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Oldest California Gull Found in Silicon Valley

August 26, 2013

When rescue workers checked the gull’s leg band, they found ….. here’s the article. The article may be only partially correct, as seen on the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center’s page on the Longevity of North American Birds. There are several California Gulls of similar age as the Silicon Valley bird. This could take precious hours of your day to peruse, so I’ll just say that the longest recorded gull I found was a Western Gull at 33 years, 11 months.

Feel free to search the list for the longest-lived bird of all. Just kidding

Migration phenom?

August 20, 2013
by

A surprising number of Brown Pelicans and Heerman’s Gulls on Will Rogers State Beach and seaward this morning, between Channel Rd./Chatauqua Blvd. and Sunset Blvd. Also seen in large numbers: Elegant Terns, a flock of (presumed) Sooty Shearwaters,  and Double-crested Cormorants.

A beach flock just south of the BelAir Beach Club along Will Rogers State Beach.

A beach flock just south of the BelAir Beach Club along Will Rogers State Beach.

P1030786

photos and text, Lu Plauzoles

 

Penguin Chicks on Webcam

August 10, 2013

A pair of Magellanic Penguin chicks hatched at the Aquarium of The Pacific in Long Beach about a month ago. Here’s a link to their live web camera. The chicks will not be on public view until later this summer. Get yourself a nice frosty-cold drink and enjoy the scene!

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/webcam_penguin_chicks

Nothing like “home”

August 6, 2013

The Santa Monica Beach Maintenance crew erected the Snowy Plover fencing early this year, before the end of July, and it seems that the plovers are just as grateful as we plover-watchers at SMBAS. Previously the fencing has been postponed to well after Labor Day. ImageImageImageOn two Sundays we have observed the small flock of 16 to 18 plovers using the fenced area as refuge from the large crowds of beachgoers. Thanks to Paul Davis of the City of Santa Monica for making time in the busy summer months to help the birds. SMBAS is contributing to the cost of of the fencing on an annual basis.

LucienP    Conservation Chair

It’s Lucky When It Lands on You

August 2, 2013

It’s time for a new kind of blog entry – strange things having to do with birds. The new tag is “News of The Weird.” This first entry will simply be a link with no comment.

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-living/ci_23782606/bird-poop-facials-cost-clients-180-at-nyc