Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Sonoran Desert


View across the valley to the Kofa Mountains

I love the desert, all of it! I treasure the big-sky views, the dryness, the unique cacti and vegetation, as well as the amazing reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, and mammals! The area of the Sonoran Desert that I've visited many times is in the southwest part of Arizona. The average total rainfall for the area is only 5". Unlike previous years, a series of wet storms had recently passed through. It even rained when we were there last week! It was incredibly lush and beautiful, with flowering shrubs, cacti, and annuals everywhere, as well as pools of water in all the bedrock washes!!! Additionally the air was super clear, and the turquoise-blue sky was filled with beautiful dramatic clouds. My introduction to the desert happened 40 years ago, and I've been back almost every year since then! Luckily the area I travel to is protected and has remained the same all these years. We were so lucky to be there! SUCH beauty! 

Brittle Bush and Mountains

The following article describes the Sonoran Desert and is from the website at
https://www.desertmuseum.org/desert/sonora.php.

"The Sonoran Desert as currently defined covers approximately 100,000 square miles (260,000 sq. km.) and includes most of the southern half of Arizona, southeastern California, most of the Baja California peninsula, the islands of the Gulf of California, and much of the state of Sonora, Mexico. It is lush in comparison to most other deserts. Two visually dominant life forms of plants distinguish the Sonoran Desert from the other North American deserts: legume trees and columnar cacti. It also supports many other life forms encompassing a rich spectrum of some 2,000 species of plants.

The amount and seasonality of rainfall are defining characteristics of the Sonoran Desert. Much of the area has a biseasonal rainfall pattern, though even during the rainy seasons most days are sunny. From December to March frontal storms from North Pacific Ocean occasionally bring widespread, gentle rain to the northwestern areas. From July to mid-September, the summer monsoon brings surges of wet tropical air and frequent but localized violent thunderstorms.

The Sonoran Desert prominently differs from the other three North American Deserts in having mild winters; most of the area rarely experiences frost. About half of the biota is tropical in origin, with life cycles attuned to the brief summer rainy season. The winter rains, when ample, produce huge populations of annuals (which comprise half of the species in our flora)."

Bedrock Tank

 Water in the Desert!

We camped at the base of some low, rocky hills, and hiked up bedrock washes and rocky ridges during the day.  This year EVERY bedrock wash we hiked in had water in its basins.  In some areas the water was even running!  WOW!!!  Natural deep bedrock pools are called "tanks".  Local animals depend on these deep tanks for water during the hot months of summer.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has added small dams to some of these tanks to help provide year-round water for wildlife.  The natural tank pictured above is shaded from the sun, and algae doesn't grow in it easily.  In fact it was quite cold!  I wonder how long the water will last!

 Sky-Water Wash

I have never seen a flash flood, but we saw evidence of one on our hike.  In one area, huge boulders had crashed down from a cliff that bordered a wash, and 3' tall plants along the wash were bent over from a high volume of water flowing over them!  It must have been amazing to see!  There was more water in the washes than I have ever seen before!  The dramatic clouds and sky were reflected in all the pools.  I unofficially named this wash "Sky-Water Wash".  It was SO beautiful!

Arizona Toad - Anaxyrus microscaphus

In one of the pools we were surprised to find two pairs of Arizona Toads in "amplexus", the mating position of frogs and toads.  The males were on top of the backs of the females and holding on!  They were about 3" long and were pretty bumpy looking.  Arizona toads breed in pools, typically along streams and rivers.  After fertilization, strings of jelly-like eggs will be laid by the female on the bottom of the pond. Clutches range from about 3150-4280 eggs!!!  Eggs hatch in 3-6 days, and tadpoles typically metamorphose in 1-3 months, but development can be slower in cooler water or at higher elevations.  Breeding occurs over a relatively short period (10-12 days) in February-April, and is not triggered by rainfall events, but rather by warm nighttime temperatures.  Adult toads are mainly nocturnal, spending the day in sandy burrows. They enter a state of torpor and remain underground from about September to February. They may live for four or five years and the main cause of mortality is probably predation by mammals, birds, and snakes. 

That would have been amazing to come across a pool containing thousands of tadpoles!  It doesn't really sound possible!  Flash floods would definitely impact the survival rate. I wonder if lots of animals eat frog eggs or if a lot of them don't survive.  I'll have to look that up!  


Bedrock Mortar Holes - Petroglyphs

In and along the bedrock washes, there are lots of mortar holes made by Native Americans, dating from as long ago as 1,000 to 2,000 years!!!  The holes were formed by the Native Americans grinding up plants and seeds.  In some areas there are also ancient petroglyphs carved on the rocks. 

It is difficult to pin down who exactly made these petroglyphs and mortar holes.  Wikipedia states, "Patayan is a term used by archaeologists to describe the prehistoric and historic Native American cultures who inhabited parts of modern-day Arizona, west to Lake Cahuilla in California, and in Baja California, between 700–1550 A.D. This included areas along the Gila River, Colorado River and in the Lower Colorado River Valley, the nearby uplands, and north to the vicinity of the Grand Canyon."

The number of mortar holes in the area where we stayed is amazing.  I found them in many of the washes as well as in several shallow caves along the dry watercourses.  One particular north-facing cave, with a beautiful view of the Kofa Mountains, has an astounding 27 mortar holes!!!  Petroglyphs are not as common, but I have seen many of them in other areas of this desert preserve.

 
Desert Bighorn Sheep - Ovis canadensis nelsonii

Desert Wildlife

I have seen Desert Bighorn Sheep several times in this desert over the years.  I didn't think we would see any this year, as there was water available everywhere.  However, we were SO LUCKY and came across a group of 5 Bighorn Sheep while we were out hiking!  There were two young rams, two ewes, and one youngster!  You can just see part of the youngster's backside, behind the ram on the far right, in the photo below.  These beautiful sheep have been declining in population and are now currently listed as "vulnerable".  What a privilege it was to see these uncommonly seen, beautiful, wild animals!  

The following information on Desert Bighorn Sheep is from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website, https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/DesertBigHorn_2013_508.pdf.

 "Characteristics Desert Bighorn are stocky, heavy bodied sheep, similar in size to mule deer. Weights of mature rams (males) range from 125 to 200 pounds, while ewes (females) are somewhat smaller. Due to their unique padded hooves, bighorn are able to climb the steep, rocky desert mountains with speed and agility. Bighorn rely on their keen eyesight to detect potential predators and use their climbing ability to escape. Both sexes develop horns soon after birth with horn growth continuing throughout their lifetimes. Older rams have impressive sets of curling horns measuring over three feet long with a circumference of more than a foot at the base. The head and horns of an adult ram may weigh more than 30 pounds. The ewes’ horns are much smaller and lighter and do not tend to curl. Both rams and ewes use their horns for fighting and as tools to remove the spines from and break open cacti, which they then consume. Desert bighorn sheep live to be between 10 and 20 years old. Their age is indicated by annual growth rings in the horns. 

 Desert bighorn sheep are well-adapted to the climate of the Sonoran Desert. They are able to survive the extreme heat of summer and the cold of winter because their body temperature can safely fluctuate several degrees. Bighorn also escape the heat by resting in the shade of trees and caves during the day. Unlike most mammals, desert bighorn sheep have the ability to lose up to 30% of their body weight in water and still survive. Bighorn may go without drinking for weeks or months during the cooler parts of the year, although lactating ewes need water more often. During the hot, dry summer months, bighorn often go three to seven days without drinking, sustaining their body moisture from their food alone. After drinking up to two gallons of water in just a few minutes, they recover from their dehydrated condition.  Bighorn feed on a wide variety of leaves, twigs, flowers, forbs, grasses, and cacti. 

Mature bighorn live in separate ram and ewe bands most of the year. They gather together during breeding season (usually July-October), though breeding may occur anytime in the desert due to suitable climatic conditions. Rams battle to determine the dominant animal. They face each other and charge head-on from distances of twenty feet or more, crashing their massive horns together with tremendous impact until one animal ceases. The winning males are able to breed with the ewes. Gestation lasts about six months and the lambs are typically born in late winter. 

In the early 1900s, desert bighorn populations gradually declined. Competition from introduced animals and human activities were primarily responsible for the population decrease. Domestic cattle and sheep, as well as feral horses and burros, compete with bighorn, especially at water sources. Domestic stock also introduced diseases."

Desert Big Horn Sheep - Ovis canadensis

"Between 2000 and 2006, the number of desert bighorn sheep on the refuge declined from more than 800 animals to less than 400. As a result of the decline, transplants of bighorn sheep from Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to other areas of Arizona and neighboring states were suspended in 2005. Surveys conducted from 2007 to 2012 show little increase has since taken place. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, has undertaken an effort to increase the number of sheep by investigating the causes of sheep mortality, controlling predation of bighorns, reducing the number of hunting permits issued annually, and identifying lambing areas that may be potentially closed to human entry during the peak of lambing season. Permanent water is being maintained in locations known to be critical to the desert bighorn sheep as well."

Desert Cottontail/Audubon's Cottontail Rabbit - Sylvilagus audubonii

Last year I saw several Black-tailed Jack Rabbits in Joshua Trees National Monument. This year I saw several Desert Cottontail Rabbits right near our campsite in Arizona!
I have never seen them there before! When the temperatures are hot, these rabbits are most active in the evening and early morning. 90% of their diet is grass, but they will also eat forbs, shrubs, cacti, domestic crops, and even the bark of fruit trees. They get most of their water from either the plants they eat or dew that forms on the plants. Females have 5 litters of 2-6 young per year. When startled they will either freeze in place, or run off in a zig-zag pattern. Unlike other rabbits, they can also swim and climb trees and brush!!! During the day they will usually rest in a "form" (shallow depression or flattened nest of grass) made by other animals, under the cover of bushes. Both the male and female have white cottontails. They have excellent hearing with their large ears!  Cottontails are preyed upon by a number of predators, including golden and bald eagles, great horned owls, ferruginous hawks, badgers, coyotes, foxes, bobcats and humans. Rattlesnakes may prey on the young.

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos

Desert Birds

Usually where we camp, there is a large variety of birds in the area.  There is a bedrock tank, enhanced with a small man-made dam, just up the road that attracts birds and wildlife.  This year we didn't see that many different species of birds, probably because there was water available in ALL the bedrock washes, not just the one near our camp.

The predominant birds we saw and heard were Northern Mockingbirds.  First thing in the morning, they were singing their incredible repertoire of songs!  They are excellent mimics of other birds, cats, dogs, frogs, crickets, and squeaky gates etc.!  Both males and females sing, and can learn up to 150 songs in a lifetime!!!  They are widespread across the U.S., preferring to live in open areas such as farmlands.  At this time of year they feed on insects.  In winter they eat fruits and berries.

Black-throated Sparrow - Amphispiza bilineata

Every year, at our camp, we are visited by Black-throated Sparrows.  These birds are year-round desert residents.  The get enough water from the insects and succulent vegetation that they eat.  Although they aren't as vocally versatile as Mockingbirds, they have a lovely, repeated, bell-like song. 

Ash-throated Flycatcher - Myiarchus cinerascens

These lovely Ash-throated Flycatchers were also commonly seen.  They may be year-round desert residents, or may migrate as far north as Washington to breed.  They do not need to drink water, as they get enough water from the insects and cactus fruit (in season) that they eat!  They are an overall warm-brown in color with pale gray throats, and lemon-yellow bellies.  The one in the photo on the right was startled by me, and raised its crest feathers in alarm!

 Phainopepla (male) - Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (female) (?)
Phainopepla nitens - Polioptila melanura (?)

We saw two male Phainopeplas over the 3 days we were in the desert.  Surprisingly I have also seen one male Phainopepla in the foothills near my home!  The following information is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website, birdsna.org., and explains why these birds are seen in such different environments.

"This long-tailed, crested bird is common and conspicuous in the Sonoran Desert, where it perches atop mesquite or palo verde trees, calling with a questioning 
"Wurp?" while flicking its tail and turning from side to side. The female in gray plumage, and the male in glossy black, flutter and zigzag, especially in pursuit of flying insects. In flight, the male flashes white wing patches, a striking contrast with the shimmering black plumage which inspired the Greek name Phainopepla, or "shining robe."

The Phainopepla lives and breeds in the Sonoran Desert until it gets hot and the mistletoe berries dry up.  They then migrate to the oak woodlands and sycamore canyons of California and Arizona where they breed through July!  In the desert, mated pairs vigorously defend their territory, whereas in the oak/sycamore woodlands they live in loose colonies of 3-15 pairs!  They eat insects and berries, mistletoe being their main desert fare.
 __________

I'm not 100% sure that this is a female Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (above right), but it is the most probable species for the area we were in.  I have never seen any Gnatcatchers before!  It appears that they are year-round residents in the southwest.  They are tiny, only 4.5' long!  They primarily glean shrubs for insects, and rarely eat seeds and fruit. We watched it flitting around in this Brittlebush, whipping it's tail from side to side!  How lucky we were to see one of these tiny desert residents!

Brittlebush after the Rain - Encelia farinosa

The Blooming Desert!

This year the highways were bordered with "hedges" of blooming Brittlebush and Coulter's Globemallow!  It was gorgeous!  There were also lots of other blooming shrubs and annuals.  I've been using Edmund C. Jaeger's, 1941 edition of Desert Wildflowers as a wildflower field guide for 40 years!!  The excellent, detailed, pencil drawings (not in color) were done mainly in-the-field by the author, over a period of 25+ years!  During this time he trekked through the deserts of the southwest with a pack burro, covering over 30,000 miles of roads and trails!  Although many of the scientific names have been changed, the drawings are still incredibly accurate and extremely helpful in identifying desert plants.  I have also used the following website for up-to-date information and identification of desert plants, http://swbiodiversity.org/sienet/.  SEInet stands for "Southwestern Environmental Information Network".  

Pale-stemmed Four O'Clock - Notch-leaved Phacelia - Desert Windflower 
Mirabilis aspera - Phacelia crenulata ambigua - Anemone tuberosa

New to me this year was the Desert Windflower (far right)!  We only saw two small plants in bloom.  None of the literature says it is rare.  I was thrilled to see this elusive little anemone in a rocky crevice!  The tallest stem is bearing the large seedhead.

Coulter's Globemallow - Crucifixion Thorn - Chuparosa
Sphaeralcea coulteri - Holocantha Emoryi - Beloperone californica

Another new species we saw this year was the profusely blooming Crucifixion Thorn (center).  It was a LARGE shrub covered in  small cream-colored blossoms. Beautiful!

Beavertail Cactus - Opuntia basilaris

The Beavertail Cactus were the only blooming cacti we saw.  The Buckhorn and Teddy Bear Chollas were still in bud, as well as the Hedgehog and Barrel Cacti.  The Saguaro Cactus bloom much later, in April through June.

Sunrise in the Sonoran Desert

On the morning we left to go back home, we watched an incredible sunrise!  The clouds lit up briefly in beautiful oranges and golds, then dark gray clouds moved in and the temperature dropped!  It had rained quite heavily around 3:00 am that morning, and I had even heard an owl out in the rain!  We headed home filled with beauty, with plans to return again next year.  We are SO lucky!

We cut our desert trip short due to the Coronavirus news.  I hope you all stay healthy, and get out in nature while you have the time.  It heals all!

What new birds have arrived?

Where are the mammals?


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

Unfortunately you can no longer sign up to get my blog emailed to you.  
Something changed at Blogspot.com. Oh well...


Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Unexpected Snow!!!


Last Friday I went on a road trip to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. While I was gone, a late winter storm dumped 3 feet of heavy wet snow in our neighborhood!!! The power was knocked out for 6 days! The total amount of precipitation for the week was 6.19", which brings our water year total to 27.63". When I got back home, there was two feet of heavy, wet, packed snow on the ground and it's still here! Although this last storm caused a lot of damage and power outages, we are all thrilled that the threat of fires has been reduced. More snow and rain is predicted for the coming week! Fingers crossed that wet weather keeps coming for the next month and more!

 Our Feeding Station

Project FeederWatch Update!

Project FeederWatch ends in two weeks, on April 3rd.  So far I've seen 17 species of birds, with an average of 40+ birds per day.  The regular winter visitors to our feeding station were approximately 50 Dark-eyed Juncos, 18 Mountain Quail, 16 Steller's Jays, 4 Mourning Doves, 2 Spotted Towhees, 2 Fox Sparrows, 2 Northern Flickers, and 1 Song Sparrow.  Just this week most of these birds have increased in number, and several new species of birds have shown up!  The Dark-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, and the Mountain Quail will migrate to higher elevations as the weather improves.  The Red-winged Blackbird will migrate to agriculture or pasture land. The Varied Thrushes, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and White-crowned Sparrows, will migrate north as far as Alaska to mate.  The rest of the birds stay here for the entire year.

I have had a fun season watching birds, and contributing data to the Cornell Lab this year!  I'll stop feeding the birds in April and will probably resume in November for the next, citizen science, Project FeederWatch season.  Project FeederWatch is sponsored by The Cornell Lab and Birds Canada.  The following quote is from their website at feederwatch.org.

"Project FeederWatch turns your love of feeding birds into scientific discoveries. FeederWatch is a winter-long (November-April) survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. Participants periodically count the birds they see at their feeders and send their counts to Project FeederWatch. Your bird counts help you keep track of what is happening in your own backyard and help scientists track long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. With FeederWatch, your observations become part of something bigger."


 Spotted Towhee (male) - Fox Sparrow
Pipilo maculatus - Passerella iliaca


Varied Thrush (female - male)
Ixoreus naevius

American Robin - Dark-eyed Junco
Turdus migratorius - Junco hyemalis

 Mourning Dove - Band-tailed Pigeon
Zenaida macroura - Columba fasciata

 Golden-crowned Sparrow - White-crowned Sparrow
  Zonotrichia atricapilla - Zonotrichia leucophrys

Mountain Quail - Northern Flicker 
Oreortyx pictus - Colaptes auratus

Song Sparrow - Pine Siskin 
Melospiza melodia - Spinus pinus


Steller's Jay - Brewer's Blackbird
Cyanocitta stelleri - Euphagus cyanocephalus

Red-winged Blackbird (male) - Mountain Chickadee
Agelaius phoeniceus - Poecile gambeli


Beavertail Cactus - Opuntia basilaris

I'll post my Sonoran Desert Blog next weekend!

What new birds have arrived?

Where are the mammals?

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

Unfortunately you can no longer sign up to get my blog emailed to you.
Something changed at Blogspot.com. Oh well...

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!
Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com 

Thursday, March 12, 2020

After the Rain

 Lupine leaves  - Lupinus sp.

I went rambling through my neighborhood after the recent rains, enjoying the heavenly, damp, camphor-like fragrance!  Everything was glistening wet and jewel-like in the sun!  I came across these newly emerged lupines with water drops acting like magnifying glasses on their leaves!  I hadn't realize how hairy the lupine leaves were.  Densely haired plants can survive colder temperatures.  The hairs trap air and keep the plants warmer!  Snow is predicted for this coming weekend!  Hopefully all the young plants that are sprouting will survive, including these lupines!

 Lupine leaves  -  Blue Clerid
Lupinus sp. - Chariessa dichroa

I love how the water drops magnified the plant parts!  This little beetle, was busy climbing on the leaves.  It is a "Blue" Clerid.  You would think it would be named a "Red" Clerid!  I haven't found much information on this little beetle, but I'll keep looking and post what I find.

Dendroalsia Moss - Dendroalsia albietina
 (Happy St Patrick's Day!)

All the mosses and lichens have been doing good this winter.  They thrive in damp or wet conditions.  To keep from freezing in the winter they replace the water in their cells with glycogens (sugars), that work like anti-freeze.  Right now, because of the recent rains, they are lush and vibrant!  I found this heart shaped piece of moss on one of my walks along the highway!


Dendroalsia Moss (left & center) - Star Moss (rigiht)

Dendroalsia albietina - Tortula ruralis


Moss is a non-flowering plant, that has no roots, no vascular system, and reproduces mainly through spores not seeds. There are approximately 12,000 species of moss in the world! It needs wet or moist conditions to grow. In the hot and dry summer, moss becomes dormant. Dendroalsia Moss is the most commonly found species in our neighborhood. It grows on rocks, tree trunks and branches, deadwood, cement, and even fences!  Star Moss is also common and easily identified by its shape.


Witch's Hair Lichen - foliose lichen (sp?) - Forked Tube Lichen (with brown apothecia) 
Alectoria sarmentosa - species unknown - Hypogymnia imshaugii

Lichens!

Lichen, like moss, is a non-flowering plant, that has no roots nor vascular system, reproduces mainly through spores not seeds, and is dormant during the hot and dry summer. In the Forked Tube Lichen, above right, you can see the apothecia (roundish brown "cups") where the spores are held.  Unlike moss, lichen is a combination of a fungus and an algae or cyanobacterium, living together in a symbiotic relationship! The fungus forms the external shape of the lichen, and it lives off the sugars produced by the photosynthesis of the "housed" algae! Wow! There are about 17,000 species of lichen worldwide!

There are three main forms that lichens are grouped in, fruiticose, crustose, and foliose. The fruticose form (above) usually grows on shrubs and trees. It is multi-branched, and can be found growing either upright or hanging down.

Bufflehead (female) - Mallards (female & male)
Bucephala albeola - Anas platyrhynchos

Pond Life Update!

I decided to walk down to a pond I've been watching from about 200' above it.  It seemed so different from the duck's-eye view!  I saw two pairs of Bufflehead Ducks swimming around and diving for food.  I also found another small pond, that I couldn't see from above.  Secreted in the back tangle of the pond, I spotted a pair of Mallards!
I'll have to go back again and see what else I can find!

Scotch Broom - Cytisus scoparius

Since the recent rains, I've been pulling up lots of  Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) bushes, a non-native, invasive species.  I've been watching it move further and further up the North Yuba River Canyon over the past several years.  Last year I cut back a big patch of Scotch Broom along the highway, and hope to get a lot more removed this year.  This is the time of year to get rid of it, when the ground is damp and they haven't gone to seed.  There are special "puller" tools available on the internet for removing large Scotch Broom bushes.  I don't have one, but right now the small bushes are easily pulled out by hand!  Scotch Broom is such a fast prolific grower that it outcompetes native shrubs, and its woody limbs provide volatile fuels for wildfire.  While I was pulling out plants, I noticed that some of them had lots of woolly galls on their stems. It turns out that gall mites have started attacking Scotch Broom and are killing them! Wow! 

 The following information, from http://www.ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17357, explains the history and current status of these gall mites.

"Scotch broom was introduced into North America in the mid-1800s from Europe as an ornamental and for erosion control. The bright yellow flowers and rapid growth has made it a prized ornamental however its ability to out-compete native plants and form dense stands has also made it one of California's worst wildland weeds. Since its introduction it has invaded millions of acres throughout the golden state. 

The broom gall mite (Aceria genistae) which is actually not an insect but more closely related to spiders and ticks has recently taken residence on the invasive plant Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). It attacks Scotch broom by forming small growths on the plants buds which greatly reduces the ability for it to grow and reproduce. In some areas, the gall mite has even killed large stands of broom. Native to Europe, the mite was first found on Scotch broom in the Tacoma, Washington and Portland, Oregon regions in 2005. Since that time the mite has become established throughout western Washington and Oregon and even into parts of British Columbia. As of 2013 the mite had been found as far south as Ashland, Oregon with no occurrences in California. 

However, beginning in 2014, the mite has been found in many areas throughout El Dorado, Placer and Nevada counties in California. How the tiny insect got there is another mystery. The mites are nearly invisible to the naked eye and only measure about 50-60 µm or roughly the width of a human hair. Mites are known to travel long distances by wind currents or by animals, humans and equipment.

If you suspect evidence of Scotch broom gall mites, the University of California Cooperative Extension asks that you report it on their website http://ucanr/edi/broomgallmite."

If everyone got out and pulled out 50 or 100 of these plants, the benefits would be huge!  So if you're looking for something to do, get out there and start pulling!

 Galls formed by Broom Gall Mites - Aceria genistae

I'm going on a road trip tomorrow and won't be back for a week.  That's why I published my blog early this week.


What's happening with Project FeederWatch?


What new birds have arrived?

Where are the deer and bears?

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

Unfortunately you can no longer sign up to get my blog emailed to you.
Something changed at Blogspot.com. Oh well...

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!
Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Black Swan Preserve

White Leaf Manzanita - Arctostaphylos viscida

It's Raining again!  Yahoo!  We got .77" of rain in the past 24 hours, and the forecast is for a "showery" week!  I hope this wet weather continues for a long time!  We really need it to keep the fire danger down.  I've been singing my rain song over and over!  My friends and I think it helps!  I encourage everyone to do anything to invoke more rain!  Get out there and dance and sing!

Rain, rain, come on down.
Come and quench this thirsty ground.
Come and let wet smells abound.
Fill the air with a joyful sound!
(repeat)

Pond at Black Swan Preserve  3/4/20

Black Swan Preserve

Last week we went down to the Black Swan Preserve off of Highway 20.  During the Gold Rush this was a hydraulic mining site.  It is currently open to the public, and there is an easy 2 mile loop trail featuring wetlands, blue oak woodlands, and historic mining sites.  In a couple more weeks it should be in bloom.

The following information is from the website bylt.org/land/black-swan-preserve.  

"In 2012, Bear Yuba Land Trust was approved to receive a grant from the CalTrans Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program to acquire this “highly sensitive” 50 acres. With mining’s legacy hydraulic pond and diggings, the property is now home to a rich variety of wildlife, birds and the Western pond turtle, a species of special concern. BYLT trails team and volunteers have built two miles of trail around the pond with more on the way.  Black Swan Preserve will ultimately be transferred to California Department of Fish and Wildlife once the pond and riparian area is restored and the trail system is complete."

Red-winged Blackbirds - Canada Geese
Agelaius phoeniceus - Branta canadensis

There weren't any ducks on the ponds, but we did see some Canada Geese.  I tried to find out why it is called the "Black Swan" Preserve, but didn't have any luck.  The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is native to Australia.  They are occasionally found in North America when they escape from a zoo or someone's private collection.  Did someone think these Canada Geese were Black Swans?  Please let me know if you know the answer!  Thanks!

We also saw and heard a few Red-winged Blackbirds, a definite sign of Spring!

1 Western Pond Turtle & 3 Red-eared Sliders
Actinemys marmorata - Trachemys scripta elegans

I spotted these turtles in one of the first ponds we came across.  It was exciting to see a native Western Pond Turtle, but discouraging to see the non-native, invasive Red-eared Sliders.  

The following information is from the californiaherps.com website.
 "The Western Pond Turtle is in decline throughout 75 - 80% of its range. There a number of reasons for this decline.


Beginning in the 19th century, the commercial harvesting of Western Pond Turtles for food was a major threat to the species. That trade continued at least into the 1930's. 


Another cause for the decline of the species was the massive wetland drainage projects in the Great Valley of the early 20th century which destroyed numerous wetlands and lakes and altered rivers, all of which destroyed or reduced suitable habitat for the Western Pond Turtle. Tulare Lake, now gone, was once the home to an estimated 3.5 million pond turtles, almost all of which are now extinct in the area. The destruction or degradation of other wetlands throughout the state has certainly also added to the decline.

The introduction of non-native turtles into Western Pond Turtle habitat, especially the two most successful invasive turtle species, the Red-eared Slider and the Painted Turtle, has been another cause of the decline of the Western Pond Turtle. Both species are common in the pet trade and feral turtles now found in California were most likely released by their owners. Since the Western Pond Turtle is the only native freshwater turtle in its historic range, it did not develop the ability to successfully compete for resources with other species of turtles, and both the Red-eared Slider and the Painted Turtle produce nearly twice as many offspring as the pond turtle which allows them to overwhelm and out-compete the pond turtle population.

Another threat to the pond turtle has been the American Bullfrog, an invasive species that has spread throughout the state. In 1994 report, Dan C. Holland writes that the invasive bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is a known predator of Western Pond Turtles, and the report includes a picture of a bullfrog preying on a juvenile pond turtle in San Diego County. Bullfrogs breed in such large numbers that adults can eventually eat so many hatchling turtles that few turtles can survive to adulthood and after the existing adults die off there will be no more turtles at that location."

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has an "Invasive Species Program".  The following information is from their website wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives.  If you would like to get involved in the 7th annual California Invasive Species Action Week on June 6-14, 2020, visit the CISWA page or email Invasives@wildlife.ca. gov to find out how you can participate as a partner organization, event host, or an individual.


"The mission of the Invasive Species Program is to reduce the negative effects of non-native invasive species on the wild lands and waterways of California. We are involved in efforts to prevent the introduction of these species into the state, detect and respond to introductions when they occur, and prevent the spread of invasive species that have become established. Our projects address problems with introduced animals and plants, both terrestrial and aquatic. More fundamentally, we try to identify and address the ways by which the species are introduced, typically inadvertently, by human activities. Studies show that preventing introductions is the most effective and cost-efficient way to manage invasive species. We conduct our work in coordination with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations."

I was so lucky to see this native Western Pond Turtle!  I'm going to see what I can do to help with the CDFW Invasive Species Program.

Red-tailed Hawk - Acorn Woodpecker - California Scrub-Jay
Buteo jamaicensis - Melanerpes formicivorus - Aphelocoma californica

We heard a lot of birds, but didn't see most of them. Birdwatching isn't as easy as you might think!  The birds pictured above were common, and easily seen in the area.  The Scrub-Jay and the Acorn Woodpeckers are year-round foothill residents.  The Red-tailed Hawk may spend the winter in the foothills and valleys, but can also live at higher elevations if food is available.

Gray Pine - Blue Oak
Pinus sabiniana - Quercus douglasii

The ceanothus was is full bloom, and there were a few buttercups dotting the hillsides.  The trees were mainly Gray Pines as well as Blue Oaks, that were just leafing out.  The spindly nature of the Gray Pine needles is a sharp contrast to their heavy, sharply-spined cones!

 American Wigeon (male) - Wood Duck (male & female)
Buteo jamaicensis - Melanerpes formicivorus - Aphelocoma californica

Since we were close by, I made a quick trip to the Wood Duck Pond to see what was happening.  To my delight the Wood Ducks were still there, and there were also two pairs of American Wigeons!  Seems like the waterfowl population is always changing on our local ponds.  It's fascinating!

Tree Frog eggs and embryos (?)

I found these Tree Frog eggs and embryos in a ditch along the highway near my neighborhood!  The water was super cold, and none of these tiny creatures were moving. The two types were contained in separate, clear, one inch, globular blobs that were attached to dead plant material in the ditch. I have never seen these before!!!

In Pacific Tree Frogs, breeding takes place from January to May.  The female lays an egg mass containing 10-70 eggs.  This eggs mass is laid in a temporary pond, where it floats, attached to pond vegetation, about 3-4 weeks before hatching.  The colder the water is, the longer it takes for the eggs to hatch.  So, I think the spherical "critters" on the left are eggs that are younger than the embryos on the right. The embryos look like they have stomachs, but I don't know if that's what the yellow shapes are.  I think the next step in their metamorphosis will be to change from embryos to tadpoles.  I'll keep checking on these tiny critters, and let you know what happens next!

Green Comma - California Tortoiseshell
Polygonia faunus - Nymphalis californica

Two types of butterflies have been flitting around our neighborhood lately, the Green Comma and the California Tortoiseshell.  Both of these species overwinter as adults.  The Green Comma is listed as "usually uncommon"!

Snow Sedge Caddisfly (underwater nymphs in cases & adult) - Psychoglypha bella


I found the large, adult Snow Sedge Caddisfly on my car window one morning last week!  I thought it was an unusual moth!  I submitted my photo to bugguide.org and they identified it as an adult caddisfly!!!  I have seen caddisfly nymphs in just about every river or stream I examine.  They make external  "cases" out of pine needles, twigs, tiny rocks etc., in which they live.  They live underwater as nymphs for a few months to several years, depending on the species.  As an adult they only live for one month, and live on the nectar of flowers!  The nymphs are only about an inch long!  The adult was quite large, about 2" with 1.5" antennae!!!  What an interesting find!

Eggs are generally laid in temporary ponds. Embryos and larvae may die when the pH of the habitat ranges from 4.2 to 4.5. The larval stage can last from 45 to 90 days, and is partially dependent on the availability of water in vernal pools. Compared to a related species, Pseudacris triseriata, the spring peeper has a longer development time (a prolonged larval period), in which metamorphosis is delayed.
Sierra Buttes 3/6/20

We went hiking on the snow up to Salmon Lake last week!  There is still about 2.5'-3' of wet, packed snow around the 6,000' level.  It was a beautiful day, and no one else was there, as the county has closed the access roads.  Salmon Lake was still frozen!
Such beauty!

What's happening with Project FeederWatch?

What new birds have arrived?

Where are the deer and bears?

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



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Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com