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Sycamore Canyon Field Trip – The Newmarkian View
Today’s reporter is trip participant Mary Lou Newmark . Photos are courtesy of her friend, Mark Farber. Mary Lou is a multifaceted person: writer, poet, playwright, actor, musician, composer and photographer. Several of her photos graced our Paramount to Malibu Hike, 4/9/11 report. I don’t know how she has time for birding. See what else Mary Lou is up to and check out her stunning, electric-green electric violin on her website: http://www.greenangelmusic.com/
Dark-eyed Junco by the picnic tables. (Mark Farber 3/10/12)
Our adventure began at the wash near the parking lot where we spotted several small birds. My first attempts to emulate my fellow birder’s binocular positions were in vain. I had much better luck when I looked for bird flight movement with the naked eye and guessed where the bird might be perched in the bushes. When I did get a bright green finch in my binos it was quite a pleasant shock! Our small, but intrepid group made its way through the campgrounds, seeing birds on the ground and near water faucets. Butterflies accompanied us as we moseyed along. Little kids rode their bicycles between the campers and dads doused the last of their breakfast barbecues. High in the trees above the camp activity was a hawk’s nest with the parent bird sitting inside. Other than occasionally giving us a warning stare, she was content to let us watch and attempt to take pictures. She was wearing red, but whether on her shoulders or tail, I don’t recall.
Black-hooded Parakeet trio. (Mark Farber 3/10/12)
On Wednesday, March 15, Stacey Vigallon (Los Angeles Audubon & Snowy Plover Coordinator), Eleanor Osgood (LA Audubon & Snowy Plover Volunteer), Jamie King (California State Parks), Jamie’s mom, and I (Chuck Almdale) met to erect a Snowy Plover “virtual enclosure” on Malibu Beach, adjacent to the lagoon. [Jamie’s mom, whose name I didn’t catch, was in town on a visit and came along both to help and to see the lagoon and beach.] We spent a couple of hours driving a lot of metal poles into the sand, running a rope through the poles and hanging plenty of signs on the poles and rope. Stacey had been out a few days earlier to see where the plovers were currently roosting. But it’s impossible to be certain about these little birds: their preferred roosting site changes with the tides, lagoon outlet location, human beach use, and – one can only suppose – their mood of the day.
Snowy Plover information sign created by local artist. (C.Almdale (3/15/12)
Making the location even more a matter of guesswork was the fact that n0t one of the birds was roosting: all were running around down by the water’s edge and “nosing” around in the numerous clumps of wrack dotting the beach.
Snowy Plover contemplates beach wrack clump. (C.Almdale)
This is a “symbolic fence” because it consists of only a line of fence posts connected by a rope. Signs are hung are regular intervals, but it’s far from an impenetrable barrier. However, in my experience, it adequately serves to eliminate the vast majority of beach traffic. I’d guesstimate that 95% of people stay out. The plovers are so small and cryptically plumaged that people simply don’t see them, especially if they are walking along deep in thought or conversation and unaware of tiny birds at their feet. The Snowies also look a lot like the far more numerous and definitely not-threatened Sanderlings: with what seems like hundreds or thousands of the same tiny bird running all over, the uninformed person is far less likely to be concerned.
Chuck handles the tall posts. Some people pay health club dues to get this kind of exercise. (C.Almdale (3/15/12)
But they are quite threatened. Total west coast population in 2011 was under 2300 birds, breeding at only 28 sites. The Los Angeles County winter population had fluctuated in recent years from 200 to about 350 birds, concentrated exclusively in only seven roosting locations, of which Malibu Lagoon is one. So chances are that the roosting flock of Snowies which people perpetually saunter through comprises about 20% of their total LA County population, and about 3% of the total west coast population. Compare that to the millions of humans populating the same area and you’ll see what these tiny birds are up against. People need to be more careful and – when informed – are more careful.
Stacey: professional sign hanger. (C.Almdale (3/15/12)
So the fence and the signs inform the public while setting aside a small area for the birds, a place where we hope they can get a bit of shut-eye. The current plan is to leave the enclosure up until October 1 and see what happens. Keep an eye on the enclosure: in the past, quite a bit of vegetation began reappearing within a few weeks, demonstrating that without foot traffic and beach cleaning, it could actually be a real habitat. [Chuck Almdale]
Completed fence, pier in background. Note lack of vegetation. (C.Almdale (3/15/12)
Birds in the Science Press
News in Brief: Urban Noise Ruined My Marriage
Bird marriages of Great Tits hurt by city hubbub in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/333954/title/News_in_Brief_Life
From Science News Online
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News in Brief: Killer baby birds
Honeyguide chicks kill their nestmates in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/334336/title/News_in_Brief_Life
From Science News Online
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Dinosaur-era feathers sealed in amber
The richest collection yet of primordial plumage preserves pigment and fine details found modern birds.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/334380/title/Dinosaur-era_feathers_sealed_in_amber
From Science News Online
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Penguins may sniff out relatives
A zoo study sees hints of odor-based kin recognition in colony-dwelling birds.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/334672/title/Penguins_may_sniff_out_relatives
From Science News Online
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News in Brief: Birds’ share of dinosaur extinction
Birds’ share of dinosaur extinction in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/334775/title/News_in_Brief_Life
From Science News Online
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[Chuck Almdale]
Full Worm Moon
Just in case you missed this important news, this is an alert from SMBAS blog that the full moon on March 8 at 1:39 a.m., only 4 days ago was the Full Worm Moon. Here is the explanation for this significant event.
In this month, the ground softens and the earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of the robins. The more northern tribes called this the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter, or the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time to tap maple trees, is another variation.
The next significant full moon will occur on April 6 at 7:21 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 way too long to type in, so don’t bother going there.
[Chuck Almdale]
More on Spiders & Birds in the Science Press
As our program this week was on spiders, we thought the following item might interest you.
Spiders Spin Wet Blanket over Wagga Wagga
Rising flood waters endanger thousands of spiders
So many webs it looks like snow.
From: Herald Sun: 3/7/12
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Now, on to more Birds In The News.
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News in Brief: Neurons make Owls Take Notice
Food tastes less fatty to overweight people, plus an itch protein and thirsty rats in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/72403/title/News_in_Brief_Body_%2B_Brain
From Science News Online
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News in Brief: Secret to birds’ steady gaze
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/331530/title/News_in_Brief_MoleculesMatter_%2B_Energy
From Science News Online
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News in Brief: Penguins smells dinnertime
Krill-sniffing penguins in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/332513/title/News_in_Brief_MoleculesMatter_%2B_Energy
From Science News Online
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News in Brief: Zebra Finches without Mommas
Stay-at-home finch dads in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/332797/title/News_in_Brief_Life
From Science News Online
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Early stress is contagious in adulthood
A zebra finch’s tough childhood shortens both its life and its mate’s.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/333416/title/Early_stress_is_contagious_in_adulthood
From Science News Online
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News in Brief: Ancient Big Bird
Ancient Big Bird found in Kazakhstan in this week’s news.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/333436/title/News_in_Brief_Life
From Science News Online
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The Iceman’s last meal: goat, deer, vegetables & wheat
Two decades after he was discovered sticking out of an Alpine glacier, a famous 5,300-year-old mummy’s diet details and hiking habits are revealed.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/333533/title/The_Icemans_last_meal_goat
From Science News Online
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The Sopranos with feathers
Stories from a day of bird searching
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/333765/title/The_Sopranos_with_feathers
From Science News Online
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[Chuck Almdale]
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 