Miniature Lupine - Tufted Poppy - Lacepod
Lupinus bicolor - Eschscholzia caespitosa - Thysanocarpus curvipes
The local Native Americans, the Nisenan, traditionally celebrated the beginning of Spring with a ceremonial dance called the Weda or Flower Dance in April.
Local historian Hank Meals states in his Aug. 18, 2018 blog "Foothill Dancers" (yubatreadhead.blogspot.com): "In Yuba River country the indigenous Nisenan people, for reasons both social and ceremonial, have been dancing for thousands of years. Among the events enhanced by dancing were the arrival of spring flowers featuring miles of blooming meadows that are now covered by housing developments. Obviously the Weda was danced outside with the participants wearing flowers. If I could enter a time machine to revisit a historical event this would be it."
Dichelostemma capitatum - Amsinckia menziesii - Gilia tricolor
The following quote is from https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/anthpubs/ucb/text/ucp024-005.pdf
"The Valley Nisenan by A.L. Kroeber, 1929:
In Weda feasts-The Nisenan were given to outdoor feasts. They held the yo"we'da and sa"we'da, which were "like picnics," with races, hand-games, play, and a hu'sla or great meal given by the "great people". The yo"we'da was held when all the flowers, yo", were in bloom, and the women wore them on their hair, ears, and hands. The sa"we'da came later in the season, when flowers were gone and everything was in leaf."
Lacepod - Popcorn Flower - Caterpillar Phacelia
Thysanocarpus curvipes - Plagiobothrys nothofulvus - Phacelia cicutaria
The following information is from
"Weda Dance - Exact details of this dance were not obtained, but it seems that the dancers wore wreaths (wotut) of wild flowers and that it was danced in front of the houses in the village, not in the dance house. It might be termed the begging dance. A company of dancers would go from house to house, one carrying a basket. Each family contributed food. When the basket was full the dancers divided the contents among themselves. This seeking of food donations was done by visiting dancers as well as the dancers of the host village. This performance took place in the spring when wild flowers were blooming."
Silver Bush Lupine - Red Maids _ Hansen's Larkspur
Lupinus albifrons - Calandrinia menziesii - Delphinium hansenii
The following information is from nisenan.org.
"THE ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS OF THE NISENAN…
are situated in Northern California. The southern boundary of the territory begins below the Consumnes River. From there, it runs east to Kyburz and includes both banks of the Sacramento River to the west. From Kyburz, the boundary winds its way north to Gold Lake then west along ridges and canyons to the south fork of the Father River. From there, it moves southwest to the Sacred Mountain, 'Estom Yanim (Marysville Buttes) and finally, finds its way back down the Sacramento River.
In the past, Nisenan lived in towns made up of extended family groups of different sizes and led by a Huk (Headman) or Mayan (Headwoman). Like many other Tribes throughout the United States, the Nisenan have been misidentified and mislabeled. The Nisenan have been lumped together under inaccurate labels such as "Maidu", "digger" and "southern Maidu". However, the Nisenan are a separate Tribe with their own Cultural lifeways, their own leaders and holy people, a distinct geographic territory and their own ancient and unique language."
Dutchman's Pipes - Purple Sanicle - Poison Sanicle
Aristolochia californica - Sanicula bipinnaifida - Sanicula bipinnata
I couldn't agree more with Hank Meals' wish to travel back in time to witness this beautifulWeda ceremony! It must have been amazingly beautiful!
The above wildflowers were photographed at the South Yuba River State Park
just this past week! Get out there if you can and immerse yourself in
the beauty of thousands of spring wildflowers!
Northern Flicker (male) - Steller's Jay
Colaptes auratus - Cyanocitta stelleri
More Snow & Rain!
This past week has been snowy and rainy! On Monday morning we woke up to 3" of wet snow on the ground. On Thursday and Friday it rained a total of aproximately 1.5"! The total precipitation for the week was a little over 2", bringing us to a water-year total of approximately 31"! I hope March continues to bring lots more wet weather!
At this time of year the snow melts quickly. Monday morning I went walking in a blizzard, and every tree was blanketed in snow! By the afternoon, the trees were totally snow free, and there was an inch or two of patchy snow left on the ground! I'm grateful for the warmer, longer days and I think the birds are as well!
Northern Flicker (female) - Colaptes auratus
I haven't discussed our amazing year-round avian residents for a while. Often overlooked because they are commonly seen, these birds should be applauded for their resourcefulness and hardiness through winter!
There have been a few Northern Flickers in our neighborhood all winter this year. This is probably due to the general lack of snow on the ground. Unlike other woodpeckers, flickers usually forage on the ground for ants, beetles, moths, snails, flies, larvae, seed and berries! When there is a lot of snow, they migrate to lower snow-free elevations. Measuring 12.5" in length, they are the second largest woodpecker in North America (the Pileated Woodpecker being the largest). They are sexually dimorphic in appearance. The most obvious difference is the bright red "malar" on the male's head, which is absent in the female. More Northern Flickers should be arriving for the breeding season soon!
Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleriThere are about 16 Steller's Jays that live here year-round. Every morning they really squawk to each other. Sometimes they sound quite alarmed! They are very inquisitive, and are usually the first to notice anything new in the area. They eat just about anything including seeds, insects, fruit, garbage, carrion, pet food, and small mammals! Lately I've been watching them fly by with Live Oak acorns in their beaks! Yesterday, I heard what I thought was a woodpecker hammering on a tree trunk. It turned out to be a Steller's Jay pecking on an acorn, that he was holding against the top of a branch!
Common Ravens - Corvus corax
We have two Ravens that live in our canyon year-round. I watch them fly by daily as they head down to the highway, from their distant up-canyon roosting area. The highway is a good source of food for these ravens, as roadkill provides carrion. Ravens have a diverse diet that includes arthropods (even scorpions), amphibians, reptiles, birds (adults, chicks, and eggs), fish, small mammals, carrion, grains, buds, and berries. Invertebrates consumed include Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, craneflies, ants, slugs, scorpions, earthworms, snails and diversity of marine invertebrates. There isn't any research available that states that Ravens mate for life. However, family members usually stick together for years.
Other year-round residents are the Spotted Towhee, Black Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, American Dipper, Canada Goose, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and sometimes the Common Merganser!
Spring Rain - ©Kok 2015
More Damp Earth Art!
Since we still need more rain, I am continuing to maintain this blog and am again sending out yet another "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 email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Check out what's already been submitted 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 anymore plants blooming?
What's happening in the Lakes Basin?
What kind of insects are out and about?
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 feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment