A Wet Spring!

Northern Flicker (female) - Colaptes auratus

Since March 15th, it's been snowy, rainy, and cold with a few sunny days interspersed! More rain is predicted for this coming week, and it's snowing heavily right now! If this wet weather continues into May, the threat of drought and fire will be greatly reduced! We received about 2.27" of rain/snow this past week, bringing our water-year total to 29.90". The 2.5' of snow, from the previous heavy snowstorm of 2 weeks ago, has melted and the river is up slightly. Up in the Lakes Basin there are several feet of new snow on the ground, substantially increasing our snowpack!

The wet, cold weather has caused some delays in the flowering of plants, the activity of insects, and the seasonal migration of birds!  Typically, this is the time of year where there are lots of blossoms on the fruit trees, and tons of insects in the air.  It is also when some of our winter residents move on to their breeding/nesting territories,  and non-resident birds migrate through.

Dark-eyed Junco  (male) -  Dark-eyed Junco with feather pigment mutation

Junco hyemalis - subspecies "Oregon"

The Dark-eyed Juncos have usually migrated to higher elevations by now, but are currently staying in our neighborhood due to the recent snows.  I spotted the unusual Junco on the right, because of its distinct pigmentation.  It had a lot more white on its face than a "normal" junco.  Pigment mutation in birds can be caused by genetics (eg.defects in pigment cells during development), diet, or injury (damaged feathers that are re-grown can lack pigment).  This Junco has "leucism".  Leucism is when a bird has one or many abnormal white feathers, but still retains its normal eye and skin color. 

Mountain Chickadee - Poecile gambeli

The Mountain Chickadees left for higher elevations a few weeks ago, but have now returned!  They'll leave for their breeding areas when the weather warms up! 

Varied Thrush (male - female) - Ixoreus naevius

These beautiful Varied Thrushes pass through our neighborhood in the Spring and Fall, on their seasonal migrations.  This year, this pair of Thrushes has been around longer than usual due to the snowy, wet weather.  How delightful it's been to watch them!

Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus

The Mountain Quail have also delayed their departure from our neighborhood!  Usually they have left for higher elevations by now.  Warm weather is predicted after this current storm system.  Perhaps spring will get underway then!

Gray Fox - Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Mammal Update!

To my delight I saw these foxes on our property this week!  I'm pretty sure I've seen them before!  Each fox that I've seen has a unique, recognizable face and personality.  The one in front is smaller than the one in the back, and might be its juvenile offspring!  Gray Foxes mate for life, and breed sometime between January and early March.  Kits are born two months after mating.  Dens are made in underground burrows, in hollow logs or trees, under large rocks or ledges, or up in a tree canopy in a hollow trunk or branch. (Gray Foxes are the only North American fox that can climb trees!  They descend down a tree trunk like a bear does, with its hind feet first.)  Both parents take care of the kits.  After 10 months, the kits are sexually mature and disperse from the family unit.  Gray Foxes are omnivores and eat plants, insects, eggs, small mammals, and birds.
  

Gray Fox (possible female with juvenile) - Urocyon cinereoargenteus

I hope I see these lovely wild beauties again soon!

Columbian Black-tailed Deer - Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

For two evenings in a row, I watched this doe forage on the newly greened grass in a neighbor's field.  She was all by herself, and quite wary of my presence. Mule deer mate in the fall, and fawns aren't born until June or July.  Does have one fawn in their first birthing year, then twins or triplets in following years. The spotted fawns will lose their spots 90-120 days after they're born.  Only the does care for the fawns.  There has been a Mountain Lion seen in our neighborhood over the past two weeks.  I hope this doe is successful in evading this formidable predator!

Western Gray Squirrel - Sciurus griseus

Western Gray Squirrels are active year-round in our neighborhood.  Right now is the beginning of their mating season.  The nests or birthing "dreys" are usually built in the top third of a tree.  They consist of many sticks and leaves wrapped into a ball-like shape with long strands of grass.  The nest is lined with hair from their molted winter coat.  There are usually 3-5 kits in a litter.  The young are weaned 10 weeks after they are born.  However, the kits don't leave the nest until they are fully grown, which takes approximately 6 months.  Only the mother takes care of them during this time! 

Downy Woodpecker (female) - Dryobates pubescens

Woodpeckers!

I've been watching Downy Woodpeckers forage for food for several weeks, right outside my studio window!   These woodpeckers live here year-round.  They will excavate a roosting cavity for winter, and return to it every night!  Yesterday I saw two males hassle each other for about an hour!  Downy Woodpeckers pair bond in the fall. This dispute was probably over nesting territory, not mates!  Males will compete with each other over territories.  Females are also known to compete with other females for the same reason!  

Downy Woodpecker (males) - Dryobates pubescens

The two males were definitely scrabbling, chasing, and giving each other the "hairy eyeball"!  Eventually one of the males flew off.  A little later, I saw a male and a female together, with the female inspecting a nest hole in a trunk!  I'm really hoping they establish a nest nearby, where I can watch them!

Hairy Woodpecker (male) - Dryobates villosus

The Hairy Woodpecker is also a year-round resident.  It closely resembles the Downy Woodpecker, but it is somewhat larger and has a longer bill.  Like the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker will roost in a cavity in winter.  Both of these woodpeckers eat insects as well as fruit and berries in season.  I've seen these lovely birds many times in my neighborhood.  One year they nested in a local Alder trunk, and I watched them feed the babies until they fledged!  Maybe I'll get lucky and find one of their nests again this year!

Red-breasted Sapsucker - Syraphicus ruber

Lately I've been seeing a Red-breasted Sapsucker in the neighborhood!  They don't live here year-round.  Their winters are spent in California's interior and coast, as well as down into Baja.  They migrate up to our neighborhood to nest and raise their young.  Last year I was super lucky and watched them excavate a nest hole where they raised one nestling!  

What's blooming?

What's happening in the Lakes Basin?

What's happening on the River?

Are birds starting to make nests?

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

During these days of Covid-19 and uncertainty, I hope you are all healthy and coping with this unusual stress.  Get out in nature while you have the time!  It is so healing!

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