APRIL 25

WE DID IT!!! We identified nearly 50 new birds on our Godwit Days birding festival in Arcata and the north coast, taking us well over our 100-bird goal. It will take us several posts to give you the details of our finds, but we have completed our challenge: we thought we could, and we did.

We saw some terrific hawks. We identified a Red-shouldered Hawk, swooping over a tidal marshy area in Arcata. These are primarily east coast birds, but California boasts an isolated population, as we confirmed. We saw a White-tailed Kite, now often known as a Black-shouldered Kite, and that about sums up the description. And we saw a Peregrine Falcon, a species hard hit by use of the pesticide DDT and PCBs. PCBs are released when plastic burns, and among its insidious effects are the delay of the onset of breeding, low sexual drive, and feeble prenatal care. Aggressive conservation efforts for these falcons include captive breeding and, of course, the elimination of some pesticides in the environment.

We saw a Pelagic Cormorant, smaller and darker than the more frequently-seen Double-crested Cormorant. He had, however, that up-tilted beak so characteristic of cormorants, in the harbor at Crescent City.

And then we saw the loons and grebes. We saw Common Loons. These water creatures have legs set so far back on their bodies that the legs cannot support them on land. But this placement accounts for its strong dives and capacity to swim underwater after fish. This loon also can expel its air and sink gradually down into the water. At least one of the Common Loons we saw was in breeding plumage, with checkerboard markings on its wings and neck. We also saw a Red-throated Loon, with more white spotting on its back. We did not see the red patch on its neck that occurs during breeding, but during our journeys on this weekend breeding plumage was scattered, not uniform, in the birds we saw.

We saw an array of grebes. We saw the Western Grebe, with its long, graceful neck and yellowish bill. We saw an Eared Grebe, much smaller than the Western and with a black marking down on its cheek. We believe we saw a similar Horned Grebe, about the same size as the Eared Grebe but with a black cap that does not go down onto the cheek. Neither of these birds had the flaring chestnut face feathers they will develop in breeding plumage. And we saw a Pied-billed Grebe, a much plainer, brownish bird but with a black ring around its stout little bill. All these grebes area strong swimmers and divers.

Rhoda introduced us to the concept of the Bird of the Day. Although it is always hard to choose, there is almost always one bird that lights up your list, through its rarity, or its attractiveness, or its clarity that allows you to capture its look for the future. For David the Bird of the Day on Sunday was the Green Heron. These are hulking birds, usually seen alone, as was ours this day. These birds have a chestnut neck, and green and blue-gray back and sides. This chunky bird looks a little embarrassed at lacking the long elegant neck of some of its heron cousins.

Total to 4/25: 78

April 15

Rhoda has been picking up some local birds in the East Bay. “I knew I could pick up a few new bird species in my walk around the Lafayette reservoir, even without binoculars. As expected, I saw one of the resident osprey, hunting in the distance, a give-away with its white crown and vertiginous dives. White pelicans have taken up residence there too, but I saw only one, settled on the water. Otherwise, the walk was rich with species we’ve already listed: double-crested cormorants hulking low in overhanging branches, a quiet bufflehead couple, a busy gaggle of killdeer, a red-tail hawk circling below turkey vultures, and a gang of wild turkeys. Of course there were the ones that got away too, most notably the multitude of swallows, swooping too fast for me to identify.”

And we have a domestic sighting from David, Jaci’s husband. Their pond in the mountains houses Roman Aqua Ducks, with names (Chief and Buck). “They are now chasing Mochie the dog by land, sea and air. And biting her on the butt. Must be spring friskiness.” Do we count those Roman Aquas as a new species? Probably not.

Total to 4/15: 67

April 3

Jaci has been finding birds in the back yard. The first is an aural identification. “David and I were sitting on the porch in the evening when we heard a Western Screech-Owl call east of our house. These birds have a lovely two hoots and a falling trill. I have taken to answering them and they will fly closer and call again. I’m not sure if they are coming for true love or to kick my ass, but I love the conversation. This is the time of year we hear them most.” The literature says that Screech Owls are heard most often during breeding season, so it must be true love. They nest in cavities, often using holes built by flickers. Since we are also seeing lots of flickers these spring days, it’s nice to know that they create a diverse neighborhood. The owls are on the small end of the owl range, they are rather gray and have prominent ear tufts when they are extended. However, these nocturnal critters are heard much more often than they are seen. In the backyard theater there are always cocky Stellar’s Jays. Jaci says, “We have about a dozen that hang out waiting for the remains of the dog and duck food, along with our flock of Juncos.” Stellar’s Jays are a mountain bird, especially pine forest areas. They are noisy and, indeed, cocky. They are often found in campgrounds and picnic areas, living on scraps and crumbs. They are generally year-round birds in our foothill area, but they can move even lower when the snow is deep. There is a covey of California quail that comes through Jaci’s Sacramento yard each morning. “Their faces are so precisely drawn, very Japanese in style, with top notch bobbing and streaked breast. They move through the grass as a group until one takes off running full tilt, the plump round relaxed body then stretched and looking too much like a road runner. Then another. And another, until they are all gathered again on the other side of the yard.” These birds are native to the West Coast, as their name implies. However, they now range east through the Great Basin as a result of introductions intended to create a game population. They are social birds, usually moving about in coveys, and they are tolerant of human presence. The coveys often have a lookout posted. And, they are the state bird of California. And then there are the Wild Turkeys. They show up along Highway 299 as we drive down from the mountains. And they show up along the roadways in Sacramento. Jaci says, “I saw thirty gathered together by a great flooded field in back of Kiefer dump. Five toms. Displaying rather soggily in the rain. The rest were hens. Should be A LOT of babies soon.” These gamebirds have also been introduced in many places throughout the west. Total to 4-23 65

March 28

We've seen American Robins in the parks as the first grass begins to peep out (finally!). These are year-round residents in the valleys of California, but they also do altitudinal migrations. As spring warms, these birds forage most commonly on the ground, where earthworms and insects can be found. They can be seen running about on the gound - looking from side to side. When they spy an earthworm, they attempt to spear the worm with their beak and then lean back to tug the worm out of the ground - a sight so iconic it almost seems like a cartoon. They are sociable birds, and they sing and sing, apparently both to attract females and to defend territory. Robins are surely among the most beloved of American songbirds. Catherine spotted another Robin recently: the Mega-Turdus Non-Migratorius Californicus. (The California Robin is the Turdus Migratorius). The Giant California Robin can be found on a rafter in Sacramento's brand new Crocker Art Museum wing. It is distinguished from the California Robin by its giant size (three feet tall) and its inability to migrate. Explanatory material near the Rob says that its size is puzzling. Some suggest that robins ate worms with the growth hormone rBST. Others suggest that the bird is not giant at all, but an optical illusion (these folks are called Giant Robin deniers). Because of the bird's size, it flies poorly and is unable to migrate, being restricted to the Sacramento Valley. Giantism of this sort is often found on islands and among other isolated habitats. (All credit to Gerald Heffernon, artist). So, what do you think? Are these sightings worth one additional species on our list, or two? Total to 3/28: 61