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SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR
THE MALIBU LAGOON RESTORATION PROJECT
August 3, 2012
The Board of Directors of Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society (SMBAS) supports the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project. This is not a new position for us. Members of SMBAS began attending the Malibu Lagoon Task Force (MTLF) meetings in the 1990’s. We took part in the numerous MLTF discussions, and our suggestion to add ornithological expert Kimball Garrett to the Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee was accepted. At the conclusion of the planning phase, we voted in favor of the MTLF final recommendations. In October 2010, we sent a statement to the California Coastal Commission affirming our support for the project; we now reiterate our continuing support.
Over the past two months we have observed the progress of the project and have witnessed nothing unexpected, unplanned or dangerous. We continue to hold monthly bird walks at the lagoon as we have done for almost thirty years. We continue our monthly censusing of the birds at the lagoon and of the Western Snowy Plovers at their winter roost on the beach. Our results indicate that as yet the project has had no affect on the lagoon’s birdlife, either in species diversification or total bird numbers; both quantities are varying within their usual ranges for the most recent ten-year period. Western Snowy Plovers, a threatened species which roosts on Surfrider Beach adjacent to the lagoon, are similarly unaffected.
Based on our observations, bird population in the channels average approximately five percent of that in the main lagoon. Our understanding is that low oxygen and high bacteria levels in the channels severely limited invertebrate populations in the mud substrate, leaving little for the birds to eat.
We continue to support the plan: to remove the fill dirt placed there decades ago, redesign the channels to create better water circulation and increase ground area subject to water level fluctuation, replant the area with native plants appropriate to a brackish wetland, and redesign the pathway to the beach.
The Board of Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society
Charles G. Bragg, President
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The above notice was sent on August 3, 2012 to California State Parks for their records. It also was sent to the California Coastal Commission, to reiterate SMBAS’s support for the project. The Coastal Commission currently is reviewing a petition from project opponents to revoke the project permit. [Chuck Almdale]
Full Sturgeon Moon 8/1/12 4:27 p.m. PDT
Here’s another update from SMBAS Blog on that large, circular, shining object which has frequently and mysteriously appeared in our nighttime sky this year (some, speaking in hushed whispers, call it…the moon).
Aug. 1, 4:27 p.m. PDT — Full Sturgeon Moon, when this large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, such as Lake Champlain, is most readily caught. A few tribes knew this moon as the Full Red Moon because when the moon rises, it appears reddish through sultry haze (in 2012, “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” gives this moniker to the full moon of Aug. 31). Other variations include the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.
The next significant full moon will occur on Aug. 31, 6:58 a.m. PDT. Keep an eye on this spot for additional breaking news on this unprecedented event.
This information comes to you courtesy of:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45911225/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/how-s-full-moons-got-their-strange-names/#.T16CDHlIXUx
But that’s waaaaay too long to type in, and besides, you don’t need to go there because SMBAS has done the work for you!
[Chuck Almdale]
Malibu Lagoon Trip Report: 22 July, 2012
Don’t forget to visit our new page for the Malibu Lagoon 2012 Project, frequently updated with new photos.
The west channels area continues as a muddy mess. The remaining vegetation is almost gone and the footbridges are gone. In the channel area we found 10 Mallards, 7 Snowy Egrets, 1 Coot, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Western Gulls and 3 Black Phoebes. At the southwest corner of the path, which is slated to get a few picnic tables, we found an active feeding flock: Mourning Dove, Allen’s Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Western Scrub Jay, American Crow, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, California Towhee, Song and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Hooded Oriole and House Finch. Whew!
How many birds and what are they? Answers below; no peeking! (A.Albaisa 7/22/12)
Almost nothing was on the sea, save a few Snowy Egrets staggering across the floating kelp, which always shocks those who haven’t witnessed this before. An odd-looking White-winged Scoter, uncommon here at any time of year, was diving in the surf zone. Next to the colony fence we found the dewatering system outlet pipe, the end of which was hanging over a large wooden framework full of boulders. The boulders are to dissipate the force of the discharged water so it doesn’t significantly erode the sand.
Odd-looking White-winged Scoter (L. Johnson 7/22/12)
As usual, most of the sea- and shorebirds were on the sand islands near the lagoon’s south shore. June’s unusually large flock of 340 Brown Pelicans had dwindled to only 17 birds. The numbers of Swallows – Rough-winged, Barn and Cliff – were also about average. The Barn Swallows were especially busy swooping low over the sand, scarfing up the sand flies.
Snowy Plovers were back from breeding, as they always are in late July. It was just before high tide, so all 22 of them were still roosting about 75 yds. east of the symbolic enclosure. If they continue roosting there, we may have to move the enclosure.
The large “cliffs” at either end of the controversial June beach breach area had eroded to become almost unnoticeable. In fact, I didn’t notice their absence until pointed out to me. Farther on, Adamson House was notable primarily for a single Bullock’s Oriole, and the 8 Allen’s Hummingbirds frequenting the flowers. Other than being cool and overcast, it was a fairly typical July day for birding at the beach.
Our next three field trips: Malibu Lagoon, 26 Aug.; Lower Los Angeles River, 8 Sept., 7:30am; Malibu Lagoon, 23 Sep., 8:30am.
Our next program: Tuesday, 2 October, 7:30 pm. Water Conservation and Sustainability – Kimberly O’Cain. The usual blog reminders will be emailed.
NOTE: Our 10 a.m. Parent’s & Kids Birdwalk remains canceled until the lagoon project is completed and the parking lot is again fully available.
Links: Unusual birds at Malibu Lagoon
Aerial photo of Malibu Lagoon from 9/23/02.
Prior checklists: July-Dec’11, Jan-June’11, July-Dec ’10, Jan-June ’10, Jul-Dec ‘09, and Jan-June ‘09.
Photographer thinks 7 Snowy Plover, 2 Least Tern; I think one more Snowy. (A.Albaisa 7/22/12)
Comments on Bird Lists Below
Species Diversity: No census was taken in July 2008, so June 2006 is included to keep comparisons at six years. Of 79 total species appearing in July for 2006-12, no more than 66% of them appeared on any one count day, something to keep in mind if you wonder why what is there is much less than what could be there. July 2012 gets the species high count of 52, 5 species (11%) above average; so far, the project is not having an adverse effect on diversity. This contradicts my expectation expressed in June that diversity would continue lower than average, so my only prediction this month is that some of you will get the plover quiz right, some won’t.
Total Birds: The opposite of June – species diversity was high, but total numbers were low, 556 (91%) of the 610 average, which is not really significant. Unusually low numbers of Brown Pelican (17) was the primary reason.
[Chuck Almdale]
| Malibu Census | 2006 | 2007 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| June 2006 – 2012 | 23-Jul | 22-Jul | 26-Jul | 25-Jul | 24-Jul | 22-Jul | |
| Temperature | 68-75 | 60-67 | 65-72 | 64-70 | |||
| Tide Lo/Hi Height | H +3.9 | L +2.2 | L +0.4 | H +4.05 | L +2.61 | H +2.34 | Ave. |
| Tide Time | 1015 | 0848 | 0704 | 1036 | 0947 | 1121 | Birds |
| Brant | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | ||||
| Gadwall | 7 | 12 | 4 | 3.8 | |||
| Mallard | 65 | 50 | 25 | 49 | 54 | 42 | 47.5 |
| White-winged Scoter | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Red-brstd Merganser | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Ruddy Duck | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | |||
| Pied-billed Grebe | 1 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5.3 |
| Dble-crstd Cormorant | 6 | 9 | 15 | 20 | 31 | 24 | 17.5 |
| Pelagic Cormorant | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Brown Pelican | 37 | 78 | 40 | 187 | 407 | 17 | 127.7 |
| Great Blue Heron | 11 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6.0 |
| Great Egret | 17 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6.0 |
| Snowy Egret | 12 | 10 | 40 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 16.3 |
| Green Heron | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | ||||
| Blk-crwnd N-Heron | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 4.2 | |
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.7 | ||
| Sora | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| American Coot | 2 | 28 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 12 | 16.2 |
| Blk-bellied Plover | 1 | 4 | 45 | 8.3 | |||
| Snowy Plover | 10 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 13 | 22 | 12.7 |
| Semipalmated Plover | 6 | 2 | 1.3 | ||||
| Killdeer | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1.7 | ||
| Black Oystercatcher | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Spotted Sandpiper | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Greater Yellowlegs | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Willet | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1.8 | |||
| Whimbrel | 5 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 42 | 16.5 | |
| Ruddy Turnstone | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2.5 | |||
| Black Turnstone | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1.8 | |||
| Red Knot | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Sanderling | 6 | 4 | 1.7 | ||||
| Western Sandpiper | 8 | 1 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 5.5 | |
| Least Sandpiper | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1.0 | |||
| Short-billd Dowitcher | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Boneparte’s Gull | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Heermann’s Gull | 7 | 12 | 12 | 125 | 41 | 12 | 34.8 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2.8 | ||
| Western Gull | 55 | 109 | 30 | 80 | 107 | 95 | 79.3 |
| California Gull | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.8 | |||
| Least Tern | 12 | 8 | 36 | 13 | 3 | 12.0 | |
| Caspian Tern | 6 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 4.5 | ||
| Common Tern | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Royal Tern | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.2 | |||
| Elegant Tern | 33 | 10 | 8 | 45 | 16.0 | ||
| Black Skimmer | 35 | 1 | 1 | 6.2 | |||
| Rock Pigeon | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3.8 |
| Eur. Collared-Dove | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Mourning Dove | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2.0 | |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1.8 |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4.5 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Black Phoebe | 7 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 5.3 |
| Western Kingbird | 5 | 1 | 1.0 | ||||
| Western Scrub-Jay | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| American Crow | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5.0 |
| Rough-wingd Swallow | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 5 | 6.8 |
| Barn Swallow | 20 | 30 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20.0 |
| Cliff Swallow | 5 | 25 | 24 | 10 | 25 | 15 | 17.3 |
| Oak Titmouse | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Bushtit | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6.0 | |
| Bewick’s Wren | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Wrentit | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Northern Mockingbird | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2.8 |
| European Starling | 8 | 8 | 6 | 80 | 38 | 17 | 26.2 |
| Common Yellowthroat | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2.0 |
| California Towhee | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1.5 | |
| Song Sparrow | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2.3 |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Western Tanager | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Red-winged Blackbird | 37 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 10.5 | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | ||
| Brwn-headed Cowbird | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | |
| Hooded Oriole | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2.3 | ||
| Bullock’s Oriole | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| House Finch | 5 | 6 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 35 | 12.7 |
| Lesser Goldfinch | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| House Sparrow | 4 | 0.7 | |||||
| Totals by Type | 23-Jul | 22-Jul | 26-Jul | 25-Jul | 24-Jul | 22-Jul | Ave. |
| Waterfowl | 73 | 62 | 26 | 58 | 56 | 49 | 54 |
| Water Birds-Other | 47 | 128 | 81 | 227 | 463 | 57 | 167 |
| Herons, Egrets | 47 | 28 | 50 | 28 | 32 | 13 | 33 |
| Quail & Raptors | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Shorebirds | 22 | 23 | 4 | 127 | 32 | 128 | 56 |
| Gulls & Terns | 123 | 140 | 44 | 306 | 175 | 161 | 158 |
| Doves | 2 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 6 |
| Other Non-Pass. | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
| Passerines | 99 | 121 | 95 | 152 | 167 | 133 | 128 |
| Totals Birds | 419 | 519 | 309 | 916 | 940 | 556 | 610 |
| Total Species | 23-Jul | 22-Jul | 26-Jul | 25-Jul | 24-Jul | 22-Jul | Ave. |
| Waterfowl | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2.7 |
| Water Birds-Other | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Herons, Egrets | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Quail & Raptors | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.2 |
| Shorebirds | 4 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 7.3 |
| Gulls & Terns | 7 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6.7 |
| Doves | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Other Non-Pass. | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.2 |
| Passerines | 13 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16.7 |
| Totals Species – 79 | 42 | 49 | 40 | 51 | 50 | 52 | 47.3 |
The Santa Monica neighborhood birder
At dusk July 7th we were waiting for fireworks on the bluff in Santa Monica and were treated to a 30-second fly-by by a Barn Owl, including vocalizations. We had not seen the species in our neighborhood since summer 2010. That reminded me to make some general comments as to the evolution of bird life in the northwestern corner of Santa Monica, much as a Culver City resident has made on LA County Birds recently.
The American Crow population continues to grow and be obnoxiously noisy. Yesterday afternoon there were six young ones on low-hanging phone lines in my tiny backyard. However this presence does not seem to be adversely impacting passerines in the area. Since last year we’ve had breeding Song Sparrows nearby; I counted at least 6 families in the 4-(large)block area where I walk daily. There is no lack of Oak Titmouse which are heard year-round daily. The population of Nuttall’s Woodpeckers is thriving, many of them nesting in the soft crowns of mature Canary Island palms. I have counted up to six individuals on a half-hour walk. I saw Downy Woodpeckers a number of times also, but apparently not resident. Mourning Doves seems to be on the rebound after three rather dismal years, and Western Scrub-jays are present almost daily at the edge of Santa Monica Canyon. most notably there, and a couple of blocks south, are singing Dark-eyed Juncos, which were very rare previously.
The usual wintering flock of Cedar Waxwings seemed smaller this past winter, but it was first spotted in October rather than December, and remained until mid-May. On the other hand Yellow-rumps left town in a hurry in the first two days of April. At least one Orange-crown Warbler was present in to late June.
Surprises included a flock of Vaux’s Swifts in spring, a vocalizing California Quail on a Georgina Ave. rooftop, but no Red-shouldered or Red-tailed Hawks which used to be rather frequent in winter and spring near the canyon. Cooper’s Hawks were also less frequent. (because of Crows?) This past winter I only had four sightings of Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
No change, however, in the apparent number and frequency of the typical city birds European Starling, Rock Pigeon, House Finch, House Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird, Allen’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds, Bushtit, Bewick’ Wren.
How’s your neighborhood doing on the bird front? Do you notice changes year to year? Longer-term changes? Please feel free to post.
Bird News Roundup
Lead is a Threat to Condors
Study says main source of toxic metal is hunter’s bullets.
[This should not be news, but apparently it is.]
From: Los Angeles Times Online 6/26/12
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-condors-study-20120628,0,4816457.story
Letter to the editor on the above article – 7/1/12
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0701-sunday-lead-condors-20120701,0,4497722.story
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Muscovy sex notes
When the mood strikes a male Muscovy duck, the corkscrew-shaped embodiment of its excitement shoots to a fully extended 8-plus inches in just 0.36 second. The corresponding female organ is also corkscrewed – but in the opposite direction.
From: Discover Magazine, June 2012, 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Sex, by Gregory Mone.
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A Murmuration of Starlings above Great Britain
Two-minute video of birds dancing in the twilight
http://vimeo.com/31158841
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How to Be a Better Birder by Derek Lovich, Princeton University Press
Two Book Reviews, read them both if this book sounds interesting to you.
http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-how-to-be-better-birder.html
http://www.birderslibrary.com/reviews/books/birding/how_to_be_a_better_birder.htm
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Two Puffin Live Cameras on Seal Island
Take a virtual trip to Seal Island–20 miles off the coast of Maine–where Audubon�s VP of Seabird Restoration, Steve Kress, and his team are successfully restoring Atlantic Puffin breeding colonies. Watch these captivating birds as they socialize and catch some rays along with Razorbills, Black Guillemots and more, on the Loafing Ledge cam:
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam
The Puffin Burrow cam takes you down into a rocky burrow, where dutiful parents are caring for a newly hatched chick. Thanks to infrared technology, you can check in on the family around the clock:
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam
[Chuck Almdale]
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 