South Yuba River
The Buttermilk Bend Trail
Last Thursday, we went for a hike down in the South Yuba River State Park. It is a beautiful oak woodlands with the South Yuba River on one side and the combined forks of the North and Middle Yuba Rivers on the other. Because it is at a much lower elevation (567') than where I live (2,674'), most of the birds and plants are different! To our delight there was green grass covering the slopes, warm sun, and even a few wildflowers!
Oak Titmouse(adult) - California Scrub Jay (adult) - Western Bluebird(female)
Baeolophus inornatus - Aphelocoma californica - Sialia mexicana
I've never seen an Oak Titmouse in our neighborhood. Apparently they live year-round in the oak woodlands of California's coast, central valley, and foothills. We spotted this one because it was loudly calling from a leafless tree! It turns out that their songs and calls are the "voice and soul of the oak woodlands". The male Oak Titmouse has as up to 12 distinct songs, but usually 3 to 4, in its repertoire. An Oak Titmouse mates for life. During breeding season the male feeds and serenades its mate! The also defend their territory (up to 6 acres) with songs and calls exchanged between males! Their diet consists of insects, acorns, oak catkins, fruit and seeds. They usually live in the same location year round, unless forced out by fire or development by man.
California Scrub Jays usually live in brushy areas and oak woodlands, from the coast to the foothills of California. They are highly dependent on oaks and acorns. Acorns are their main food during fall and winter. One Jay will bury up to 5,000 acorns in small holes in the ground during the months of fall! These acorns will all eventually be dug up and consumed in the following seasons! Like other members of the corvid family, Scrub Jays are quite intelligent and have excellent memories. Some studies have shown that they not only remember the past (e.g. where they buried the acorns) but also think forward to the future (e.g. They will move their buried acorns if they think another bird saw them being buried, in anticipation of them possibly being stolen!) They will also eat insects, other nuts & seeds, ticks off of deer, as well as bird eggs and nestlings when available!
We saw several Western Bluebirds while we were there. In the summer Western Bluebirds are primarily insectivores. In winter they eat fruits and berries, such as juniper, poison oak, wild grapes, and elderberry. They also particularly love to eat mistletoe berries, and will sometimes sleep overnight in a clump of mistletoe to defend their find! They like to live on the edge of open areas, such as meadows or burned areas. They are short-distance migrants, and generally move down slope in winter. Males have brilliant plumage, and females are dully colored in comparison.
(left) Common Manroot - Marah fabacae
(right) Blue Dicks - Canyon Nemophila - Common Fiddleneck
Dichelostemma capitatum - Nemophila heterophylla - Amsinckia menziesii
We saw a handful of each of these flowers! An early surprise for us! We'll be coming back in another month or so, when the slopes will be carpeted in wildflowers!
The North Yuba River below Bullard's Bar Dam
Yuba Rim Trail
We also went for a hike on the Yuba Rim Trail in the foothills. After 2.35 miles, this trail ends at dramatic overlook of the North Yuba and Middle Yuba Rivers, below Bullard's Bar Reservoir. The Yellow Pine/Black Oak/ Madrone forest that the trail travels through is usually quite dry, even in the winter. Unfortunately it is also an overgrown tangle of non-native Himalayan Blackberries, Chaparral Honeysuckle, and Scotch Broom. Also, unique to this dry area are thousands of dry pine needles hanging off of every shrub and tree! Additionally, the Bear River Land Trust has just done a lot of clearing of fallen trees, and there are LOTS of burn piles everywhere. Visually, it isn't my favorite hike, as it has been so impacted by humans, but the view from the overlook is stunning!
American Robin (adult) - White-leaf Manzanita - Anna's Hummingbird (male)
Turdus migratorius - Arctostaphylos viscida - Calypte Anna
At the beginning of the trail there were LOTS of American Robins feasting on Toyon berries! Toyon berries form in June or July, but don't ripen until December! When they are green they contain cyano-glucosides in their pulp. When a bird tries to eat a green berry, cyanide gas is released and deters the bird! The unripened berries are also full of bitter tannins that discourage foragers! Over time the cyanide compounds gradually move into the seeds and the tannins diminish. In December, when the berries are bright red, they aren't bitter and the pulp no longer contains cyanide compounds! Approximately 20+ species of birds eat Toyon berries during winter! In addition to Robins, you might see Western Bluebirds, Band-tailed Pigeons, Cedar Waxwings, Hermit Thrushes, and Varied Thrushes feeding on them! Foxes, Brush Rabbits, Black Bears, and Coyotes also feed on the ripened berries!
At the end of the trail, the White-leaf Manzanita was blooming and two Anna's Hummingbirds and lots of honey bees were feasting on the nectar! Just lovely! We also watched Ravens playing and chasing each other in the sky as we ate our lunch at the overlook. It was a lovely winter day to be outside with friends!
Belted Kingfisher (female) - Megaceryle alcyon
Local Pond Update
I'm happy to report that the local pond life is as usual for this time of year. The Belted Kingfishers are presiding over the ponds, one at each pond, the Hooded Merganser female now has a male partner, and the Buffleheads are busy diving and feeding in the Joubert's Diggins ponds! I haven't been down to the pond with the Wood Ducks yet, but will report on them soon!
Buffleheads (female - male) - Bucephala albeola
Hoar Frost
Damp Earth Art
Once again we had more sunny days in the 50's, cold nights in the 20's, and some very WINDY days! The lack of rain is increasingly worrisome, and none is in the forecast for next week. Please join me in my continuing hope for precipitation! Perhaps our collective efforts may help it happen. I'm going to keep posting rain inspired writings, art, etc. on my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. Any submissions would be greatly appreciated.
What's happening up at Yuba Pass?
What's happening on the river?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more.
Unfortunately, you can no longer sign up to get my blog via email. Just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com directly. It looks better than the emailed version!
Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment