"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/
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!
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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!
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