Wildlife and Wildfire

"Forest at Risk" by Katie O'Hara-Kelly ©2020

The fires are still burning in California, but the one closest to us, the North Complex, has really diminished in size.  So far 304,492 acres have burned, 2,218 structures have been destroyed, and it is 78% contained.  Sheesh!!!  Unfortunately the forecast for the next few days is for strong winds, warmer temperatures, and dry conditions.  No rain is predicted for the near future.  Fingers crossed this wind event doesn't cause more fires.  

I've been reading a lot about the effects of wildfires on wildlife lately.  I recommend the following two websites for excellent articles on this subject.

Wildland Fire in Ecosystems - Effects of Fire on Fauna          https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr042_1.pdf.

After the Forest Fire: Benefits to Animals           https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/

how-forest-fire-benefit-living-things-3.htm

In brief, wildfires don't necessarily kill every animal in the forest.  Birds can fly away, small critters can go underground or under rocks, large mammals can run away or take refuge in rivers, ponds, and lakes.  However, not all animals survive wildfire, even some large mammals can die.  The effects of these super hot, intense, 100,000 acre fires are definitely a tremendous challenge to our native species.  

Recently there has been a tragic event in the American Southwest, where thousands of migrating birds have been dying on the wing and falling out of the sky.  The dead birds have been found to have no body fat, and have apparently died from starvation.  The cause of this is uncertain, but one explanation may be that they had to leave early on their migration due to wildfires and hadn't yet built up their fat reserves for their journey.  Additionally, the wildfires would have changed their course from the food rich California coast and foothills to the deserts of the southwest where food and water is scarce at this time of year.  It is a huge loss.  As one biology professor stated, "To see this many individuals and species dying is a national tragedy."   You can read an article about this tragedy at, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/16/birds-falling-out-of-the-sky-in-mass-die-off-in-south-western-us-aoe.  It is so sad. Such beauty lost.

 Wildfires can have some positive effects, such as opening up the forest canopy, killing off diseased or invasive plant species, and breaking down organic material into more readily available nutrients for the soil.  Surprisingly some animals are "pyrophilous" and are drawn to wildfires, such as Black Fire Beetles (Melanophila).  These beetles possess unusual infrared sensors.  They use these sensors to detect forest fires, up to 50 miles away, since their wood-eating larvae can only develop in freshly burned trees.  They also have the ability to recognize fire-specific volatile organic compounds.  Fire allows the beetle larvae to freely eat their way through the wood because the trees, which have been killed by great heat, can no longer fight back, and there are hardly any predators that would eat them in freshly burned forests.  One of the predators that eats these beetles is the local, native, Black-backed Woodpecker.  These woodpeckers also prefer to nest in burnt or partially burnt trees! 

We need rain.  If you'd like to join in a collaborative, positive-energy wish for rain, please check out my other blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com.  More information about this blog is featured near the bottom of this page.  

Sierra Buttes - 9/22/20

Recent Lakes Basin Hikes

We had 5 smoke-free days this week!  It's been heavenly!  I went hiking in the Lakes Basin on two of the five days!  It was wonderful to be back up there, and there weren't many people on the trails.  

Hidden Lake 9/21/20

One day we hiked cross-country up to Hidden Lake, in the Plumas National Forest.  The lake was super low but beautiful!  Several birds were flying around and watching us from the tops of distant trees. They were too quick and far away for me to get a photo, but fun to watch.

 

Southern Long-toed Salamander larva (?)

Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum (?)

While we were sitting along the shoreline of Hidden Lake, my friend Nancy spotted a salamander larva in the water.  As soon as it saw us, it quickly disappeared into the silty muck on the bottom of the lake.  I then went on a "hunt" for more larva along the shoreline. Luckily I found one more and got a photo before it disappeared.  It was super camouflaged on the lake bottom.  It seemed large, at about 3" in length.  We were surprised to find larvae in a big lake.  So far we've only found them in shallow ponds.

Not all salamanders have aquatic larvae.  Some hatch out as adults from eggs that are laid in damp, moist areas such as underneath decaying vegetation on the forest floor, or in decomposing logs.   Some aquatic salamanders hatch from eggs laid in slow flowing streams. What we saw might be Southern Long-toed Salamander larvae, that typically hatch from eggs laid in ponds.  They usually spend 1-2 years as aquatic larvae, before they emerge from the ponds as adults.  While underwater they breathe with gills that are located on both sides of their body, right above their front legs.  You can just see them in the photo above.  As larvae they feed on aquatic insects, copepods, ostracods, snails, leeches, annelid worms, and tadpoles! As adults these salamanders have bright yellow splotches on their backs. 

Veronica Lake 9/21/20 and Veronica Lake 8/18/19

On another day I hiked the Round Lake Loop trail, one of my favorites.  About 1.5 miles into the hike, I was surprised to find that Veronica Lake was down to a very shallow, small, pond!  Without a doubt, it was the driest I have ever seen!  A little more than a year ago I took the photo on the right, and Veronica Lake was still quiet full!  We are indeed in a dry, drought year! 

 

Bear tracks - Mice tracks (?) - Bear tracks

I was also surprised to find Black Bear tracks all along the edge of the lake!  I can't figure out what it was looking for.  Perhaps it drank some water while it was here.  There were also LOTS of small mammal tracks!  Maybe mice?  I'm not sure why they were here either.  Maybe there was a bunch of seeds in the mud?  Really interesting to see!

Common/Valley Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. fitchi

This Common/Valley Garter Snake can be distinguished by the red markings on its sides.  They are not poisonous, but can bite!  They are mainly aquatic, and tend to live near wet areas where they eat fish, toads, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, birds, small mammals, earthworms, slugs and leeches.  I only saw one of these in Veronica Lake, perhaps because there weren't a lot of tadpoles etc. to eat!  They are quite striking in their black and pale-yellow stripes that are barred in red!

Cassin's Finch (female/immature male - male)- Haemorhous cassinii

Lakes Basin Birds

Luckily there are still lots of birds up in the Lakes Basin, feasting on the abundance of seeds and berries that can be found there.  Cassin's Finches were plentiful, both males and females/immature males.  The males have faded from their bright red mating colors, but still have a blush of red on their breast as well as a dusty-red crown.  Immature males resemble adult females.  We saw a lot of these finches when we last visited the Anderson Thistle patch up at 7,400'.  It turns out that they mainly inhabit areas from 6,000' to treeline during the breeding season.  At this time of year they are descending to lower elevations for the winter.  Some travel as far south as Baja California or Central Mexico.  Others may travel to the east side of the Sierra, or the interior west of the U.S.

Cassin's Finch (female/immature male - male)- Haemorhous cassinii

The other birds we saw mainly eat seeds and berries at this time of year.  Currently, almost all the wildflowers and shrubs have gone to seed, or are in berry.  There's plenty of food for the birds!  Most of these birds will leave the Lakes Basin before winter sets in.  Some live there year-round.

 

White-crowned Sparrow (adult) - Red-breasted Nuthatch (male)

Zonotrichia leucophrys - Sitta canadensis

Mountain Chickadee (adult) - Hermit Thrush (adult)

Poecile gambeli - Catharis guttatus

Cedar Waxwing (adult) - Pine Siskin (female/immature male)

Bombycilla cedrorum - Spinus pinus

Dwarf Bilberry - Mountain Spirea

Vaccinium caespitosum - Spirea splendens

Fall Color in the Lakes Basin

The Fall Colors are just starting to show up in the Lakes Basin!  The Quaking Aspens are still green, but the deciduous bushes are turning gorgeous yellows and reds. One of my favorites is the Dwarf Bilberry, a short ground-level shrub that can range in color from yellow to a deep wine-red!  Such beauty!

American Dogwood - Dwarf Bilberry

Cornus sericea - Vaccinium caespitosum 

Shining Willow - Spreading Dogbane

Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra - Apocynum androsaemifolium

Heavy Downpour - 7/09/19

More Damp Earth Art!

Please visit my new (and improved with new fonts) blog dampearthart.blogspot.com. Once again I am sending out a "Call for Art" in celebration of rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope. If you would like to submit some art, or writing, or a photo please check out my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com

You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com.

I will be posting new art weekly. Check it out and pray for rain!

Are the bears still around?

What are they eating?

What's happening down in the garden?

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... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated! 

 Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com

Despite the Smoke

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus

We just had another week of smoke-filled days. The air quality was so poor (in the 400's) that I couldn't get out and wander like I usually do. The Tahoe National Forest was also closed to hiking, camping, driving, and all recreational activities for another week!!! I did manage to go out several early mornings and was happy to see wildlife still thriving in our neighborhood! Luckily for us, the smoke cleared out on Thursday evening and it's been sunny, clear, and beautiful since then! We are SO lucky! Fires are still burning in California, but most have diminished in size. We still have a few more months of fire season to go.  There isn't any rain predicted for the near future.  Let's hope some arrives soon!  We really, really need it!

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus

On two different mornings I saw this beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk perched in the same dead tree!  It was probably scanning the area for food, such as Chickarees, mice, voles, frogs, toads, snakes, crayfish, insects, and birds. Their feathering is so striking and beautifully patterned!  Here on the western side of the US, these hawks are usually  found in the coast, valley, and foothills of California year round.  Currently they have increased their range to include our area!  Such beauty!

Lesser Goldfinch (female- male) - Spinus psaltria

Now that most of our wildflowers have gone to seed, the Lesser Goldfinches have shown up!  Their diet is mainly seeds, but they will also eat berries, tree buds, and small insects.  They always travel in small to largish flocks.  They will spend the winter down in the lower elevations of California.

Lesser Goldfinch (possible juveniles) - Spinus psaltria

I think this is a small group of juveniles, because I saw one of them flapping its wings in the "feed me" style!  The young birds look like the adult females, so I could be wrong.  So fun to see them all together in a yellow flurry!

Lesser Goldfinch (male - juvenile) - Spinus psaltria

They were mainly feeding on the seeds of Star Thistle, an invasive weed!  

Nice to know that it produces seeds that birds like!  I think the bird on the right is a juvenile because it still l has some fluffy feathers!

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile - adult) - Zonotrichia leucophrys

Recently arrived in our neighborhood are the White-crowned Sparrows.  These have probably come down from the Lakes Basin where they raised their young.  Or perhaps they've flow down from their breeding grounds in Alaska or Canada.  They always show up in our neighborhood at this time of year.  They won't stay here for the winter.  They may migrate down to California's Central Valley for the winter, or travel down into Mexico!  I love seeing them return here, year after year.

Yellow Warbler (female) - Anna's Hummingbird (male)

Setophaga petechia - Calypte anna

I was thrilled to see this Yellow Warbler in our river canyon today!  Such beauty!  It is probably on its winter migration route to Central America or the northern end of South America.  Their diet consists of insects, mainly midges!  It was such a tiny beauty, with a length of 5" including its tail!

Anna's Hummingbirds are passing through, feeding on whatever is in bloom.  They will spend the winter in lower elevations in California, or the northern end of Mexico.  Their bright magenta coloring, is caused by prism-like feather cells!  The certainly brighten up the dry landscape!

Common Merganser (juvenile/adult) - Mergus merganser

On the River

Things are seemingly "back to normal" on the North Yuba River!  After an absence of several weeks, I've seen groups of Common Mergansers and Canada Geese on the river this week.  The Common Mergansers won't stay here for the winter, but will migrate down lower elevations in California or perhaps to Arizona!  

Canada Geese (adult) - Great Blue Heron (adult)

Branta canadensis - Ardea herodius

The Canada Geese usually leave for a month or more during the winter.  The Great Blue Heron will probably stay here all winter, unless it gets too snowy.  Both the heron and the geese will migrate down to lower elevations in California if the winter isn't mild.

Merlin (adult) - Belted Kingfisher (female)

Falco columbarius - Megaceryle alcyon

To my delight the little Merlin was back on its perch one morning this week!  The following day a Belted Kingfisher was on the same perch and there was no sign of the Merlin!  I'll have to keep checking back to see what happens next!

Rubber Rabbitbrush - Hedge Nettle(?)

Ericameria nauseousus -  Stachy's albens (?)

What's Blooming?

There are a few flowers still blooming!  Some are along the river, some are in dry areas away from the river.  Here are a few of the ones I saw.  The Scarlet Monkeyflowers and the Blazing Stars are still in bloom!

  

Chicory - Bull Thistle (?)

 Chicorium intybus - Circium vulgare (?)

Both of these plants are non-natives, but bees will feed on them.  

Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans

Fall Color

Fall color is just starting!  Right now the Poison Oak is a gorgeous red, and the Bigleaf Maples are starting to turn yellow.  Lots of plants have dried into hues of gold and rust. Hopefully if rain comes, the Black Oaks will be golden!  I'll keep you posted!

Bigleaf Maple - Sulfur Flower

 Acer macrophyllum - Eriogonum umbellatum

Black Oaks and sunlit Rain

More Damp Earth Art!

Once again I am sending out a "Call for Art" in celebration of rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope.  If you would like to submit some art, or writing, or a photo please check out my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. 

You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com. 

I will be posting new art weekly. Check it out and pray for rain!

What happens to Wildlife in Wildfires?

What's Happening in the Lakes Basin?

Are the bears still around?

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... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

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

The Threat of Fire!!!

View from our garden of smoke from the North Complex Fire - 9/8/20

Last Tuesday morning we woke up to blasting wind and a clear blue sky. The power was out due to a planned outage by PG&E to prevent wildfires. Around 10:30 AM I walked down to our garden and was alarmed to see threatening, malevolent smoke clouds to the west! It looked like there was a fire just over the ridge top! So scary!!! Luckily it turned out that a fire was raging about 10 miles north of us in the Plumas National Forest, and wasn't headed in our direction. This fire is now called the North Complex fire and has burned more than 252,312 acres, and destroyed 2,000 homes! The winds caused unprecedented erratic fire behavior. At one point the fire was spreading at the rate of 1,000 acres per hour!!! That night the winds died down and the fire hasn't grown significantly in size. Thank goodness! My heart goes out to the people who have lost their homes, and all the wildlife that has died or been displaced by this wildfire. Heartfelt gratitude goes to the firefighters that have been battling fires all over California, Oregon, and Washington.

Pray for RAIN!!!

View of pyrocumulus clouds from our garden - 9/8/20

Since Tuesday we've once again been dealing with heavy smoke, like most of northern California.  I'll take smoke ANY day over fire!  However, the smoke prevents me from wandering in my neighborhood for any length of time.  So lately I've been walking in the early morning, before the gnats and smoke gets too thick.

On 9/9/20 the National Forest Service closed all National Forests in California, to hiking, camping, biking, and recreating through 9/14/20.  This includes, driving on National Forest roads, hiking on the trails, or just being in the forest! This closure may extend or reoccur depending upon the wildfire status. Their intention is to reduce any chance of human caused forest fires occurring.  I think it is a great idea!  I guess I won't be hiking in the Lakes Basin for a while.   

The North Yuba River  9/8/20

On the day the North Complex Fire started, the wind was blowing so hard to the west, that the sky was a bright, clear blue to the east!  The two views above show how the river looked upstream (to the east) and downstream (to the west)!  

It was so otherworldly.  

"Night Raven" 

original pastel by K.O.K.

Damp Earth Art!

Back in the 2018 drought I started a different blog and sent out a "Call for Art" in celebration of rain.  My intention was to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall.  It was just a wish, a thought, and a hope.  I got a great response and many artists submitted poems, weavings, and paintings to my blog!  You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com.  

I have started a new blog this year, dampearthart.blogspot.com.  

I will be posting new art weekly.  Check it out and pray for rain!

Merlin - Falco columbarius

A Little Magic!

On one of my morning wanderings this week, I was near the dead tree on which I often see the local Osprey perching.  The Osprey wasn't there, but a small robin-sized bird landed on one of the dead branches, so I checked it out!  To my amazement it was a tiny falcon!  It was so little!  About 1/4 the size of the Osprey!  I wasn't sure what species it was so I posted it on iNaturalist.org and they identified it for me as a Merlin!!!  WOW!!!  I've never seen one of these before!  Three mornings in a row, I saw this little Merlin on the same dead tree.  Twice it was eating something when I saw it!!!

It turns out that these little falcons don't breed here, they breed farther north across Alaska and Canada, as well as Russia!  They are not numerous in population, but they are widespread.  They are uncommon visitors to our area in the fall and early winter, during their migration to their winter residence in Mexico/So. America, or Europe.

They are tiny, only 10" long including the tail, with a wingspan of 6.5", and a weight of 6.7 ounces!  Their main diet is small to medium size birds.  They usually hunt from a perch.  Prey is pursued with lightning speed (30 mph or more), and caught mid-air.  In the fall they eat a lot of dragonflies!  Sometimes they even hunt cooperatively with another Merlin!  

The name "Merlin" in ornithology, means "pigeon keeper", from old french "esmerillon" and latin "columbarius".  Cornell Ornithology Lab states, "This falcon was previously called the "Pigeon Hawk" because in flight it can be mistaken for a member of the pigeon family".  

In its Welsh origins "Merlin" means "sea fortress".  Most of us think of the wizard who was King Arthur's mentor, when we read the word "Merlin".  

Merlin - Falco columbarius

I think it was indeed magical to see this little Merlin!  Such tiny beauty!  

How lucky I was to see it three days in a row!

What's the story behind this odd scene?  Well, it seems that owls, hawks, foxes and even kingsnakes will eat rattlesnakes!  I'm not sure what happened to this one, but it does seem a bit eaten!  I'm not even sure this is a rattlesnake.  It may be a Gopher Snake.  Any of you guys know what species this is, or what might have happened?

Are there any signs of Fall?

Are the bears still around?

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... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

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

Still Smoky

Great Blue Heron above the North Yuba River - 9/04/20

California is still burning up. Individual small fires have joined together into large fires, in many parts of the state.  It's been hot and dry and predictions are for even hotter and drier conditions. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Several hundred thousand acres of wild lands have burned up as well, and the effect on wildlife is not yet known. Many animals do have some ability to escape from wildfire. Birds can fly away, mammals can run, and amphibians and other small creatures, such as squirrels, can go into underground burrows, or take cover under rocks. Other animals, including large ones like elk, will take refuge in streams and lakes.  I hope most have survived somehow, and that heavy rains come soon!

Smoky Ridges 9/04/20

So far all we've had to deal with is smoke.  It comes and goes with the wind.  Some days are heavy and dark with smoke, others are just hazy.  We've even had one totally clear, smoke-free day this week!  I imagine it will be like this for some time.

Eye Gnat - Liohippelates pusio

(photo from www.fliesonly.com)

Not only do we have smoke in our eyes lately, we also have lots of gnats.  I've been reading a bunch of info on the internet, and here's a summary of what I've learned. The type of gnats that are currently trying to land in everyone's eyes, mouth, nose and ears, are Eye Gnats (Liohippelates pusio). They are very small, true flies, and are non-biting.  It is only the females that are plaguing us!  They need the proteins found in human and animal secretions to produce their eggs.  They do not pierce the skin of the host to obtain this material, but rather scrape up a pool of mucous with their hind legs and suck it up with their spongy mouth parts!  Male Eye Gnats are rare, and do not feed on secretions.  Females will lay their eggs in loose soil.  It can take 11-30 days for the larvae to become adults.  Larvae feed on plant material, not secretions.  Multiple generations can occur each year.  These adult gnats can be active anytime the temperature is over 70 degrees, with the most activity occurring when temperatures reach into the 90's.  Unfortunately that is happening right now!  Our only hope is rain and cold temperatures, which will get rid of these gnats. However, our forecast is for HOT temperatures and no rain, so the gnats are here to stay for awhile! 

The internet is full of information on how to make homemade gnat repellent, using everything from vinegar to vanilla.  You're going to have to make you own decision on those.  The three remedies that I use are: get up early and go walking in the cool of the morning, or use a mosquito net over your hat (covering your head and shoulders), and put screens on your windows!  In the meantime pray for RAIN!

Sierra Buttes - 8/29/20

Hiking in the Lakes Basin

A few times in the past two weeks, we've been able to hike because the air quality was okay.  One day was really clear, the others were hazy.  We went on several long hikes on those days, and visited a variety of lakes, meadows, and ridges.  It was wonderful to be back in the Lakes Basin again!  I'll never tire of visiting this beautiful area of the Sierra Nevada Range!  Here are a few of the sights we enjoyed.

An off-trail lake at 7,200' in elevation

A closer view of the off-trail lake

A dramatic landscape in the Sierra Buttes

Sierra Buttes on the morning of  9/1/20

A view of  Long Lake from above Mud Lake 

Long Lake sparkles!

Hiker's Fringed Gentian -  California Grass-of-Parnassus

Gentianopsis simplex - Parnassia palustris

Late Bloomers!

The blooming season is approaching its end in the Lakes Basin.  Currently the most commonly seen bloomers are Rubber Rabbitbrush, Pearly Everlasting, and a variety of Asters.  Some of the wet meadows and dry rocky slopes, have a few surprises in store for the curious botanist!  

Bolander's Madia (?) - California Fuschia

Kyhosia bolanderi (?) - Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium

Aster sp. - Pearly Everlasting

Symphyotryichum sp. - Anaphalis margaritacea

Western Wood Pewee (juvenile - adult) - Townsend's Solitaire (juvenile)

Contopus sordidulus - Myadestes townsendii

Lakes Basin Birds

There are still a lot of birds up in the Lakes Basin, including juveniles.  By far the most commonly seen juvenile this year is the Townsend's Solitaire!  It is probably one of the most obvious juveniles because of its overall speckled/dappled appearance!  I think they are amazingly feathered!  We were also delighted to watch a juvenile Western Wood Pewee being fed by its parents!  They posed so perfectly for us on a dead tree limb!  

Green-tailed Towhee (juvenile) - Dark-eyed Junco (juvenile)
Pipilo chlorurus - Junco hyemalis

This juvenile Green-tailed Towhee, was doing its hop-and-back-scratch method of finding food on the forest floor, just like an adult!  The juvenile Dark-eyed Junco was impossible to identify.  I couldn't find anything that looked like it in the field guides!  Finally, my friend Mary asked the opinion of some expert birders and they identified it for us!  It's feathering and lemon-yellow coloring looks nothing like the adults!  

Yellow Warbler (female) - Hermit Warbler (female)

Setophaga petechia - Dendroica occidentalis

We've also seen several Warblers.  A female Yellow Warbler showed up in the forest on one of our hikes!  Such incredible color!  On another hike, a female Hermit Warbler surprised us!  Apparently, these warblers aren't often seen as they spend most of their time up in the tops of trees!  About a month ago we watched a male Yellow-rumped Warbler feed its offspring!  Now that was something to see!

Yellow-rumped Warbler (female) - Yellow-rumped Warbler (male - juvenile)

Dendroica coronata

Angular Orb Weaver (female) - Araneus sp.

We came across this large (1"+) spider on its huge (3'+) web above a vernal, bedrock pool.  I couldn't get around to photograph the top of it without wrecking its web.  It would rapidly scoot off its web and cram into a rock crevice if I came too close. The photo on the right is of the topside of its abdomen.  What an intricate pattern and unusual large bumps!  Like all orb weavers, this spider starts building its web with a framework of non-sticky silk, then adds a spiral of silk covered in sticky droplets.  Although venomous, this spider is harmless to humans.  Males are much smaller, usually 1/4 to 1/3 the size of a female.  Orb weavers are typically nocturnal. During the day, the spider will prefer to either sit motionless in the web or move off the web.  At night, the orb weaver will become more active, working to repair any damage on the web, and sitting in the middle of the web.  They will eat the damaged parts of the web and rebuild them with new silk!

What's the story behind this odd scene?

Are there any signs of Fall?

Are the bears still around?

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... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com