Winter's Here!!!

Pine Siskin - Pinus spinus

Winter arrived in our neighborhood this week!  We got about 2.75" of precipitation over the past 5 days, and it's raining right now!  On Tuesday and Wednesday we had overnight temperatures in the 20's, and an accumulated snowfall of about 1' of dry, powdery snow!  Due to warmer temperatures since then, the snow has compacted down to a solid 5"-6" on the ground!  More rain is predicted for the week coming up!  It looks like the fire season is definitely over! Yahoo!!!

Mountain Quail - Golden-crowned Sparrows - Fox Sparrow

Oreortyx pictus - Zonotrichia atricapilla - Passerella iliaca

Birds in Crisis!

 In November, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology released data that revealed that 389 bird species (nearly two-thirds of North American birds) have declined drastically in population since 1970, with an estimated net loss of over 3 billion birds!!!  As Cornell states, "This result was both sobering and shocking.  We know birds are declining primarily to due habitat loss, pesticides, cats, window collision, and other causes - but the threats are different for every species."  Adubon additionally stated, "As warming temperatures change the availability of plants and animals that birds need for nesting, protection, and food, they are in serious danger of running out of the resources they depend on to survive."  

We can be proactive in helping birds by following the

 "7 Simple Actions to Help Birds", 

issued by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  

1. Make Windows Safer - I have covered the windows on our greenhouse with lightweight chicken wire, and have not had any bird collisions in two years.  It works!  

2. Keep Cats Indoors - Last summer I was so distraught that my neighbor's cat might catch one of the Oriole's that fed in our garden, that I patched up all the holes in our chicken wire fence, and chased the cat off loudly every time I saw it.  Luckily the Orioles survived this year. Who knows what will happen next year.

3.  Reduce Lawn, Plant Natives - Luckily we don't have any lawn, and I have lots of native plants in our garden.  This is especially important for Hummingbirds, as I no longer supply sugar water for them.  I also found sunflowers to be a huge food source for seed-eating birds in the fall and winter.

4. Avoid Pesticides - Absolutely!

5. Drink Shade-Grown Coffee - I have not yet done this, but it is so important to do. There are many choices online.  I'll let you know what I order.  Cornell states, "3/4 of the world's coffee farms destroy forest habitat to grow coffee in the sun - forests that birds and wildlife need for food and shelter. More than 40 species of North American migratory songbirds that winter in coffee plantations."  

6. Protect our Planet from Plastic - Since the recent decline in local recycling facilities, it has become difficult to recycle in our area.  We have been washing and re-using our plastic bags, buying items in bulk (uses less packaging), supplying our own bags for groceries, and taking our recyclables out of the county to recycling centers.

7. Watch Birds-Share What You See -  I have decided to join Project FeederWatch again, and put out birdseed for our local overwintering birds, when the ground is covered in several inches of snow.  I will be sure to keep the bird feeding station clean and the bird seed free of mold.  So far I've seen Pine Siskins, Dark-eyed Juncos, Fox Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Steller's Jays, Spotted Towhees, Mourning Doves, and Mountain Quail!  The information I gather over the winter will help further the research of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  

If we all do a little we might help the birds survive.

For more information on Project FeederWatch or the "Decline of the North American Avifauna" go to https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/

Dark-eyed Juncos - Junco hyemalis

I was concerned that the birds might be getting too wet in the rain/snow until I saw these Dark-eyed Juncos bathing in melted snow-water!!!  It was about 36 degrees and these little birds were bathing repeatedly in the ice-cold water!  What a surprise!!!  Nature is truly amazing!

Mourning Dove - White-crowned Sparrow (1st Winter)

 Zenaida macroura - Zonotrichia leucophrys

These, as well as the birds pictured above, are just a few of the seed eaters that are frequenting my feeding station.

Varied Thrush - Persimmons

Ixoreus naevius - Diospyros sp.

I've been watching this persimmon tree for about a month now, hoping to find a flock of Cedar Waxwings feeding on them!  So far I've only seen one Steller's Jay, and one Varied Thrush eating the fruits!  I was thrilled to see the Varied Thrush as they are uncommon in our area!  They are such beautiful birds!  They must be one of David Allen Sibley's favorites, as it is pictured on the cover of his field guide, The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America!

Sierra Buttes - 11/23/19

Before the Snowstorm!

On Saturday, November 23, my friends and I drove up to the Lakes Basin to get in our last hike before the snow arrived.  We hiked the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) from above Deer Lake to above Round Lake and back.  It was cold, clear, and super beautiful!  We had incredible views all day, and looked down on 13 different lakes!!!  We got back to the car just before sundown, and watched it set as we drove towards home.  We are SO lucky to live near this easily accessible, incredibly beautiful area!

Howard Meadow - 11/18/19

Earlier that same week, a friend and I did a cross-country hike in the Lakes Basin.  We visited a dry meadow, Grassy Lake, and the area near Niv's Knob.  It was a gorgeous, cold, cloudy day!

Canada Geese - Branta canadensis

We were so surprised to see these Canada Geese on Grassy Lake!  I'm sure they're not there anymore!

Rain clouds - 11/18/19

All day long the clouds threatened rain, but none fell till later that night! 

Great Blue Heron - Belted Kingfisher (female) - Red-tailed Hawk

Ardea herodias - Megaceryle alcyon - Buteo jamaicensis

On the River!

The heron and kingfisher are still fishing in our section of the river.  They usually live here year-round.  New this week I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk!  Perhaps it's the same one that lived here last winter!  It has been a while since I've seen one!

Common Merganser - Mergus merganser

A day or two before the snowstorm I spotted these Common Mergansers on our river!  I hadn't seen any for a month or more!  I haven't seen them since it snowed.  They must have moved on to lower elevations.

Common Mergansers - Mergus merganser

Are these cactus plants?

How is our "water year" starting out?

How much snow did the Lakes Basin get?

Whose tracks are in the snow?

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

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Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com