Exciting times here today! I don’t know what the prey was, but the predator was very impressive!
nature red in shoulder and claw
Tag: birds
Aphelocoma californica
This handsome, clever, bossy corvid has been absent from our garden for a few months, but is back this week. California (formerly “Western”) Scrub-Jays are not migratory, so I’m not sure where ours have been hanging out of late. I’m guessing they were raising a brood on a neighbouring property.
Studies show that scrub-jays are among the most intelligent of animals. The brain-to-body mass ratio of adult scrub-jays rivals that of chimpanzees and cetaceans, and is dwarfed only by that of humans. Welcome back, smartypants!
Charadrius nivosus nivosus
The Western Snowy Plover nests on open sand, so it’s extremely vulnerable to human impacts, both direct and indirect. For example, the kelp that is washed ashore is browsed upon by many insects and crustaceans. These invertebrates are a primary food source for plovers and other shore birds, so “cleaning up” the wrack removes a key element in the food chain. A more indirect impact: the population explosion of crows and ravens — caused by the abundant food sources offered by humans — has greatly multiplied a major plover predator.
At current counts, there are less than 2500 Western Snowy Plovers throughout their coastal range (a population of 3000 is the minimum goal) and their habitat continues to shrink. So if you see a cable fence on your local beach, be sure to stay out of the nesting zone to give these vulnerable (and adorable) birds a chance to breed and thrive.
Thanks to Kriss Neuman of Point Blue Conservation Science for a fascinating lesson. Thanks to John Muir Laws for his drawing tips.
the end is not the end
Last day of Wild Wonder was a doozy. I especially liked learning more about scavengers, detritivores and decomposers from Robin Lee Carlson. I feel chock full of learning, inspiration, and screen overload. Time to get outside!!
chooks
Dryobates pubescens
Downy woodpeckers are native to the (mainly deciduous) forested areas of North America. They are the smallest of the woodpeckers in N. America —14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7.1 in) in length.  They mainly eat insects, but they also feed on seeds and berries. They are a natural predator of the European corn borer, a moth that costs the US agriculture industry more than $1 billion annually in crop losses and population control.
I had fun painting this one with Ian de Hoog as my instructor.
bird nests
I always love a Jean Mackay class. Here in SoCal we don’t have many deciduous trees, so it’s not likely I’ll get to see a lot of abandoned nests in bare branches in the coming months. But I’ll be keeping my eyes open, just in case.
fledge
mystery feather
I had the best time at the first meetup of the Santa Monica Mountains Nature Journal Club. Thirteen of us (including some NJ newbies) got together at gorgeous King Gillette Ranch for nature journalling, food, art supply tryouts, and brainstorming. Can’t wait to do it again next month!
Athene cunicularia
I need to do more crepuscular hiking. I’d love to see a burrowing owl!
hashiworks 