26 Miles Across The Sea...

Santa Catalina is a-waitin for me…or at least this is how the song from The Four Preps written back in the 50’s goes. Catalina Island is one of the Channel islands and is located just about 26 miles off shore of Los Angeles. This is the place I spent three springs in a row working for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center studying the endemic Orange-crowned Warbler. This is a little yellowish-greenish bird with a bright orange flash of feathers on the top of it’s head..hence it’s name. The little orange crown is not always prominently displayed, but can be quite obvious on males either showing off for a female or fighting off a rival male in his territory.
The island consists of the “city” of Avalon, although I lived in the interior of the island in an area called “Middle Ranch” which mostly consists of employees and/or biologists that work for the Catalina Conservancy (whom owns most of the island) or the Institute for Wildlife Studies. There are no cars allowed on the island except by special permit. Only golf carts are allowed in the city of Avalon, but not anywhere outside the city limits. We however had the special permits to drive cars on the island and had access to the city AND the entire rest of the island. This allowed us to drive to our study sites, and make trips into the city at least weekly for groceries and supplies. It also allowed us to visit many beaches that most people could not gain access to except by boat. We would spend time on beautiful beaches that were empty of other visitors.
While I was there, we were not the only researchers on the island. There was also a group of biologists studying the island fox, the Bald Eagle, plants, a woman studying shrews, another studying feral cats, and a biologist studying herptiles, as well as a handful of pig hunters. We all identified each other by what type of animal or thing we studied. It was sort of like being a member of a tribe. We were known as ”the bird people“, while others were “the fox people“, “the eagle people“, and the “shrew girl”.
The little birds we studied were unique in that they nested both on and off the ground. Their mainland counterparts (a separate sub-species) nested strictly on the ground. The study was to see why they nested where they did and to figure out other basic behaviors.
We captured all the birds by mist net and banded each with a unique color code. Each bird was given 3 color bands and one numbered aluminum Fish and Wildlife band (2 on each leg). We always placed the aluminum band on the right leg along with another color, and 2 color bands on the left leg. We would read the colors like so: top right, bottom right, top left, bottom left. We would use letters to represent each color (usually the first letter of the color) so that we could “name” the bird by it’s color band. For example a bird with green band above an aluminum on it’s right leg, and an orange band above a white band on it’s left leg would be called “GAOW” (Green, Aluminum, Orange, White). Many of the combos we used made funny words that became the birds “name”. We had an “AROO” (Aluminum, Red, Orange, Orange), WARY (White Aluminum, Red, Yellow), etc. etc. Some of my other favorite names were “RAYY” or “Ray Y” as I called him, and “WABuBu” (White, Aluminum, Blue, Blue). We cheated a little to make other names more interesting, like “ABuGY” who became known as “A bogey”. Whenever we referred to these birds we would use their given “names” and often thought if anyone overheard us talking they would think we were speaking in code or some secret made up language especially since we talked about the birds as if they were people or friends .
We did different experiments to see if we could influence where the birds built their nests. We placed different decoys in their territory while they were nest building. We placed a stuffed Scrub Jay (an aerial nest predator), a weasel (a terrestrial nest predator), a snake (also terrestrial nest predator), and a Hutton’s Vireo (non-nest predator) as our control. The idea was that the birds should build a nest on the ground if an aerial predator was present, and that they would built off the ground if a terrestrial predator was present. The results showed ALL but one bird doing exactly as predicted. “WARY” built her nest on the ground right NEXT to the snake! Either WARY was a very stupid bird, or a very smart one recognizing that the snake was not real. Maybe she was a genius, thinking that this would be the safest place to built a nest as the fake snake would scare off other predators
They also had different reactions to the predators. They were much more cautious going to the nest when the aerial (Scrub Jay) predator was “watching”. They were not as cautious when the snake or weasel was out. It was also interesting that the Jay was recognized as a predator since Jays do not naturally occur on the island.
By the end of the season we had observed some very interesting behaviors that had not been seen in this species before. We found many of the males were paired up with more than one female and would go from nest to nest feeding all their babies. We also found a young male helping feed chicks in a nest that he did not “father”. Usually a rival male in another males territory is attacked or chased out, but this male was allowed to stay and help raise the territorial males chicks. We thought maybe the male was trying to “woo” the female to mate with him since he had no mate of his own. We also found out that the males were extremely aggressive with each other and would often witness violent attacks and fights between them. Even the females were seen fighting sometimes. When we took blood samples from them, we found that their testosterone levels were extremely high compared to other birds their size. We also found that year after year, the same birds occupied the same territories. Most males paired up with the same female they mated with the previous years. Occasionally a bird would go missing, and a new male or female would replace them. It was always a little depressing when we would get back to the island and not have our favorite bird(s) show up that year, knowing that they had not survived the winter.

Don't Tread on me!

Continued from "I'll pass on the Pass" (6/6/10)

On Wednesday I went out to my site to find a huge section of riparian habitat destroyed. Someone had taken a tractor or bulldozer through it for NO apparent reason. There was tractor tread everywhere. They drove right through habitat located RIGHT next to a wide open sandy trail! The area they destroyed was right smack in the middle of one of my viero territories with the male present with a fledgling. I suspected he was re-nesting right in this vicinity and was not sure if his nest had been destroyed by the tractor or not. First of all this habitat is protected, and so are the birds nesting in it. Destroying the nest of ANY wild native bird will get you a $500 fine, but destroying the nest of the Least Bell's Vireo will get you a $150,000 fine and some possible jail time since it is an endangered species. I immediately took photos of the damage, and followed the tracks to more damaged habitat and then up to the freeway area where I found an RV, tractor, van, and some sort of drill. I knocked on the door of the RV to see who was occupying it to ask about what kind of work they were doing out here and was going to try and get information from them so that I could report them to US Fish and Wildlife. No one answered the dooor, although there were 2 dogs that barked at me from inside. I was so furious at the destruction that had been done, but decided to calm down and check some nests that were also located on this site.
I headed over to a horse stable I use to access the site and immediately noticed a large bulldozer in their parking lot. I thought it was quite a coincidence. I started heading over to where my nest was...the nest should contain 4 nestlings who were 9 days old. They leave their nest at day 11 usually. As I approached I started to realize that the entire area had been bulldozed. My heart dropped as it looked like my nest may have been destroyed. I ran over and found my nest on the edge of the new trail that had been cut. Originally it was further back from the trail and I had to go through some vegetation to get to it, but now..it is seeable from the trail itself. The parents were freaking out since I am sure they had been tramatized when a giant bulldozer had come with a couple feet from their nest. They scolded me when I walked near their nest..but luckily all 4 babies were still in it. Once again, lots of native riparian trees and plants had been flattened and destroyed. I ran over to question the horse stable people. We had an agreement that they would inform me of ANY trimmings, or cutting of vegetation along their trials so that I could flag off any nest areas so that they would know NOT to cut there. This arangement had happened a couple times in the past and worked out fine. The arangement all started because 2 years ago they came literally about 2 feet from chopping one of my nests down and I had to have a discussion with the manager telling him the laws and that I could report him for what he did. He agreed to letting me know their trimming schedule so I agreed not to turn him in if it did not happen again.
I started questioning the stable people and was immediately lied to, they told me the bulldozer did not belong to them but to a construction crew next door. After talking to 4 people I got the truth...and went over to the house to talk to the managers brother who was responsible for bulldozing the habitat. He claimed that he had no clue they were suppossed to inform me first and thought they did nothing wrong. He even went so far as to tell me that the bulldozing he did was NOT for their customers and was not even part of their regular horse trail, but he cut a path (wider than a freeway lane!) so that his wife could walk their dog to the river. I was fuming by this time, and could barely keep my composure after seeing not only this destruction, but the other destruction I had just come from. I almost feel like a mother when it comes to protecting these birds..it is like my maternal instincts kick in here, because if I see anyone messing with my nests..I usually react by wanting to tear someones head off! He claimed he had not done the other damage further out but had done the damage to the area by my nest. Once again I had to document with photos, and I threatened them with fines and prison and told them to expect to be hearing from US Fish and Wildlife. I use their stable to access my site, so now I am sure I will be blacklisted from the place or if I am able to continue to use it, I will be very unpopular there. Towards the end of our conversation he started to deny that he had done any of it. I am not positive they did the other damage as I did follow tractor tracks to the RV, but I know they did the damage near my nest..so now we may have to report two separate incidents to Fish and Wildlife.
I thought the rest of my week would be mellow..but I still had a couple surprises left...

I'll pass on the Pass.

Don't get me wrong..I LOVE my job..but this past week was a test of my patience and I think I failed.
This week we participated in "assessments" where we go to different sites to look for our endangered species (The Least Bell's Vireo). We look for them across our watershed in places that we don't normally work during the rest of the season. We want to get an accurate count of ALL the birds within our watershed so we look in appropriate habitat outside our normal study sites.
My week started by doing an assessment up in the Cajon Pass. There is some very pretty habitat but we have yet to ever find a vireo there. We hope that they will one day discover this place. My coworker and I have been surveying this site for the last 4 years or so. I did one year detect a Willow Flycatcher and a California Gnatcatcher (both declining species) so the site has not been a total loss. However, we started to hear rumors that this area was not such a safe place to be in. My coworker and I survey at the same time, but we walk away from each other in different directions, so we contact each other by phone to make sure that the other of us is safe.
Apparently the safety issue comes from this area being a known pick-up spot for gay men...so being women, we are slightly safer than being a single man walking around out there. This area is also known for goldpanners, and trainspotters. I understand the prospect of finding gold to be appealing...but for the life of me cannot understand the fascination and excitment that goes with photographing and watching trains! Apparently these guys try and see as many different trains as possible and ID them by their numbers. They photograph them to prove that they saw that train. Bizarre! I guess birdwatching might sound similar to them..trying to see as many species as possible, and trying to obtain some proof of what you saw .
I have had a few odd encounters out there...mostly spotting men on the side of the road peeing. Seems they just pull over anywhere and everywhere and put on a show for whoever might be watching! Imagine if women did that!
I once had a guy almost climb into my car through my open window which I was trying to listen to birds through. He asked what I was doing and seemed a little disappointed to find I was there on official business doing my job. He kept leaning in my window and at one point offered to accompany me down in the canyon to look for birds! At this point I was tempted to roll up my window and choke him with it. I declined his offer and got out of there.
Another time a guy seeing my business magnets on my car (and assuming I was some sort of official) approached my window and asked me if he was safe being in this area. The guy looked like HE was the one people should be scared of...lots of tattoos and scars and just something a little creepy about him. I told him that this was a known pick up spot for guys and he went on to tell me that it was too bad he could not carry his gun anymore ever since he got out of prison! He thanked me and told me that he was not going to hang out there anymore. Cajon was just the start of my week, and it got progressively worse.

To be continued....stay tuned for my next post.

Rarities Not Rare To Me

Slightly edited from an article as first published in the Phainopepla in November of 2002

This spring I worked as an intern with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Our study took place at the Cosumnes River Preserve, located 30 minutes south of Sacramento. The Cosumnes River is unusual in that it is the only undammed river west of the Sierra Nevada. The season not only consisted of an unusual river, but some very unusual birds as well.
My dwelling for the season was in a shack....a literal shack located on the preserve with only a small living room area, a set of bunk beds and a kitchen sink. Our bathroom was a port-a-potty located in our "yard" and our shower was a 3-walled stall out in our yard as well. The shower had no door, so if a farmer happened to drive by while you occupied it, he would get a nice surprise. We eventually bought a large piece of plastic to slide in place to act as a shower door, but this did not help to keep out the many frogs, black widows, and various other insects that liked to share our shower with us. We had the occassional snake come into the shower stall as well, most likely looking for frogs to eat. I usually poked them with my finger to scare them away. The frogs got to stay as they supplied a very musical shower since all of them would start to croak as they got wet.
We had other guests as well, the occassional rat could be seen on our porch leaping into our trash can. Once again, literally leaping from our porch railing, all four legs extended out, looking more like a flying squirrel than a rat, and landing right in our trash. I once came home to hear scratching coming from inside our laundry detergent box which was also stored on our porch, and feared I would open it up to find a rat leaping out at me. It ended up being a Tree Swallow that thought the box was a cavity for nesting. Another morning I put my rubber boots on only to feel something squishy inside them. It ended up being a frog that I had to pull out, rinse off with water and release.
The project consisted of nest searching and monitoring of several species: Song Sparrows, Common Yellowthroats, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Wood-Pewee, and Black-chinned Hummingbird to name a few. We found a number of cavity nests as well for species such as the House Wren, Tree Swallow, and Downy Woodpecker. We also performed point counts and ran a MAPS mist netting/banding station. We color banded Song Sparrows to distinguish one territorial male from the next. These bands will be used to find birds again next year so that their movements can be monitored.
The two sites or "plots" that I nest searched were a mature Valley Oak riparian forest and a much younger Fremont Cottonwood/Sandbar Willow "forest". Besides these forested areas, much of the preserve consists of organic rice fields. By the time the land was sold and protected there was not much left that was not being used for crops. However, the preserve requires that a majority of the fallow fields are flooded to act as a refuge for waterfowl and a feeding area for shorebirds. We saw a variety of birds in these fields, including Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Least and Western Sandpipers, Cinnamon Teal, White-faced Ibis, Great Egret, Caspian Tern, and a rare sighting of a pair of Black Terns, not usually seen on the preserve during the time period we spotted them.
Another rare finding revealed itself when I took over the monitoring of a nest found by one of my co-workers on my plot. He told me it was an Anna's Hummingbird nest. My supervisor told me it was more likely to be a Black-chinned, as the Anna's are not typical nesters there. So, I set out to ID the bird, but because the nest was located rather high up in an Oregon Ash, backlit, and the bird was incubating, I could only see her head sticking out of the nest. I tried to make it into a Black-chinned, but the neck was not skinny enough, and I could not quite make it into an Anna's either. It was not until sometime later that I was able to get a good look at the bird, when the chicks had hatched and I observed her going to the nest to feed. At this time I was able to ID the bird as neither a Black-chinned nor an Anna's, but in fact a Selasphours species. I told my supervisor about the findings, but she was a little skeptical as Selasphorus hummingbirds do not nest there. We then informed John Trochet, a local bird guru, about the nest. He came down equipped with not only binoculars, but a scope, camera, and a hummingbird feeder as well. He verified that it was in fact a Selasphorus species. After contacting several people who are responsible for monitoring such bird data, it was determined to be an Allen's Hummingbird, the first record EVER for this species nesting in the Central Valley. The nest was successful, and two young were fledged. I saw the female a couple of times after the "kids" were gone, but she moved on and was not seen again. I got to write up my findings and it was published in The Central Valley Bird Club Bulletin.
Another of my co-workers found a Lesser Goldfinch pair nesting on her plot. Although there were past records for them nesting in the Central Valley, there were none of them ever having nested on the preserve itself. Our "sister" project, located further south, on the San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge, turned up a nesting pair of Yellow Warblers. This was the first record of them nesting in that area in approximately 40 years. We also had verification from John Trochet that Dark-eyed Juncos were nesting on the Cosumnes for the third year in a row, and suspicions that a pair of Swainson's Thrush were nesting on the preserve as well, but could not prove it. If he had, that also would have been a great find as the last record for them nesting on the preserve dates back to the 1870s. One last surprise was the appearance of a male Indigo Bunting towards the end of the season. This was the first sighting on the preserve since 1998.
Besides all these rare finds, the rest of the season was a success as well, with our nest count totaling more than 300 and 135 species seen on the preserve.