Birds at the Albany Shoreline ALBANY NECK and BULB BIRD SURVEY
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Birds at the Albany Shoreline ALBANY NECK AND BULB BIRD SURVEY BY CITIZENS FOR EAST SHORE PARKS AND GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON SOCIETY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION CONDUCTED JULY 2015 D JUNE 2016 The Albany Neck and Bulb jut a mile out into San Francisco Bay from the City of Albany’s spectacular waterfront park. Starting as a landfill in 1963, the Bulb became the first parcel marked for inclusion into a shoreline state park, ultimately McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. Now, the Bulb is designated as a conservation area because of its unique location and abundant vegetation, which provides habitat for a rich diversity of wildlife. The City of Albany and the East Bay Regional Park District are working together to complete the development of the Neck and Bulb as a magnificent park. Albany Neck and Bulb Bird Survey Map South Facing Slope (SFS) of the Neck and Bulb – surveyed 1 from the Shoreline Trail. Every survey started here because it heats up earlier in the morning, stimulating early bird activity. This area was not accessible July – November 2015 due to construction activity. Until the trail opened to the public, the birding teams surveyed the SFS area by looking south (down) from the top of the Neck and listening for bird calls. Top of the Bulb (TOB) – surveyed from the circular trail at 2 the top of the Bulb, plus its several side trails that lead to viewpoints of adjacent portions of the Bulb. North Side of the Bulb (NSOB, not including TOB) – 3 surveyed from the trail that heads north from the TOB down to the shoreline; then east (as far as feasibly possible) along the SFS north shoreline of the Bulb. Top of the Neck (TON) – surveyed by walking east from 4 the east edge of the Bulb to the east end of the Neck. TOB Surveyors identified a lone eucalyptus tree as the boundary line between the east end of the neck and the west end of Albany Plateau. NSOB 2 Bulb 1 3 4 TON Great News! Burrowing Neck Owl sighted on the Albany Plateau conservation area. Albany This bird is threatened with Fleming Beach extinction. North Point Plateau Clockwise from left: Merlin, California towhee nest, Snowy egret, Say’s phoebe, Northern mockingbird About the Bird Survey The Bulb exemplifies the resilience and power of The bird survey was conducted two times each month from July nature as it has evolved from a landfill into today’s 2015 to June 2016. The area vital habitat for an abundance of wildlife. studied consists of the entire Neck and Bulb, the airspace above, and the exposed mudflats adjacent to geographic location that provides Bulb for rest, food, and shelter. the Neck and Bulb. natural beauty and wilderness Here are some examples: adjacent to a dense urban area. As • The House finch is a consistent Each survey began between part of the Pacific Flyway, the Bulb sunrise and one hour after sunrise. Bulb resident. The partially serves as an important refuge for coral-colored males and buffy Every bird team identified the migrating, resident, and wintering number of land birds and the females gather in large social birds. Both non-native and native and vocal flocks. species by sight and sound in each vegetation play a role in furnishing survey area. Water birds and shore habitat upon which the diverse bird • The White-crowned sparrow birds were not tallied unless communities depend. The Bulb is a regular wintering bird that observed on the immediate exemplifies the resilience and depends on the Bulb for shoreline. The survey: power of nature as it has evolved abundant food and shelter, such • Determined which bird from a landfill into today’s vital as seeds and Coyote bush. species are present and how habitat for an abundance of wildlife. • The Say’s phoebe is a popular their abundance varies over a migrant that reliably visits the calendar year. Designated in the Eastshore State Neck. Park General Plan as an upland and • Identified the habitats these • Townsend’s warblers are winter tideland conservation area, the birds use. visitors that depend on the Bulb Albany Bulb also contains wetland as a welcome waypoint between • Increased our understanding of habitats and coastal salt marsh their breeding site as far north as what kinds of feasible habitat vegetation. improvements would likely Alaska and their wintering grounds as far south as Panama. support greater diversity and A Variety of Uses Means abundance of native birds. a Variety of Birds • White-tailed kites depend Approximately ninety bird species on the Bulb as an ideal location A Living Environment were observed at the Neck and where they can rest and survey The Albany Bulb has specific Bulb over the 12-month survey their hunting and nesting attributes that differentiate it period. Birds heavily use this area territories. from other East Bay shoreline across the seasons for breeding, as • The Golden-crowned sparrow lands. A 33-acre area, it features a migration rest stop, for year- is a voracious berry gulper and varied topography, biodiverse round residence, and for wintering. spends winters at the Albany ruderal vegetation, and a Birds depend on the Neck and Bulb. Clockwise from left: Anna’s hummingbird, Townsend’s warbler, Bird survey team member Emilie Strauss, Golden-crowned sparrow Explore All Species Observed community that thrives at the Bulb. at the Neck and Bulb • Minimize construction to create A full list of the species observed, low-impact paths and protect the including the Northern undergrowth and grasses on Mockingbird, a polyglot that which many ground-dwelling perfectly mimics sounds from species depend. motorbikes to ringtones, is online • Ensure that important habitat is at www.eastshorepark.org. Images undisturbed and that the and additional details about the vegetative features that sustain bird survey are also available. the Bulb and Neck’s biodiversity are enhanced. Climate change threatens species Autumn Press, Sally Douglas Arce. including the Townsend’s warbler, • Cultivate and protect the The Bird Survey Team operated White-tailed kite, and Forster’s tern outstanding attributes of the under the guidance of Golden Gate among others found at the Bulb natural beauty of the wild Bulb Audubon Society East Bay and Neck. Read more on the and Neck biological community. Conservation Committee; from left Audubon CA site at bit.ly/1Q6Lore. to right: Steve Granholm, Ellen Special Thanks Barth, Pam Young, Erica Rutherford, A Place for Discovery Contributors: Robert Cheasty, John Colbert, and Emilie Strauss The Albany Neck and Bulb bird Shirley Dean, Patricia Jones, Peter (top right photo). survey documents the tremendous Rauch, Cameron Wilson, Roberta Photographers: Pam Young, birds; diversity of bird species in this Wyn, Pam Young. Robert Lewis, birds; Gregory Pfau, relatively small area along the Print and Design: Conifer Creative, nest; Cameron Wilson, team photo. San Francisco Bay. As the Bulb transitions into the state park, it must remain a refuge that Golden Gate Audubon Society improves and supports this vast www.goldengateaudubon.org wildlife community. Goals: Golden Gate Audubon Society engages people to experience the • Invite park visitors to discover the wonder of birds, translate that wonder into action, and protect native remarkable resilience of the wild bird populations and their habitats. Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) www.eastshorepark.org The mission of CESP is to create a necklace of shoreline parks from the Oakland Estuary to the Carquinez Strait. Cover photos from top to bottom: California towhee, Red-tailed hawk, White-tailed kite, Osprey.