Clouds & Black Locust - Robinia pseudoacacia
We had more rainy days this week, interspersed with several beautiful sunny days. It was also a lot warmer. Next week, the rain showers are supposed to continue but the daytime temps are supposed to be in the 70's. Hopefully a dry period will occur in the near future! Last night there was a crazy storm with booming thunder, lots of lightning, and pouring rain! It was so loud, it sounded like the storm was right over us! The total rainfall for this week was 2.97". That brings us to a water-year total of 76.67"!!!
Black-headed Grosbeaks 6/08/17 (female and nestling)
Baby Birds!
Right now, there are probably lots of baby birds in our neighborhood. Right out of the egg, newborn birds are called hatchlings. Except for waterfowl, most hatchlings are altricial, or born in an undeveloped state, and require care and feeding by their parents. While the hatchling is growing in the nest and being fed by its parents it is called a nestling. Usually nestlings remain in the nest for approximately 2-3 weeks. When a nestling grows its flight feathers and is ready to leave the nest it takes its first flight or fledges, and flutters to the ground. A bird that has just fledged is called a fledgling. Since these young fledglings cannot fly, most will live on the ground for a week or more, while their flight feathers continue to grow and their wing muscles get stronger. The parents will continue to feed the fledglings on the ground, until they are able to fly. Once fledglings can fly and feed themselves they are called juveniles.
IF YOU FIND A FLEDGLING ON THE GROUND,
PLEASE JUST LEAVE IT ALONE!
PLEASE JUST LEAVE IT ALONE!
If you pick it up, your human scent will make it easier for it to be found by a predator. The parent birds will continue to care for the fledgling until it can fly. If you have a cat, keep it inside and away from the fledgling. The best thing to do is to leave wild things wild!
There is a local group of experts, Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, that can care for injured or abandoned birds, but only those found in Nevada County. If necessary, please call them for more information at (530) 432-5522 or check out their website at www.cawildlife911.org. I am currently volunteering with this organization and am learning a bunch about the care of baby birds. Perhaps in the future, a few of us
could start a local Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, as nothing currently exists in Sierra County.
American Robin - Red-breasted Sapsucker
Turdus migratorius - Sphyrapicus ruber
Nesting News!
The survival rate of baby birds is surprisingly quite low, sometimes as low as 20%! There are lots of animals that prey on young birds, such as squirrels, weasels, raccoons, foxes, snakes, and even other birds! The weather can also adversely affect their survival, as well as the ability of the parent birds to find food. Nest parasites and avian diseases can also contribute to baby bird mortality. Unfortunately, the baby Steller's Jays that were nesting right off our porch have disappeared. They were probably eaten by a local animal. Hopefully, the parents of these young Steller's Jays will attempt to nest again, in a new nest and new location.
The Blackbirds that were nesting also lost their eggs/young, but for a different reason. Their nest was in a lilac bush that was in full bloom. The heavy rains we experienced lately weighed the blossoms down so much that their nest was severely tilted down towards the ground. I don't know what happened to the eggs or baby birds, but the parents are no longer visiting their nest. They too will probably start a second clutch soon.
The good news is that the Robin and the Red-breasted Sapsucker are still on their nests! They have survived the weather and predators so far! My fingers are crossed that their nestlings survive! I'll keep you posted.
Turdus migratorius - Sphyrapicus ruber
Nesting News!
The survival rate of baby birds is surprisingly quite low, sometimes as low as 20%! There are lots of animals that prey on young birds, such as squirrels, weasels, raccoons, foxes, snakes, and even other birds! The weather can also adversely affect their survival, as well as the ability of the parent birds to find food. Nest parasites and avian diseases can also contribute to baby bird mortality. Unfortunately, the baby Steller's Jays that were nesting right off our porch have disappeared. They were probably eaten by a local animal. Hopefully, the parents of these young Steller's Jays will attempt to nest again, in a new nest and new location.
The Blackbirds that were nesting also lost their eggs/young, but for a different reason. Their nest was in a lilac bush that was in full bloom. The heavy rains we experienced lately weighed the blossoms down so much that their nest was severely tilted down towards the ground. I don't know what happened to the eggs or baby birds, but the parents are no longer visiting their nest. They too will probably start a second clutch soon.
The good news is that the Robin and the Red-breasted Sapsucker are still on their nests! They have survived the weather and predators so far! My fingers are crossed that their nestlings survive! I'll keep you posted.
Mammal Update!
Late one evening this week I saw a Gray Fox crossing our road! I ran up to get a photo, and found that the fox had settled down in my neighbor's field! Wow! I think it was one of the ones that I used to see on our property. I watched it for several minutes before it rambled off. What fun! Right now, this fox may be caring for some young. Gray Foxes mate for life, and right around now is the time for them to have their offspring. Both parents feed and care for the young. The kits are weaned in 2-6 weeks, but remain dependent on parents until they are 10 months old. Foxes are primarily nocturnal, but can be seen at any time of the day. At night their highly developed senses of hearing, touch, and smell make them efficient predators. They also have more rods than cones in their eyes, which makes them able to see in very dim light.
Western Gray Squirrel - Douglas Tree Squirrel/Chickaree
Sciurus griseus - Tamiasciurus douglasii
Since the weather has been so rainy and cold, I've been putting out a table with bird seed on it. I've attracted lots of birds as well as squirrels! Both of these squirrels are active all year, and do not hibernate. In the winter they forage for nuts, berries, and acorns. They also eat from caches of food they stored in the fall. Right now they are busy with their offspring!
Western Gray Squirrels breed sometime from December to June. A litter of 3-5 kits is born approximately 43 days later. The young are weaned in 10 weeks, but stay with their mother for 6 months or more! Any young Western Gray Squirrels you see now, were probably born several months ago!
I think the Chickaree is a mom, because I can see nipples on her belly! These squirrels have one mate per year, and will mate sometime between May to June. A litter of 1-8 kits is born approximately 40 days later. The young are weaned in 6-9 weeks, but depend upon their mother for another 2-3 months.
I was happy to provide some seed for these hungry squirrels!
Western Gray Squirrels breed sometime from December to June. A litter of 3-5 kits is born approximately 43 days later. The young are weaned in 10 weeks, but stay with their mother for 6 months or more! Any young Western Gray Squirrels you see now, were probably born several months ago!
I think the Chickaree is a mom, because I can see nipples on her belly! These squirrels have one mate per year, and will mate sometime between May to June. A litter of 1-8 kits is born approximately 40 days later. The young are weaned in 6-9 weeks, but depend upon their mother for another 2-3 months.
I was happy to provide some seed for these hungry squirrels!
Striped Skunk - Mephitis mephitis
I've seen this skunk foraging on birdseed in the evenings lately! There are several skunks in our area. Last year we saw one with 5 babies! Primarily nocturnal, skunks forage for a wide variety of food at night. They eat mice, gophers, rats, birds and their eggs, insects, fruit, nuts, corn and seeds! They live in underground dens year-round. They will breed sometime between February and April. A litter of 4-7 kits are born 59-77 days later. The kits are weaned in 6-7 weeks. The young males will leave the nest in July or August. The young females stay with their mother until the following spring.
Sierra Buttes 4/30/18
What's happening in the Lakes Basin?
What other birds have nests with babies?
What bugs are out and about?
Where are the bears?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
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Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
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