Lakes Basin Winter

Snowscape

Last Monday we went up to the Lakes Basin and hiked in the snow! It was a gorgeous blue-sky day and the snow was super sparkly! Such beauty! Surprisingly the snow was mainly absent in the sunny areas, but about 6" deep in the shady places. It was wonderful to be back in the Lakes Basin again!

Sierra Buttes above Sardine Lake - 12/09/19

We hiked up to Sardine Lake which wasn't frozen,
but the Sierra Buttes were blanketed in snow!

Bufflehead  - Bucephala albeola

We were delighted to find a pair of Buffleheads on the lake!  They are the smallest diving duck in North America, measuring only 13.5" in length.  Usually they migrate to lower elevations, or even the California coast, by mid-November!  They feed on aquatic insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.  During the mating season the male (left) has a much larger patch of white feathers on the side and back of its head.

my feeding station - chicken wire on windows to prevent bird crashes

To Feed or not to Feed

I did some more research on the pros and cons of feeding birds, and have decided to keep feeding the birds in winter.  To maintain bird health at my feeding station, I will clean my feeding station regularly, rake away old seeds and hulls weekly, and keep my birdseed from getting moldy.  Here is an excerpt from an excellent article I found at massaudubon.org (Massachusettes Audubon). It is a lot of information, but it is  important to read if you're considering feeding birds in winter.

"Common Bird Diseases

The four diseases that most frequently affect birds that use feeders are: salmonella, trichomoniasis, aspergillosis, and avian pox. All of these diseases are transmitted from one bird to another at feeding stations, especially when overcrowding occurs. 

The most common disease of feeder birds, Salmonellosis is caused by bacteria from the genus Salmonella and often begins as an intestinal-tract infection. Symptoms such as diarrhea, ruffled feathers, and lethargy usually occur. Birds who are showing symptoms usually die in 1 to 3 days.  The disease can spread rapidly at crowded feeding stations as healthy birds eat food contaminated by the droppings of sick birds. Salmonella can be transmitted to people who handle sick or dead birds; always wear disposable gloves when handling infected birds. And wash hands thoroughly after touching a bird feeder or birdbath.

Trichomoniasis is caused by a group of one-celled protozoa and regularly affects many bird species. One strain of the parasite infects pigeons and doves and, in turn, their predators, such as hawks and falcons. In some strains of the disease, birds develop sores in their mouths or throats; because they are unable to swallow, contaminated food is dropped and consumed by other birds, thus spreading the infection.

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused by the Aspergillus fungus, which can be found in damp or wet seed mixtures, in birds' nesting materials, or in landfills. Spores inhaled into the lungs and air sacs of birds eventually cause pneumonia and bronchitis. Sick birds experience labored breathing, weakness, and diarrhea, but will continue to take food at feeding stations until they die.

Avian Pox, a viral disease, has been reported to infect 60 species of wild birds. Symptoms of the disease are lesions that form on unfeathered parts of the body such as legs, feet, and eyelids; around the beak; and in the mouth. In some cases, death can occur when numerous sores around the eyes prevent the bird from locating food, but most birds recover from the virus. The virus is spread by direct contact with infected birds at feeders or through bites of mosquitoes that have fed on the blood of sick birds.

Preventing Spread of Diseases

at Bird Feeders in the Winter

Clean feeders monthly using one part bleach to nine parts warm water. 

Soak the feeder in the solution for a few minutes, rinse, and air dry.

(Humming bird feeders should be cleaned at least every three days.)

If uneaten food is accumulating in or under feeders, consider
using less food or switch to a seed more to the birds' liking.

If birds are fighting over space at a feeder, consider adding more feeders to alleviate the congestion that can potentially be responsible for the rapid spread of disease.

Store seed in airtight containers to prevent spoilage.

Avoid throwing large amounts of food on the ground or alternate ground feeding areas so that uneaten food does not accumulate and develop bacteria or mold.

If dead birds are found, stop feeding for a few weeks and thoroughly clean feeders and areas under feeders. Use disposable gloves when handling dead birds.

Mountain Chickadee - Hairy Woodpecker

Poecile gambeli - Picoides villosus

Neighborhood News!

I've been seeing small flocks of Mountain Chickadees in our neighborhood lately!  They live up in the higher elevations most of the year.  During winter they often migrate down to our neighborhood.  They do not migrate outside of the U.S. They eat scale insects and conifer seeds in the winter.  I love to see and hear these lovely little birds!

I also saw a Hairy Woodpecker pecking on galls on a rose bush!  Inside the galls are several larvae of gall wasps.  I watched this woodpecker for 15 minutes, as it moved from one gall to another!  It's amazing that they know there are insects inside!

Northern Flicker (female) - Colaptes auratus

All of the persimmons have been eaten!  Not one is left!!!  I don't know who ate them all but I did see this Northern Flicker eating one this week!  Unlike other woodpeckers, flickers usually feed on the ground. They eat lots of ants and insects in the spring and summer.  In the winter they feed on seeds, berries, and fruit. Usually, they leave our neighborhood for the winter, because the snow covers the ground.  Since it's mainly been raining, and not snowing, they are still here!

Gray Fox - Urocyon cinereoargenteus

I've seen our local fox every week in the same area!  
It looks like it is healthy and doing great!  They are such beautiful animals!

Western Gray Squirrel - Columbian Black-tailed Mule Deer

Sciurus griseus - Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

The Gray Squirrels are busy foraging for seeds, acorns, tree buds, and fruit. 
They also love to forage at my bird feeding station!  

I haven't seen any deer for quite some time, although I did see their tracks in the snow.  Late one afternoon this week, I spotted this buck off the road!  He watched me for a few minutes, and then trotted off.  He will shed his antlers sometime this winter, and grow new ones next summer.  

Weather Update

This week we had some sunny days, as well as days of heavy rain.  The total precipitation for the week was 4.91"!  The river has slowed to 800 cfs, compared to 1900 cfs last week.  More rain is predicted for this coming week, with a slight chance of some snow and colder temperatures.  I saw this lovely rainbow one afternoon, in between storms! 

What are these?

What's happening on the creek?

Are there any mushrooms around?

Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!

If all of a sudden you haven't been getting email notices of my blog being published, just sign up again on my blog. I don't know why you got "unsubscribed". It's some kind of problem with Blogspot.com and/or FeedBurner.com. I apologize for this glitch!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com

Stormy Weather!

Local Storm Clouds

It's been a rainy week in our neighborhood! The total precipitation for the past seven days is 8.42"! Wow! Most of the snow has melted, and the river has risen 4' in the past week! The river flow rate is currently 1900 cfs (cubic feet per second), compared to 200 cfs as of last Saturday! More rain is predicted for this coming week. I haven't gone up to the Lakes Basin since it snowed, but plan to hike up there tomorrow. Should be lovely!!!

Part of Grizzly Peak 12/01/19

The temperatures have really warmed up from the 20's to the 40's.  When it snowed a week ago, the snow was gorgeous on the higher ridges!  

Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri

Clever Corvids!

Lots of Steller's Jays, and a pair of Ravens, spend the entire winter here in our neighborhood.  They both belong to the Corvidae, or "crow" family of birds.   Corvids are the smartest birds in the world!   Many studies have shown that they are capable of modifying their inherited behavior patterns, and can solve challenges/problems that arise!!  They are found on all the continents of the world, except for Antarctica, and all the countries, except New Zealand! 

 Steller's Jays mate for life.  They are omnivores and eat carrion, small mammals, bird eggs, baby birds, insects, reptiles, acorns, berries, seeds, and garbage.   They have habituated readily to humans, and are regular scavengers in residential areas, campgrounds and picnic areas.  They are excellent vocal mimics, like Ravens, and easily imitate the sounds and calls made by other birds, dogs, cats, squirrels, as well as environmental and man made noises!

Scrub Jay - Aphelocoma californica

In October 2017, a Scrub Jay (another corvid) hung around our garden for a week!!! I was SO surprised!   They typically do not come up here!  They usually live in brushy areas and oak woodlands, from the coast to the foothills of California.  California Scrub Jays 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! 

 Common Ravens - Corvus corax

Of all the corvids, Ravens may be the smartest! They are capable of learning innovative solutions to newly encountered problems! They are also the biggest of all perching birds! (Crows are a lot smaller than Ravens, and usually live in the foothills and the Central Valley of California.) Ravens can be found in almost any location across the globe! However, Ravens are non-migratory, and remain all year in their chosen location. 

Ravens are omnivorous, and eat carrion, small mammals, baby birds, bird eggs, insects, acorns, grains, fish, and even garbage! They are also known to store extra food in secret hiding places! They will often feed together in large groups, but live singly or in mated pairs.

Of all the corvids, Ravens are the most playful! They have been seen playing games, like dropping a stick in the air and catching it before it lands! Ravens also like to swing upside down, do rolls and somersaults in the air, and slide down snow banks! Scientists think this play may be just for fun, or perhaps a way of showing off and attracting a mate.

Common Ravens - Corvus corax

I saw these two pairs of Ravens flying together a couple of weeks ago.  The couple on the top left is our local resident couple that have lived here for many years.  The couple on the bottom right were just visiting, and only hung around for that day.  Maybe it was the offspring of our local couple, re-visiting with his new mate???  Wouldn't that be amazing?  It was really interesting to watch their interactions!

Yellow-billed Magpie - Pica nuttalli

Two summers ago a Yellow-billed Magpie (another corvid) lived in our neighborhood for 3 months.  It left in the fall of that year, and hasn't been back since!  I first noticed it because of its LOUD varying calls!  It is also quite large, with a wingspan of 25" and a body length of 19".  These birds are RARELY seen in our area. They are endemic to California, but are usually found west of the Sierra Nevada, in the foothills, central valley, and in the valleys of the Coast Range south of San Francisco where they are year-round residents. They do not migrate outside of California.  Ground-dwelling insects, small mammals, grains, acorns, carrion, and berries are the main components of their diet. They will also eat dog food and scavenge at compost piles.  In winter they can be found roosting in large groups of up to 800+ Magpies!  

Clark's Nutcracker - Nicifraga columbiana

The Clark's Nutcracker is NOT found in my neighborhood, but they are corvids native to the high elevations of Sierra County.  I had to mention them, because of their amazing ability to store pine seeds for the winter.  One pair of nesting Clark's Nutcrackers was observed storing 33,000 pine seeds for winter, in 7,500 different locations!!!  They only store a handful of seeds in each location, and have an unerring ability to find these cached seeds in the winter, underneath the snow!  Now that's SMART!

Mule Deer - Raccoon - Gray Fox

 Odocoileus hemionus ssp. - Procyon lotor - Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Tracks!

 In most books on tracking the tracks look defined and perfect.  In reality, tracks in the snow vary greatly in appearance.  Tracking is actually quite complicated!  Here's a list of some of the things you need to notice when trying to figure out a track:

How many toes are there?

Are any claws present?

How wide and how long are the footprints?  

What is the stride length?

How deep is the track?

How old is the track?

Is there any scat that might identify who left the track?

Where is the track located?

As you can see, there's LOTS to learn about tracking.  The internet has lots of good sources for tracking.  The following website is an excellent reference site for tracks

http://www.naturetracking.com/mammal-tracks/

Our local Gray Foxes do this interesting thing called "direct registering" when they walk in the snow. Their hind feet land exactly upon the recently made front tracks.  This "registering" conserves energy when they're walking in the snow!  Foxes are usually nocturnal, but can also be seen during the daytime.  They are omnivorous and eat mice, birds, squirrels, rabbits, berries, insects, seeds, and acorns.  The Gray Fox lives in hollow trees or logs, rock ledges and sometimes old culverts. Their body is usually 31"-44 " long, with a tail an additional 8"-17".  They weigh 7-13 lbs.

To withstand the cold and wet of winter, Mule Deer grow thick shaggy coats, 

which help retain body heat. They gain extra body fat in the fall, which is used in the winter.   Some of them will migrate to lower snow-free elevations for the winter. Others will stay all winter in mid-elevations, and survive on the newer tips of trees and shrubs as well as fungi, acorns, and berries. Like cows, they are ruminants, and have four separate stomachs, that make it possible to digest this tough plant material!  They are approximately 3'-3.5' tall and up to 7.6' in length.  Female Black-tailed Deer weigh 70-160 lbs.  Males weigh 110-475 lbs!  

In winter Raccoons don't hibernate, but fall into a deep sleep for several days at a time in their dens. They make their dens in hollow logs, rock crevices, or underground burrows.  Several raccoons may share a den, but they are usually members of the same family.  They don't store any food for winter, but forage frequently for berries, seeds, insects, and fish. They mainly forage at night, but are occasionally seen during the day. You won't see them catching fish in the river, as they prefer to catch them in ponds, lakes, or streams.  Raccoons can be 24"-37" long, with a tail an additional 7"-16".  They can weigh 12-48 lbs.

 Mountain Quail - Dark-eyed Junco - Western Gray Squirrel

 Oreortyx pictus - Junco hyemalis - Sciurus griseus

I've been seeing Mountain Quail all over my neighborhood for the past few weeks!  They are usually in small coveys of 5-7, and they run away as soon as you get close!  They are super elegant and beautiful with their dramatic markings and their two bobble-head feathers!   Mountain Quail are "uncommon" in our area.  They feed on seeds, fruits, flowers and a few insects. They are the largest quail in the United States, measuring 10'-12' in length, and weighing 6.7-9.2 ounces! 

In the fall, flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos migrate down to our neighborhood from the higher elevations.  They will stay here, and feed on seeds throughout the winter.

This Western Gray Squirrel does not hibernate.  They forage on the ground for acorns, pine seeds, and fungi.  They eat over 25 species of fungi!  They also bury food in scattered hoards in the fall, to live off during the winter.

Mountain Lion

Felis concolor

The main food of our local Mountain Lions is Mule Deer.  They will also eat mice, rabbits, hares, raccoons, and domestic animals.  They are most active from dusk to dawn, and can travel long distances looking for prey, up to 15 miles in one night! They have a poor sense of smell, but have excellent vision and hearing.  They rely on surprise to catch their prey, and can leap 40 to 45 feet in one jump!  They usually kill one deer every 9-12 days.  They will eat up to 20 lbs at one time.  They will cover the remaining carcass with leaves, dirt, and/or pine needles, and feed from it over a period of several days.

Mountain Lions weigh from 140-180 lbs., and are 7'-8' in length.  The foot print of a Mountain Lion is 101 mm, about the size of a baseball.  They keep their claws retracted, and are not usually visible in their tracks.

Porcupine - Pine Cone - Black Bear

 Erethizon dorsatum - Pinus jeffreyi - Ursus americanus

I came across these Porcupine foot prints several years ago up in the Lakes Basin.  They have a distinct pigeon-toed track.  They do not hibernate, and feed on leaves, twigs, the cambium of trees throughout the winter.  Primarily nocturnal, they sleep during the day in a hollow log, underground burrow, or tree top!  Usually solitary critters, porcupines are more "social" in winter!  Up to 8 porcupines may share the same winter den!  They have also been known to forage together during winter, in groups of up to 20 porcupines!  They are 26"-37" in length, with a 6"-12" quilled tail, and weigh 8-35 lbs!

The local Black Bears don't truly hibernate.  They spend most of the winter sleeping, but can become active if the weather is mild.  They do not eat, drink, or defecate all winter!  Since bears are metabolizing mostly fat, they do not accumulate huge amounts of urea in their blood during winter.  They also convert any urea into creatinine which is non-toxic.  Their nitrogen wastes are biochemically recycled back into protein, hence they do not lose their muscle mass!  That's why bears can climb a mountain right after they emerge from their winter den!  They are 4.5'-6' in length and 3'-3.5' in height.  Female Black Bears weigh 85 to 520 lbs.  Males weigh 103-900 lbs!

What's happening on the creek?

How much snow did the Lakes Basin get?

Where are the deer?

Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!

If all of a sudden you haven't been getting email notices of my blog being published, just sign up again on my blog. I don't know why you got "unsubscribed". It's some kind of problem with Blogspot.com and/or FeedBurner.com. I apologize for this glitch!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com

Winter's Here!!!

Pine Siskin - Pinus spinus

Winter arrived in our neighborhood this week!  We got about 2.75" of precipitation over the past 5 days, and it's raining right now!  On Tuesday and Wednesday we had overnight temperatures in the 20's, and an accumulated snowfall of about 1' of dry, powdery snow!  Due to warmer temperatures since then, the snow has compacted down to a solid 5"-6" on the ground!  More rain is predicted for the week coming up!  It looks like the fire season is definitely over! Yahoo!!!

Mountain Quail - Golden-crowned Sparrows - Fox Sparrow

Oreortyx pictus - Zonotrichia atricapilla - Passerella iliaca

Birds in Crisis!

 In November, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology released data that revealed that 389 bird species (nearly two-thirds of North American birds) have declined drastically in population since 1970, with an estimated net loss of over 3 billion birds!!!  As Cornell states, "This result was both sobering and shocking.  We know birds are declining primarily to due habitat loss, pesticides, cats, window collision, and other causes - but the threats are different for every species."  Adubon additionally stated, "As warming temperatures change the availability of plants and animals that birds need for nesting, protection, and food, they are in serious danger of running out of the resources they depend on to survive."  

We can be proactive in helping birds by following the

 "7 Simple Actions to Help Birds", 

issued by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  

1. Make Windows Safer - I have covered the windows on our greenhouse with lightweight chicken wire, and have not had any bird collisions in two years.  It works!  

2. Keep Cats Indoors - Last summer I was so distraught that my neighbor's cat might catch one of the Oriole's that fed in our garden, that I patched up all the holes in our chicken wire fence, and chased the cat off loudly every time I saw it.  Luckily the Orioles survived this year. Who knows what will happen next year.

3.  Reduce Lawn, Plant Natives - Luckily we don't have any lawn, and I have lots of native plants in our garden.  This is especially important for Hummingbirds, as I no longer supply sugar water for them.  I also found sunflowers to be a huge food source for seed-eating birds in the fall and winter.

4. Avoid Pesticides - Absolutely!

5. Drink Shade-Grown Coffee - I have not yet done this, but it is so important to do. There are many choices online.  I'll let you know what I order.  Cornell states, "3/4 of the world's coffee farms destroy forest habitat to grow coffee in the sun - forests that birds and wildlife need for food and shelter. More than 40 species of North American migratory songbirds that winter in coffee plantations."  

6. Protect our Planet from Plastic - Since the recent decline in local recycling facilities, it has become difficult to recycle in our area.  We have been washing and re-using our plastic bags, buying items in bulk (uses less packaging), supplying our own bags for groceries, and taking our recyclables out of the county to recycling centers.

7. Watch Birds-Share What You See -  I have decided to join Project FeederWatch again, and put out birdseed for our local overwintering birds, when the ground is covered in several inches of snow.  I will be sure to keep the bird feeding station clean and the bird seed free of mold.  So far I've seen Pine Siskins, Dark-eyed Juncos, Fox Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Steller's Jays, Spotted Towhees, Mourning Doves, and Mountain Quail!  The information I gather over the winter will help further the research of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  

If we all do a little we might help the birds survive.

For more information on Project FeederWatch or the "Decline of the North American Avifauna" go to https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/

Dark-eyed Juncos - Junco hyemalis

I was concerned that the birds might be getting too wet in the rain/snow until I saw these Dark-eyed Juncos bathing in melted snow-water!!!  It was about 36 degrees and these little birds were bathing repeatedly in the ice-cold water!  What a surprise!!!  Nature is truly amazing!

Mourning Dove - White-crowned Sparrow (1st Winter)

 Zenaida macroura - Zonotrichia leucophrys

These, as well as the birds pictured above, are just a few of the seed eaters that are frequenting my feeding station.

Varied Thrush - Persimmons

Ixoreus naevius - Diospyros sp.

I've been watching this persimmon tree for about a month now, hoping to find a flock of Cedar Waxwings feeding on them!  So far I've only seen one Steller's Jay, and one Varied Thrush eating the fruits!  I was thrilled to see the Varied Thrush as they are uncommon in our area!  They are such beautiful birds!  They must be one of David Allen Sibley's favorites, as it is pictured on the cover of his field guide, The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America!

Sierra Buttes - 11/23/19

Before the Snowstorm!

On Saturday, November 23, my friends and I drove up to the Lakes Basin to get in our last hike before the snow arrived.  We hiked the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) from above Deer Lake to above Round Lake and back.  It was cold, clear, and super beautiful!  We had incredible views all day, and looked down on 13 different lakes!!!  We got back to the car just before sundown, and watched it set as we drove towards home.  We are SO lucky to live near this easily accessible, incredibly beautiful area!

Howard Meadow - 11/18/19

Earlier that same week, a friend and I did a cross-country hike in the Lakes Basin.  We visited a dry meadow, Grassy Lake, and the area near Niv's Knob.  It was a gorgeous, cold, cloudy day!

Canada Geese - Branta canadensis

We were so surprised to see these Canada Geese on Grassy Lake!  I'm sure they're not there anymore!

Rain clouds - 11/18/19

All day long the clouds threatened rain, but none fell till later that night! 

Great Blue Heron - Belted Kingfisher (female) - Red-tailed Hawk

Ardea herodias - Megaceryle alcyon - Buteo jamaicensis

On the River!

The heron and kingfisher are still fishing in our section of the river.  They usually live here year-round.  New this week I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk!  Perhaps it's the same one that lived here last winter!  It has been a while since I've seen one!

Common Merganser - Mergus merganser

A day or two before the snowstorm I spotted these Common Mergansers on our river!  I hadn't seen any for a month or more!  I haven't seen them since it snowed.  They must have moved on to lower elevations.

Common Mergansers - Mergus merganser

Are these cactus plants?

How is our "water year" starting out?

How much snow did the Lakes Basin get?

Whose tracks are in the snow?

Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!

If all of a sudden you haven't been getting email notices of my blog being published, just sign up again on my blog. I don't know why you got "unsubscribed". It's some kind of problem with Blogspot.com and/or FeedBurner.com. I apologize for this glitch!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com