Sierra Valley - looking southeast from the Steel Bridge
Every year for my birthday we have a picnic somewhere out in nature. This year, there was too much snow in the Lakes Basin to hike, so we drove over to Sierra Valley for the day! It was wonderful! We went out to the Steel Bridge, where Cliff Swallows nest, and watched hundreds of them fly over and under us! It feels so ALIVE out there with the big sky view and the swallows chattering and swooping all around!
Cliff Swallows - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
We watched the swallows repeatedly congregate and jostle for position, and then disperse all at once from the bridge cable. They are the most colonial swallows in the world. They follow each other to food sources (mainly flying insects), and preen, feed, and drink in groups. A single colony may have up to 6,000 birds!
Cliff Swallows - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
The Cliff Swallows pictured above are getting mud for their nests! It takes approximately two weeks for the male and female to construct a nest out of 9,000 to 12,000 mud pellets. The breeding pair will start sleeping in the mud housing, as soon as it is partially finished. Inside the mud housing, they create a nest made of dry grasses and feathers. Females will lay 1-6 eggs, and brood them for 10-19 days. Swallows will also lay eggs and/or transfer their eggs into neighboring swallow nests. The young are altricial when hatched, and are cared for by their parents for 20-26 days.
American Avocet (adult in breeding plumage)
Recurvirostra americana
Along the shoreline an American Avocet was sweeping its bill from side to side (scything) in the water, sifting for tiny, aquatic invertebrates to eat! They also peck and plunge for prey. They can wade or swim while searching for prey. Their winters are spent in California's Central Valley, Baja California, or Mexico. In Spring most migrate to north-central United States and Canada to breed, but some will nest in Sierra Valley. When breeding, the feathers on the head and neck, of both the male and female, turn a rich rusty color, and the legs turn blue! Beautiful! I love their sky-blue legs, and their long, curved bills. They are SO elegant!
American Avocet (adult in non-breeding plumage)
Recurvirostra americana
In the non-breeding season the rust-colored feathers are replaced by gray ones, and their legs turn gray, in both sexes.
Greater Yellowlegs migrate through Sierra Valley to their breeding grounds in the swampy, muskeg habitats of central Canada and southern Alaska. They spend their winters as close as northern Mexico or as far south as southern Chile! While in Sierra Valley they feed on small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, small fish, frogs, and occasionally seeds or berries. They were calling really loudly while we were there!
The Black-necked Stilt pictured above has probably migrated to Sierra Valley to nest, from its winter home in California's Central Valley. It eats small fish, tadpoles, brine flies, brine shrimp, water boatmen, crawfish, and beetles. The following information about their nesting habits is from the website birdsoftheworld.org.
"Either sex scrapes with breast and feet while mate observes nearby; then tosses small pieces of lining materials over its back. Nest scrape in soft substrate of alkali flat, dike or island. Often over water on small islands or vegetation clumps. Adds lining throughout incubation, particularly when mates switch incubating. If water rises, nests are built up by both sexes sticking pieces of dead vegetation beneath the nest lining. Usually have 4 eggs per clutch. The incubation period averages 21-27 days. Both parents incubate the eggs. Chicks stay in nest not >24 h after hatching of last chick. Chicks precocial and downy; dry and able to leave nest within 1–2 h, but walk awkwardly for first day. Bill short. If nest disturbed, may move within hours of hatching of last chick. If nest is on an island, parents call chicks to swim to shore, which they do with difficulty. Broods are led to areas of shallow water with vegetation for cover. In general, either (1) vegetation shorter than adult, but taller than the chick with small openings to allow chicks to move freely, or (2) vegetation taller than the adult with unvegetated pathways that can be used by the chick. Short, hopping flights can begin at 22–23 d. Family groups remain intact well beyond the time when young can fly."
Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis
To our delight we came across a pair of Sandhill Cranes that had a nest on a small pond! They build their nests out of dried vegetation on small dirt "islands" in the wetlands, or floating right on top of the water! The following information on their nesting habits is from birdsoftheworld.org.
"Generally construct nests in water where floating piles of aquatic vegetation, grass, mud, sticks, and moss separate vulnerable eggs and chicks from terrestrial predators. In emergent aquatic sites, cranes collect nest material from the immediate surroundings and toss it over their shoulder, eventually forming a mound at the site with a characteristic vegetation-free “pluck-zone” surrounding the nest. Larger material forms the foundation, with a distinguishable egg-cup formed and lined with smaller stems or twigs. Early in the nesting season, birds use the dried residue of the preceding season's growth to initiate nest construction. Later in the season, green material is added to the nest. When nesting occurs on dry ground, nests have minimal construction and no egg-cup. Regardless of the substrate, both sexes participate in construction that may last 1 d to 2 wk."
Sandhill Crane - Antigone canadensis
There are 1-3 eggs laid in a clutch. The incubation period is approximately 30 days, and both the male and female share the incubating. The young are born precocial (covered in down with eyes open) and can leave the nest within one day after birth! They usually stay together as a family group for 9-10 months. I'll be back in a few weeks and see if any young have hatched! How exciting!
White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi
The White-faced Ibis use their long decurved bills to probe for aquatic insects, crustaceans, earthworms, and midge larvae. During their breeding season (April to mid-May) a white rim of feathers is displayed around the bare skin of their face, hence their name! They may stay and breed in Sierra Valley, or migrate to Idaho, Montana, N. & S. Dakota, or Iowa. They are colonial in nature. The following information on their nesting habits is from birdsoftheworld.org.
"Species usually nests in colonies, in emergent vegetation or low trees and shrubs over shallow water; sometimes on ground on small islands. Nesting above water or on islands presumably affords some protection against terrestrial predators. Both pair members cooperate in nest-building. Nests are highly variable, depending on substrate type and construction materials available at site. Nest usually flat or columnar, topped with well-formed, open cup in center, although some consist of only a few dozen plant stalks arranged haphazardly on ground. In tall emergents, nests typically consist of layer of plant stalk segments atop platform of upright, bent-over stalks. Sides of nest may be attached to supporting stalks for reinforcement. Cup usually lined with finer plant material. Usually 7 eggs per clutch. Incubation period lasts 20-26 days. Both parents share incubation. Chicks are born altricial. Both parents feed the nestlings/fleglings. Fledglings are able to walk around in 10 days and can fly in 5 weeks."
Bulson House - Feather River Land Trust
The West Entrance of the
Sierra Valley Preserve
We decided to visit the "West Entrance" of the Sierra Valley Preserve for our picnic. The last time I had been there, there was 3" of snow on the ground! It was a sunny, warm, windless, blue-sky day in Sierra Valley. Expansive views of the valley surrounded us, as we followed a lovely, 2 mile round-trip, botanical trail through the sagebrush. There were many small plaques that identified the plants along the trail. It was delightful! Approximately one mile from the trailhead, a 100+-year-old ranch house, the Bulson House, stands deserted but beautiful in the bare landscape. It is totally boarded up on the bottom floor, so you can't go inside, but we enjoyed its colorful, weathered, wooden sides and open rafters.
Tansyleaf Evening Primrose - Porterella - Hooker's Balsamroot
Taraxia tanacetifolia - Porterella carnosula - Balsamorhiza hookeri
Just a few plants were starting to bloom, most notably the hundreds of tiny Porterella flowers we found rimming the edge of a dry vernal pool! We'll have to revisit in a few more weeks, to see it when it's in full bloom!
leaving the Feather River Land Trust
Eventually we headed home, after a lovely day in Sierra Valley.
How lucky we were to be surrounded by so much beauty! I'll be back soon!
The Feather River Land Trust is a an amazing preservation/conservation organization. As they state on their website, "As a nationally accredited land trust, we’re experts in conserving lands forever. Since 2000, we've protected over 63,000 acres of ecologically and culturally important landscapes in the Feather River Watershed." Their multi-faceted website frlt.org is beautiful! Check it out and get involved if you can!
Two kinds of Bear signs! - Ursus americanus
Mammal Update!
Mammals have been showing up in my neighborhood over the past 10 days. One night, around 11:00 PM my husband heard a "crash" on our back porch. To our complete surprise, it was a huge Black Bear trying to get out of the porch! The porch doors don't swing both ways, so after it entered the porch it couldn't get back out. Luckily, it quickly ripped open one of the screened "windows" and jumped out! I got a quick glimpse of it, and it was HUGE! WOW! So glad he was afraid of us! We had seen bear scat on the road, for the first time this year, about a week before. We've left the doors open since then, but it hasn't been back. Hopefully, I'll see one in the daylight soon!
Columbian Black-tailed Deer - Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
I saw two does, but no fawns, near the river one morning this week. They stared at me for a long time, and then cautiously, slowly, walked away into the forest. Hopefully, I'll see them again soon, and maybe with some fawns!
Striped Skunk - Mephitis mephitis
There has also been a Striped Skunk cruising around our house in the evenings! It's probably living under one of the structures on our property! Skunks have poor eyesight, but like many nocturnal animals they have highly developed senses of hearing, touch, and smell. They are omnivores, and eat mice, gophers, voles, rats, birds & eggs, beetles, beetle larvae, caterpillars, fruit, nuts, carrion, bird seed, some garden produce, and even pet food!
The highly potent musk of skunks, keeps most predators away!
When approached by a predator, they raise their tail, then they
stamp their front feet vigorously and hiss and growl.
If those actions don't deter the predator, they will quickly present their
hind end and spray musk. They can spray up to 12 feet away, with accuracy!
Most predators don't come back a second time, once they've been sprayed!
Skunk dens can be in an abandoned ground squirrel or fox burrow, or under a woodpile, rock pile, cement slab, front porch, or in a hollow tree.
Skunks use their dens year-round. Skunks will often share a den with
other skunks. They don't hibernate, but go into a state of torpor, in which
their body temperature drops and they fall into a deep sleep.
To stay warm during winter weather they plug the entrance to their den
with dry leaves and grass.
Sometime in May, the females give birth to a litter of 4-7 kits. After 6-8 weeks they are weaned, and begin to hunt with their mother! By July or August, young males begin to disperse and become independent. Their sisters will typically remain with their mother for almost a year.
California Ground Squirrel - Spermophilus beecheyi
Unlike the Chickaree and the Western Gray Squirrel that stay active throughout winter, California Ground Squirrels hibernate in winter. I just saw these two this week! Female Ground Squirrels can mate with several different males, and have litters of 5-11 babies!
They prefer to dig their underground burrows on the edges of open areas, such as meadows or fields. Their diet consists of primarily seeds, including acorns, insects when available, berries, roots, and bulbs. Luckily we don't have these squirrels living in our garden, as they can cause a lot of damage making their burrows!
Arrow-leaved Balsam-root in the rain - Balsamorhiza sagittata
Damp Earth Art
No rainfall happened this week. However, rain and snow is predicted for the next 5 days! Yahoo! 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.
Wishing for peace in Ukraine and
an immediate end to this senseless war!
Sierra Buttes - 4/29/22
What's happening in the Lakes Basin?
What's blooming?
What songbirds have recently arrived?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
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Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
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