that I could see their legs and outstretched necks.  They are migrating north and east to their breeding grounds in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Canada and Alaska.  The higher angle of the sun, the increased number of daylight hours, and warmer temperatures all trigger this migration pattern.  It is such a magical occurrence to watch!  

American Robin - Turdus migratorius

 On Tuesday, when it was raining, 100's of American Robins showed up in our neighborhood!  Some of them will stay here and raise their young.  The majority of them will probably migrate further north to Canada and Alaska to breed.

American Robins - Turdus migratorius

They roamed and fed in our neighborhood for several days, in large flocks.  The previously rainy week probably made the worms come to the surface, just in time for the Robins to eat!  

Western Meadowlark - Sternella neglecta

Also on Tuesday, two Western Meadowlarks landed on the road right in front of me!  They flew off before I got a photo, but I spotted one in the top of a pine tree the next morning!  They are probably on their way over to Sierra Valley, where they will breed and raise their young.  They are such lovely, colorful birds!  I was so lucky to see them!

Western Bluebirds (males)  - Sialia mexicana

I just had to put in some more photos of Western Bluebirds.  They are so beautiful!  I've seen more of them this week, in two local open, grassy areas.    The blue color of the males is dazzling!  Although the foothills are their main nesting area, they are known to nest at our elevation, 2,600'.  

Western Bluebirds (male/left - female/right) - Sialia mexicana

I'll have to go searching for Bluebird nests soon.  Wouldn't that be great if I find one!!!

Gray Fox (youth) - Urocyon Cinereoargenteus

Mammal Update

I'm still seeing foxes several times a week!  They are so beautiful!  I never tire of watching them.  Gray Foxes mate for life. Their breeding season is from January to early March.  Pups should be born around the end of May or the beginning of June.  Wouldn't that be wonderful to see some young pups this year!!!       

Mule Deer - Odecoileus hemionus sp.

I spotted this Mule Deer along Highway 49 one morning.  It is probably a female, as it doesn't have any "buttons" (beginning antlers) on its head.  Male mule deer shed their antlers between January and March.  Antler regrowth begins in April and extends through August.  This female could be pregnant!  Mating occurs in the fall.  Fawns are born sometime between June and July.  Right now, most females are traveling together in small groups.  This one was busy eating roadside plants.

Common Ravens  - Corvus corax

Regularly seen Residents

I finally got a photo of the pair of Common Ravens that have been living here for the past two years!  They fly daily to the highway and search for carrion to eat.  These Ravens are non-migratory and live here all year.  I love hearing their caws in the morning, as they fly by!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Black Phoebe

   Regulus calendula - Sayornis nigricans

Ruby-crowned Kinglets live here throughout the winter and spring, but migrate up to  9,000' in elevation, to breed in Lodgepole/Hemlock forests.  Black Phoebes live here all year.  Both of these birds are primarily insect eaters.  Kinglets search for insects on the twigs of bushes.  Phoebes catch insects in the air, a characteristic of all Flycatchers.  Phoebes supplement their winter diet with seeds and berries.  Kinglets are tiny, 4.25" in length, with a wingspan of 7.5".  Black Phoebes are larger, 7" in length, with a wingspan of 11".  I've been able to spot the Kinglets lately, as the bushes are still leafless.   

Red-tailed Hawks - Buteo jamaicensis

A solitary Red-tailed Hawk has lived in our area all winter.  Just this week I saw a second Red-tailed Hawk (above left) in the same area!!!  Is this its mate?  I've read that non-migratory Red-tails mate for life, and stay together year-round.  Did this hawk lose its mate?  Or is it just not a mature hawk?  The Cornell Lab states that the average age of first breeding is not known.  So I'll have to keep watching, and see if I can find a nest!

   

What's happening on the river?

What's happening in Sierra Valley?

What other birds will migrate through our neighborhood?

What's happening in Gray Lodge?

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

If suddenly you stop getting my blog in your email, you need to sign up again. This is a glitch with blogspot.com, and I can't figure out how to fix it. Thanks!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. 

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com!

Wet Weather!

Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

The last two weeks have been really rainy with some snow mixed in, for a total of 18.53" of precipitation!!! This brings our water-year total to 63.59", which is more than our annual average through October! Yahoo! All this rain caused the formation of many small waterfalls along the road. I counted 18 in a 7 mile section of Highway 49! The North Yuba River was running full and strong, at 4500 cfs on Thursday, March 7th! It has since calmed down to a slower rate of 2200 cfs.

I was surprised to see these raptors (above and below) out in the pouring rain, but they must have been hungry! Surprisingly, extended periods of heavy rain can make it easier for raptors to find prey, because it can flood the underground homes of mammals and cause them to surface. To avoid flooding, mammals tend to build underground dens on slopes with good drainage, and some even dig out sumps that take any water that enters a burrow. They will also plug up the entrance to their burrow to keep the rain out. 10 cm of rain can usually be absorbed by the soil, down to the depth of 1 meter. Most mammals dig their burrows deeper than 1 meter. However the type of soil and how rocky it is can affect this absorption rate.

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

I've seen this lone, Red-tailed Hawk in my neighborhood all winter, rain or shine!

I went bird watching with some friends on this restored wetlands trail in the town of Novato.  It was the Hamilton Army Airfield from 1935 until it was closed in 1975.  Since its closure, it has gone through many complicated changes. 

The restoration of the wetlands became part of a big multi-agency plan in 1996.  

The following quote is from the Hamilton Wetlands website, http://hamiltonwetlands.scc.ca.gov/about/site-history/.

"The base was redeveloped following a 1996 Reuse Plan, the City of Novato’s Master Plan and subsequent plans and processes. Much of the base was converted to residential and commercial use, with a significant balance set aside for parks and open space. The area east of the former Hangars, including the Airfield tarmac and runway, was transferred to the State of California for eventual open space and wetland restoration purposes. And so in 1998, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, State Coastal Conservancy and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission teamed up to address the technical aspects of the restoration and to determine how to best restore the wetland habitats on the former Airfield. Since 2001, the Corps and Conservancy have been working in partnership to construct site features of the new wetland, much of which is located on top of the old runway."

 Cooper's Hawk  -  Northern Harrier (female)  

Accipiter cooperii - Circus cyaneus

It is an amazing area for bird watching!  We saw these two beautiful hawks in the same area of the wetlands.  I had never seen either one before!  How exciting!!!

Cooper's Hawks are uncommon and mainly live in dense forests, but can also be found in leafy suburbs and open fields.  They can be found across the United States year-round.  Their main food is other large birds such as doves, pigeons and robins.  They will also prey on squirrels, rabbits, mice and reptiles.  They can readily pursue prey through dense thickets or forests.  Their short wings and rudder-like tail makes them able to make quick, sharp turns.  They grab prey with their feet, and will drown or squeeze them to death!  They can see 2-3 times farther than humans!  

Northern Harriers are uncommon but widespread in grasslands, as well as fresh and saltwater marshes.  They can be found across most of the United States and Mexico in winter, and will migrate to Canada and Alaska to breed.  They prey on medium to small sized birds and mammals, reptiles, and frogs. Unlike other hawks, they have an owl-like facial disc/ruff that helps them locate prey acoustically.  WOW!!!  They are sexually dimorphic, with the male adults white with black wingtips on the underside, and a pale gray back, wings, head and throat.  I did see a male, but didn't get a photo!  I'll have to go back there again!  Such gorgeous birds!

House Finches (male & female/left - male/right)  

Haemorhous mexicanus

These beautiful little House Finches were congregating in the tops of the shrubs!  They are usually found in flocks and are common year-round across most of the United States and Mexico. They are truly vegetarians, and only eat plant materials, seeds, grains and fruits!  

Cornell University states, "The red of a male House Finch comes from pigments contained in its food during molt (birds can’t make bright red or yellow colors directly). So the more pigment in the food, the redder the male. This is why people sometimes see orange or yellowish male House Finches. Females prefer to mate with the reddest male they can find, perhaps raising the chances they get a capable mate who can do his part in feeding the nestlings."  I wonder what fruits these males have been eating lately?  So pretty!

 

 Western Bluebird (males)

Sialia mexicana

These brilliant blue and rust beauties were perched in the shrubs along the path.  How delightful!  Western Bluebirds stay in small flocks in the winter.  They are primarily insect eaters, but eat fruits and berries in the winter when insects aren't readily available.  These bluebirds probably stay in this area all year, and do not migrate.  Interestingly, I spotted some Western Bluebirds in my neighborhood this week when I got back home!  I saw them in an open, grassy, slope area two mornings in a row!  I don't think they will stay and breed as this isn't their typical nesting area.  Interesting to see them at sea level as well as at 2600' in elevation!

Western Bluebird (females)

Sialia mexicana

The female Western Bluebirds aren't as brightly colored as their male counterparts.

 Great Egret (with breeding plumes)

Ardea alba

Along the shore we were astonished to see a Great Egret in its breeding plumage!!!
From a distance the plumes looked like skinny wings!  Up close the fine, fine, feathering  of the plumes was amazing!  Both the male and females grow these breeding plumes, and use them in courtship displays.  

These beautiful plumes were in such demand during the catastrophic "Feather Fashion" period of the late 1800's, that they almost caused the birds' demise.  Luckily the slaughter of birds for their feathers was largely stopped by the late 1890's, due to the boycotts of concerned female citizens!  

 American Avocet - American Avocet & Great Egret (with breeding plumes)  

Recurvirostra americana  - Ardea alba 

Along the shoreline an American Avocet was sweeping its bill side to side (scything) in the water, sifting for tiny, aquatic invertebrates to eat!  They also peck and plunge for prey.  They can wade or swim while searching for prey.  Their winters are spent in the Central Valley, Baja California, or Mexico. In Spring they migrate to north-central United States and Canada to breed.  When breeding the feathers on their head, neck, and breast turn a rich rusty color. These are such elegant, long-legged birds!   

Blooming Orchard somewhere between Woodland and Marysville

Highway 113

If I have the time, I prefer to drive the back roads on the way home.  Highway 113 between Woodland and Marysville passes through open agricultural fields and orchards, and is a great area to see birds!  Last weekend, some of the orchards were blooming, and everything was wet and green!  Such a nice change from my snowy neighborhood!  Ah, Spring!!!

 Snow Geese & Greater White-fronted Geese

 Anser caerulescens  - Anser albifrons

I really lucked out and came across this field full of hundreds of Snow Geese!!!  What a sighting!  I was surprised to see them still in the Central Valley.  Usually they start their Spring migration to the high Arctic in early February.  The heavy rains have probably been the cause for their late departure!  They seemed to be feeding just fine on the newly green grasses!  Such an unexpected surprise!  Wow!

  Snow Geese & Greater White-fronted Geese 

Anser caerulescens - Anser albifrons

Mixed in with the Snow Geese were Greater White-fronted Geese.  These geese are usually the last to leave the Central Valley for their breeding grounds, in Alaska and across northern Canada.  Looks like the Snow Geese have joined them this year!  I hope all the lovely geese make it back to their breeding grounds safely!  It still looks pretty wintry north and east of California!

What's been happening back at home?

Where are the deer?

How are the foxes?

Is spring on it's way?

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

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