Common Merganser female and 8 ducklings - 6/18/18
Mergus merganser
Right now on the North Yuba River the waterfowl are raising their young. It's been delightful watching them and their offspring. There is one female Common Merganser with 8 ducklings, and a pair of Canada Geese that have 3 goslings. The ducklings are about 3 weeks old and the goslings are almost 2 months old. Only the female Merganser cares for the ducklings, whereas both the male and female Geese care for the goslings. The number of ducklings varies from only 1 to as many as 16, with the average being 6-8. The number of goslings is usually 2-3. The female Merganser usually stays with her ducklings for approximately 60 to 75 days. The Geese and goslings usually stay together as a family for an entire year. Common Mergansers are diving ducks and feed mainly on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, frogs, and aquatic insects. Geese are mainly plant eaters, but occasionally eat small fish, insects and crustaceans!
Common Merganser - Mergus merganser
I took the top photo from a bridge back in 2018, and used it in a blog back then. It's just such a beautiful image, I couldn't resist using it again!
This photo, however, I took just yesterday! Such beauty!
Canada Geese - Branta canadensis
It's amazing to me how quickly the goslings grow up!
I'll keep you posted on their development!
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius
Another local river bird is the Spotted Sandpiper. They cruise along the shoreline eating insects on and in the river. I love the spotted breasts they have during mating season! In fact I actually saw them mating this week! There were two of them flying together along the edge of the shoreline, and then they landed on separate rocks. While I was photographing them, the male flew down to the female and landed on her back! It very quickly mated with her and then took off! WOW!!! Now that was an unusual sighting! The female of these birds is unique in that it practices polyandry, and will mate with up to 3 males! The males are also unique in that they alone brood the eggs, feed the nestlings, and care for the fledglings! The babies are super cute and should show up in about 21 days!
Sierra Buttes from the Wild Plum Trail
Wildflower Hikes!
We've gone on several hikes, at various elevations, to see wildflowers in the past few weeks. It's been great fun! Here are some of the ones we've seen!
Paeonia brownii - Collinsia torreyi - Fritillaria atropurpurea
Hot-rock Beardtongue - Common Horsetail - Meadow Deathcamas
Penstemon deustus - Equisetum arvense - Toxicoscordion venenosum
House Wren - Olive-sided Flycatcher - Western Kingbird (all adults)
Troglodytes aedon - Contopus cooperi - Tyrannus verticalis
New Arrivals!
More birds have arrived in our neighborhood to nest! The House Wren has probably flown up from the foothills. The Olive-sided Flycatcher has flown from as far south as Bolivia, a distance of approximately 5,300 miles!!! The Western Kingbird has flown from as far south as Costa Rica, approximately 3,800 miles! Western Kingbirds usually nest in lower elevations, but have been known to nest up to 2500' in elevation. I love the trill of the House Wren and the "What PEEVES you?" call of the Olive-sided Flycatcher.
Yellow-breasted Chat (male) - Icteria virens
The Yellow-breasted Chat has just arrived from as far south as Panama! It's arrival is obvious as it has the loudest and most variable call/song of any other local birds. Although the field guides say it is secretive and difficult to see, I've lucked out and have had 3 great sightings this week!!! The Cornell Lab describes the song as, "...a collection of whistles, cackles, mews, catcalls, caw notes, chuckles, rattles, squawks, gurgles, and pops." It is truly delightful to hear! The Chat is a largish wood-warbler, weighing .88 oz. with a length of 7.5". Other wood-warblers, such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler, weigh .43 oz. with a length of 5.5". So the Chat is larger, but it sounds MUCH larger!
Here is a short video I made of the Chat singing. I apologize for the shaky, hand-held quality! I'll write more about these amazing birds next week!
Feather in the Rain
More Damp Earth Art!
No rain this past week, and we had very hot, dry, and windy weather. It makes me worried. Anytime I think of it, I focus on rain, rain, 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 rain inspired 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!
What's are these rainbow-colored streamers?
Where are the Bears?
What's happening in the Lakes Basin?
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!
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