DOCSLIB.ORG

American Bittern Bitterns Likely Declined Greatly in the Botaurus Lentiginosus Central Valley with the Dramatic Loss of Historical Wetlands

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
American Bittern Bitterns Likely Declined Greatly in the Botaurus Lentiginosus Central Valley with the Dramatic Loss of Historical Wetlands CALIFORNIA RICE A California Riceland Success Story Numbers of both wintering and breeding American Bittern bitterns likely declined greatly in the Botaurus lentiginosus Central Valley with the dramatic loss of historical wetlands. The species has since adapted to the large expansion of rice cultivation in the Sacramento Valley since World War II and subsequently its population size appears to have increased. Hopefully additional research will better determine American Bittern the bittern’s population size and how this Botaurus lentiginosus species benefits from rice cultivation. Current and past population data No estimates are available for the size of this species’ population or its densities in suitable habitat in California or the Central Valley. Limited data indicate that bittern populations in these regions have been relatively stable since the late 1960s. Information regarding each species’ benefit to rice growers No documented benefit, but it is possible that bitterns consume some invertebrate pests in rice fields. Species in focus Prepared by: www.calrice.org American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Appearance Size: 24 –33 in Weight: 13–18 oz water but sometimes over dry ground in struc- turally-comparable herbaceous cover in uplands A medium-sized heron with a compact body and surrounding a wetland basin. Birds foraging in neck and relatively short legs. Plumage mainly rice fields likely nest in denser and taller vegetation brown above, with flecks or streaks of black, in nearby canals or weedy upland fields. buff, and cream color, and heavily streaked with brown, white, and buff below. Brown crown, Food/feeding and black streak from below eyes down side of A solitary feeder that relies more on stealth and neck (lacking in young birds). camouflage rather than aggressive pursuit to Conservation Status capture prey. Usually stands motionless, then The North American Waterbird Conservation Range slowly stretches neck and bill downward culmi- Plan considers the American Bittern to be of Most of the North American nating in a sudden dart to seize prey. Their diet “High Concern.” General protection provided population breeds in central consists mainly of insects (mostly aquatic, but by wildlife laws such as the federal Migratory and southern Canada and also grasshoppers), frogs and salamanders, fish, Bird Treaty Act. the northern United States crayfish, snakes (mainly garter and water), small and migrates south to winter mammals (mainly voles) and a few crabs, spiders, in the southern United States, and other invertebrates. Mexico, and portions of Benefits of rice cultivation WINTER to species/group SUMMER the Caribbean and Central YEAR ROUND Behavior America. Occurs year round In the breeding season, bitterns forage extensively The combination of birds standing tall with on the mid-Atlantic coast and the Pacific coast in the shallow waters of rice fields, the extent of bill pointed skyward, their brown and buffy from southern Washington to central California, which has increased greatly in the Sacramento coloration, and ventral streaking enable them to including the Central Valley. Valley since the middle of the 20th century. blend imperceptibly with reeds and other dried marsh vegetation. Birds occasionally strike this Habitat pose when in the open, seemingly oblivious to Additional benefits of adjacent Occupies a variety of mainly freshwater wetlands the lack of disruptive background vegetation to managed wetlands to species/group with tall emergent vegetation and abundant complete their camouflage. Sometimes called Adjacent wetlands provide some additional prey. More numerous in larger wetlands, using “thunder-pumper” in reference to their breeding foraging and nesting opportunities, but these are habitats with relatively shallow water. Typically calls of low, resonant syllables preceded by limited during the summer breeding season when nests solitarily in dense marsh vegetation over clicking and gulping sounds. the extent of flooded wetlands is at an annual low. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Scientific Support for Successful Implementation of the Natura 2000 Network
    Scientific support for successful implementation of the Natura 2000 network Focus Area B Guidance on the application of existing scientific approaches, methods, tools and knowledge for a better implementation of the Birds and Habitat Directives Environment FOCUS AREA B SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT FOR SUCCESSFUL i IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATURA 2000 NETWORK Imprint Disclaimer This document has been prepared for the European Commis- sion. The information and views set out in the handbook are Citation those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the Van der Sluis, T. & Schmidt, A.M. (2021). E-BIND Handbook (Part B): Scientific support for successful official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not implementation of the Natura 2000 network. Wageningen Environmental Research/ Ecologic Institute /Milieu guarantee the accuracy of the data included. The Commission Ltd. Wageningen, The Netherlands. or any person acting on the Commission’s behalf cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information Authors contained therein. Lead authors: This handbook has been prepared under a contract with the Anne Schmidt, Chris van Swaay (Monitoring of species and habitats within and beyond Natura 2000 sites) European Commission, in cooperation with relevant stakehold- Sander Mücher, Gerard Hazeu (Remote sensing techniques for the monitoring of Natura 2000 sites) ers. (EU Service contract Nr. 07.027740/2018/783031/ENV.D.3 Anne Schmidt, Chris van Swaay, Rene Henkens, Peter Verweij (Access to data and information) for evidence-based improvements in the Birds and Habitat Kris Decleer, Rienk-Jan Bijlsma (Guidance and tools for effective restoration measures for species and habitats) directives (BHD) implementation: systematic review and meta- Theo van der Sluis, Rob Jongman (Green Infrastructure and network coherence) analysis).
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 City of York Biodiversity Action Plan
    CITY OF YORK Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2017 City of York Local Biodiversity Action Plan - Executive Summary What is biodiversity and why is it important? Biodiversity is the variety of all species of plant and animal life on earth, and the places in which they live. Biodiversity has its own intrinsic value but is also provides us with a wide range of essential goods and services such as such as food, fresh water and clean air, natural flood and climate regulation and pollination of crops, but also less obvious services such as benefits to our health and wellbeing and providing a sense of place. We are experiencing global declines in biodiversity, and the goods and services which it provides are consistently undervalued. Efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity need to be significantly increased. The Biodiversity of the City of York The City of York area is a special place not only for its history, buildings and archaeology but also for its wildlife. York Minister is an 800 year old jewel in the historical crown of the city, but we also have our natural gems as well. York supports species and habitats which are of national, regional and local conservation importance including the endangered Tansy Beetle which until 2014 was known only to occur along stretches of the River Ouse around York and Selby; ancient flood meadows of which c.9-10% of the national resource occurs in York; populations of Otters and Water Voles on the River Ouse, River Foss and their tributaries; the country’s most northerly example of extensive lowland heath at Strensall Common; and internationally important populations of wetland birds in the Lower Derwent Valley.
    [Show full text]
  • EARTH Ltd PME Threatened Habitats Handout
    501-C-3 at Southwick’s Zoo, 2 Southwick Street, Mendon, MA 01756 PROTECTING MY EARTH: LOCALLY THREATENED HABITATS (MA) FACTS & FIGURES “Protecting My EARTH” is an environmental education program offered by EARTH Ltd. to help students learn how to take better care of their community and their planet. KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS • Conservation: a careful preservation and protection of something; especially planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect • Habitat: the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows • Ecosystem: everything that exists in a particular environment • Endangered: a species in danger of becoming extinct • Extinct: no longer existing • Threatened: having an uncertain chance of continued survival; likely to become an endangered species • Vulnerable: easily damaged; likely to become an endangered species • CITES - Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: an international agreement between governments effective since 1975. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Roughly 5,600 species of animals and 30,000 species of plants are protected by CITES as of 2013. There are currently 181 countries (of about 196) that are contracting parties. • IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature: world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with almost 1,300 government and NGO Members and more than 15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. Their work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development.
    [Show full text]
  • Ixobrychus Exilis (Gmelin) Leastleast Bitternbittern, Page 1
    Ixobrychus exilis (Gmelin) Leastleast Bitternbittern, Page 1 State Distribution Best Survey Period Copyright The Otter Side Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Status: State threatened state.” Wood (1951) identified the species as a summer resident and common in southern tiers of counties and Global and state rank: G5/S2 Cheboygan County, but rare and local in the Upper Peninsula. Least bittern was later described by Payne Family: Ardeidae – Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (1983) as an uncommon transient and summer resident, with nesting confirmed in 27 counties. Michigan Total range: Five subspecies of least bittern are found Breeding Bird Atlas (Atlas) surveys conducted in the throughout much of North, Central, and South America 1980s confirmed breeding in 20 survey blocks in 17 (Gibbs et al. 1992). In North America, this species is counties (Adams 1991). All of these observations primarily restricted to the eastern U.S., ranging from occurred in the Lower Peninsula, with the number of the Great Plains states eastward to the Atlantic Coast blocks and counties with confirmed breeding nearly split and north to the Great Lakes region and the New between the northern (9 blocks in 8 counties) and England states (Evers 1994). Western populations are southern (11 blocks in 9 counties) Lower Peninsula concentrated in low-lying areas of the Central Valley (Adams 1991). Researchers confirmed nesting at and Modoc Plateau of California, the Klamath and several sites on Saginaw Bay and observed possible Malheur basins of Oregon, and along the Colorado breeding in Munuscong Bay wetlands (Chippewa River in southwest Arizona and southeast California County) during avian studies conducted in the mid- (Gibbs et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Birds, Index, 2000–2009
    WESTERN BIRDS, INDEX, 2000–2009 Volumes 31 (2000), 32 (2001), 33 (2002), 34 (2003), 35 (2004), 36 (2005), 37 (2006), 38 (2007), 39 (2008), and 40 (2009) Compiled by Daniel D. Gibson abeillei, Icterus bullockii—38:99 acadicus, Aegolius acadicus—36:30; 40:98 Accentor, Siberian—31:57; 36:38, 40, 50–51 Accipiter cooperii—31:218; 33:34–50; 34:66, 207; 35:83; 36:259; 37:215–227; 38:133; 39:202 gentilis—35:112; 39:194; 40:78, 128 striatus—32:101, 107; 33:18, 34–50; 34:66; 35:108–113; 36:196; 37:12, 215–227; 38:133; 40:78, 128 Acevedo, Marcos—32:see Arnaud, G. aciculatus, Agelaius phoeniceus—35:229 Acridotheres javanicus—34:123 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus—39:196 actia, Eremophila alpestris—36:228 Actitis hypoleucos—36:49 macularia—32:108, 145–166; 33:69–98, 134–174, 222–240; 34:68 macularius—35:62–70, 77–87, 186, 188, 194–195; 36:207; 37:1–7, 12, 34; 40:81 acuflavidus, Thalasseus sandvicensis—40:231 adastus, Empidonax traillii—32:37; 33:184; 34:125; 35:197; 39:8 Aechmophorus clarkii—34:62, 133–148; 36:144–145; 38:104, 126, 132 occidentalis—34:62, 133–148; 36:144, 145, 180; 37:34; 38:126; 40:58, 75, 132–133 occidentalis/clarkii—34:62 (sp.)—35:126–146 Aegolius acadicus—32:110; 34:72, 149–156; 35:176; 36:30, 303–309; 38:107, 115–116; 40:98 funereus—36:30; 40:98 Aeronautes montivagus—34:207 saxatalis—31:220; 34:73, 186–198, 199–203, 204–208, 209–215, 216–224, 245; 36:218; 37:29, 35, 149–155; 38:82, 134, 261–267 aestiva, Dendroica petechia—40:297 Aethia cristatella—36:29; 37:139–148, 197, 199, 210 psittacula—31:14; 33:1, 14; 34:163; 36:28; 37:95, 139,
    [Show full text]
  • Reference Bird List
    Species R SP SU FA WI Notes:_________________________________________________ John G. and Susan H. Shrikes Laniidae Loggerhead Shrike (P) U U U U Vireo Vireonidae DuPuis, Jr. ________________________________________________________ White-eyed Vireo (P) C C C C Blue-headed Vireo (W) C Wildlife and Jays & Crows Corvidae American Crow (P) C C C C ________________________________________________________ Fish Crow (P) C C C C Environmental Blue Jay (P) C C C C Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers Swallows Hirundinidae ________________________________________________________ Purple Martin (S) U U Species R SP SU FA WI Area Northern Rough-winged Swallow (W) O O O O Parulidae Barn Swallow (P) O O O O Wood-Warblers Prothonotary Warbler (S) R R Tree Swallow (W) C ________________________________________________________ Pine Warbler (P) C C C C Wrens Troglodytidae Palm Warbler (W) C C C C Carolina Wren (P) C C C C Prairie Warbler (P) C C C C House Wren (W) U Yellow-rumped Warbler (W) C C C ________________________________________________________ Kinglets Regulidae Yellow-throated Warbler (W) C C Ruby-crowned Kinglet (W) C Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (W) C C C C Black-throated Green Warbler (W) O We are interested in your sightings. Please share your American Redstart (W) O observations with us. Thrushes Turdidae Black and White Warbler (W) C C Eastern Bluebird (P) R R R R Enjoy your visit! American Robin (W) C Northern Parula (W) R Common Yellowthroat (P) C C C C Mockingbirds & Thrashers Mimidae Gray Catbird (W) C C Ovenbird (W) O O Additional contact information:
    [Show full text]
  • Southeast Lake Ontario Basin: Tables 1
    SE Lake Ontario Table 1. Multi-Resolution Land Classification (MRLC) land cover classifications and corresponding percent cover in the SE Lake Ontario Basin. Classification % Cover Deciduous Forest 34.17 Row Crops 24.38 Pasture/Hay 15.53 Mixed Forest 11.01 Water 5.01 Wooded Wetlands 3.17 Low Intensity Residential 2.57 Evergreen Forest 1.32 Parks, Lawns, Golf Courses 1.07 High Intensity Commercial/Industrial 0.79 High Intensity Residential 0.60 Emergent Wetlands 0.24 Barren; Quarries, Strip Mines, Gravel Pits 0.11 SE Lake Ontario Table 2. Species of Greatest Conservation Need currently occurring in the SE Lake Ontario Basin (n=129). Species are sorted alphabetically by taxonomic group and species common name. The Species Group designation is included, indicating which Species Group Report in the appendix will contain the full information about the species. The Stability of this basin's population is also indicated for each species. TaxaGroup SpeciesGroup Species Stability Bird Bald Eagle Bald eagle Increasing Bird Beach and Island ground-nesting birds Common tern Unknown Bird Breeding waterfowl Blue-winged teal Decreasing Bird Breeding waterfowl Ruddy duck Increasing Bird Colonial-nesting herons Black-crowned night-heron Decreasing Bird Common loon Common loon Unknown Bird Common nighthawk Common nighthawk Decreasing Bird Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Black-throated blue warbler Stable Bird Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Cerulean warbler Increasing Bird Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Kentucky warbler Unknown Bird Deciduous/mixed
    [Show full text]
  • Geese, Ducks Quail, Grouse, Turkey Loons, Grebes Stork
    GEESE, DUCKS HERONS, IBIS ___ Pectoral Sandpiper ___ Red-bellied Woodpecker ___ Greater White-fronted Goose ___ Great Blue Heron ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ___ Snow Goose ___ Great Egret ___ Western Sandpiper ___ Downy Woodpecker ___ Ross's Goose ___ Snowy Egret ___ Short-billed Dowitcher ___ Hairy Woodpecker ___ Canada Goose ___ Little Blue Heron ___ Long-billed Dowitcher ___ Northern Flicker ___ Wood Duck ___ Tricolored Heron ___ Wilson's Snipe ___ Pileated Woodpecker ___ Gadwall ___ Cattle Egret ___ American Woodcock ___ American Wigeon ___ Green Heron FALCONS ___ American Black Duck ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron GULLS, TERNS ___ American Kestrel ___ Mallard ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron ___ Bonaparte’s Gull ___ Merlin ___ Blue-winged Teal ___ White Ibis ___ Laughing Gull ___ Peregrine Falcon ___ Northern Shoveler ___ Ring-billed Gull ___ Northern Pintail VULTURES, OSPREY, HAWKS ___ Herring Gull FLYCATCHERS ___ Green-winged Teal ___ Black Vulture ___ Caspian Tern ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee ___ Canvasback ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Black Tern ___ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher ___ Redhead ___ Osprey ___ Forster’s Tern ___ Acadian Flycatcher ___ Ring-necked Duck ___ Swallow-tailed Kite ___ Willow Flycatcher ___ Greater Scaup ___ Golden Eagle PIGEON, DOVES ___ Least Flycatcher ___ Lesser Scaup ___ Mississippi Kite ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Eastern Phoebe ____White-winged Scoter ___ Northern Harrier ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove ___ Great Crested Flycatcher ___ Bufflehead ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Mourning Dove ___ Eastern Kingbird
    [Show full text]
  • Herons of New York State Davidc
    HERONS OF NEW YORK STATE DAVIDC. GORDON The herons belong to the family Ardeidae of the order Ciconiiformes which is worldwide in distribution. The family contains 64 species divided into two subfamilies, the true herons and the bitterns. Of the 13 species now found in the United States, 11 have been recorded in New York State. These are the Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Common Egret, Snowy Egret, Louisiana Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Least Bittern, and American Bittern. Herons are long-legged wading birds of marsh and swamp. They have a slender, sharp bill on the end of a long neck which is used as a spear for catching food. The mandibles are also used for pinching food. The diet includes fish, other aquatic animals and insects, although some small mammals and other foods are taken. The neck is kinked in the middle to form a tight S when retracted for flight. The three toes in front and one behind are at the same level and may be either partly webbed or not webbed. The feet are well adapted for perching and walking on mud. The middle claw has a comb-like serration on the inner side. It is in the feathering that herons have their greatest distinction. The plumage is generally soft and in the breeding season both sexes of true herons usually have nuptial plumage containing long ornamental plumes on the head and extending from the middle of the back. There is a complete rnolt in late summer or fall after the breeding season and a partial molt in the spring.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Birds in Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica
    http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/paloverde/paloverdebirdlist.html Page 1 of 8 List of Birds in Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica SPECIES English Spanish TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Crypturellus cinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou Tinamú Canelo PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptus dominicus Least Grebe Zambullidor Enano Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe Zambullidor Piquipinto PELECANIFORMES PHALACROCORACIDAE Phalacrocorax brasilianus Neotropic Cormorant Cormorán Neotropical ANHINGIDAE Anhinga anhinga Anhinga Pato Aguja FREGATIDAE Fregata magnificens Magnificent Frigatebird Rabihorcado Magno CICONIIFORMES ARDEIDAE Botaurus pinnatus Pinnated Bittern Avetoro Neotropical Ixobrychus exilis Least Bittern Avetorillo Pantanero Tigrisoma mexicanum Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Garza-Tigre Cuellinuda Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron Garzón Azulado Ardea alba Great Egret Garceta Grande Egretta thula Snowy Egret Garceta Nivosa Egretta caerulea Little Blue Heron Garceta Azul Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron Garceta Tricolor Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Garcilla Bueyera Butorides virescens Green Heron Garcilla Verde Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron Martinete Coroninegro Nyctanassa violacea Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Martinete Cabecipinto Cochlearius cochlearius Boat-billed Heron Pico-Cuchara THRESKIORNITHIDAE Threskiornithinae Eudocimus albus White Ibis Ibis Blanco Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis Ibis Morito Plataleinae Platalea ajaja Roseate Spoonbill Espátula Rosada CICONIIDAE Jabiru mycteria Jabiru Jabirú Mycteria americana Wood Stork Cigueñon
    [Show full text]
  • American Bittern Botaurus Lentiginosus
    American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Kingdom: Animalia Division/Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae ILLINOIS STATUS endangered, native FEATURES An adult American bittern is about 23 inches long. This brown heron has a black stripe on its neck. The underside of the outer wing is black. This bird has green legs. Both sexes are similar in appearance. The American bittern is an uncommon summer resident in Illinois. It winters in the southeastern coastal regions of the United States. BEHAVIORS The American bittern lives around marshes, wet prairies, wet woodlands and lakes. This bird eats mainly frogs. It stands with its bill pointed upward when alarmed. This is a secretive bird that hides in vegetation and is active mostly at night. It seldom sits in a tree. The call of the American bittern is "oong-ka-choonk, oong-ka-choonk." Migration occurs at night. Like the other herons, its neck is held in an "s" formation during flight with its legs trailing straight out behind its body. Breeding occurs in wet prairies, sloughs and marshes. The nest is placed on the ground or on a platform of vegetation. Two to six brown or olive eggs are laid during the nesting period of May through June. The endangered status is mainly due to the destruction and degradation of wetland habitats. Nests are widely scattered (partly due to the available habitat), which may contribute to its low numbers. HABITATS Aquatic Habitats bottomland forests; lakes, ponds and reservoirs; marshes; wet prairies and fens Woodland Habitats bottomland forests; Prairie and Edge Habitats none © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron, Nyctanassa Violacea
    Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Nyctanassa violacea Status: State: Threatened Federal: Not listed Identification The yellow-crowned night-heron is a medium sized, short-legged wading bird. Adults are blue-gray with a black-and-white patterned head. The head of the adult is black with a yellow-white crown and a white cheek patch. In breeding plumage long, white streamers extend from the crown. Eye color is red in adults. The legs are yellow and turn pinkish-red on breeding adults. The bill is short, stout, and black on both adults and juveniles. The yellow-crowned night-heron flies with slow wing beats, trailing the legs behind the body. The call is a guttural, whoc, often emitted when the bird is disturbed. Juvenile yellow-crowned night-herons differ in plumage from adults. The juvenile is grayish-brown overall with thin, buffy spotting on the back and upperwings. The throat and body are buff-white with heavy amounts of fine, grayish-brown streaking. The legs of juveniles are greenish-yellow and eye color is yellow or orange. Yellow-crowned night- herons acquire adult plumage by two years of age. Photo by Eugene Hester, courtesy US FWS Yellow-crowned night-herons are similar in appearance to black-crowned night- herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) and American bitterns (Botaurus lentiginosus). The adult black-crowned night-heron lacks streaking on the head, and instead has a black cap and white cheeks. The adult black-crowned also has a black back, while that of the yellow- crowned is solid gray. In comparison to the immature black-crowned night-heron, the yellow-crowned is darker brown above with smaller and rounder buffy markings.
    [Show full text]