Conservation Science and Stewardship at Audubon Canyon Ranch ArdeidTHE

2 017 Egret telemetry study Fire ecology High-tech trapping for mountain lions Archaeology and zooarchaeology at Toms Point ❚2 Ardeid (Ar-DEE-id), N., refers to any member of the family Ardeidae, which includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. THE Ardeid

2017 In this issue

The Movement Ecology of Egrets: Studying top predators to understand landscape habitat linkages by Scott Jennings page 1 The Foundation: California fire ecology by Sasha Berleman page 4

Toms Point Archaeology: Investigating Native American history at Tomales Bay by Tsim D. Schneider and Lee M. Panich page 7 Toms Point Zooarchaeology: Archaeological faunas shed light on the diets of past Toms Point residents by Anneke Janzen, Amanda Hill, and Tsim D. Schneider page 10 Walk Through to a New Era: Electronic walk-through cage for mountain lions by Quinton Martins and Neil Martin page 13

Cover: Great Egret preening. Creative Commons photo. Ardeid masthead: Great Blue Heron ink wash painting by Claudia Chapline.

Above: Sus scrofa (wild pig, or boar) is amply represented in zooarchaeological remains at Toms Point. See page 10.

The Ardeid is published annually by Audubon Canyon Ranch as an offering to ACR members, interested supporters, and volunteers who contribute to ACR Conservation Science, Stewardship, and Education programs. To learn more about this program and how to support Audubon Canyon Ranch, please contact the Cypress Grove Research Center ([email protected] or 415.663.8203) or ACR’s headquarters ([email protected] or 415.868.9244). www.egret.org Managing Editor, John Kelly. Layout design by Claire Peaslee. Printed on recycled paper. ©2017 Audubon Canyon Ranch.

Audubon Canyon Ranch protects our natural and human communities through land preservation, nature education, and conservation science. u Martin­ Griffin Preserve tCypress Grove Research Center tBouverie Preserve tModini Mayacamas Preserves ❚ ■❚ 2017 1

Studying top predators to understand landscape habitat linkages The Movement Ecology of Egrets

by Scott Jennings

Great Egret stands tarsus-deep on the edge colonies where they nest, and to Herons and egrets are ubiquitous in wetlands Aof a tidal slough, still and silent, seeming to measure the relationships between across the Bay Area and have served as iconic melt in and out of the cold February morning how they use habitats and how symbols of wetland conservation for over a fog. Its long yellow bill stabs into the water, successfully they raise their young. century. As generalist top predators, they exert comes up with nothing but drops of water, then This is a fundamental pursuit of an emerging top-down influence on the structure of lower strikes again and this time snatches a wriggling field of research termed “movement ecology”- trophic levels, altering the abundance and distri- stickleback. Having gotten its fill for breakfast the science of linking the why, where, when, and bution of multiple prey species and, in turn, the (or perhaps not), the egret croaks at something how of animal movements to the ecological and effects of their prey on other species (Huang et in the sky, then spreads its wings and takes evolutionary consequences of their behavior al. 2015). Food-web connections involving top flight, disappearing into the rising mist. (Nathan et al. 2008). A greater understanding predators are important elements of healthy Where did this egret go? Why did it take of how individual movement and behavior are ecosystems and may influence rates of carbon flight now? Will it come back to this tidal slough related to survival and reproductive success will cycling (Schmitz et al. 2014). Studying how tomorrow morning, or will it instead go else- provide a valuable new context to our long-term herons and egrets move across the landscape where to forage in a flooded pasture? Will this research on heron and egret nesting abundances to select and use habitats is critical to under- egret’s foraging behavior today and tomorrow across the Bay Area. This expansion of our standing their ecological requirements and, in allow it to raise more young this spring than the research will lead to new insights into how these addition, their role as top predators in sustaining rest of the birds in its colony? How do the habi- beautiful birds depend on the varied wetland the richness of life in wetland ecosystems. tats where this bird forages influence how long it conditions found throughout this urbanized lives? ACR has initiated an exciting new research region. Research plan endeavor, the Heron and Egret Telemetry Project, Expanding ACR’s heron and egret research to answer questions such as these. Movement ecology of predators to include GPS telemetry will allow us to answer We are using tiny, lightweight, solar-powered guides wetland conservation questions about these species’ ecological needs GPS tags (Figure 1) to record detailed informa- that are unanswerable using other methods. tion about Great Egret movement and behavior. Wetlands are the focus of growing atten- The tags we’ve selected to use in our study These tags will allow us to track individual birds tion from scientists and the public for their collect GPS locations and accelerometry data from the wetlands where they forage to the value as wildlife habitat and for the range of ecosystem services they provide for humans. and send the information wirelessly back to us. These services include flood mitigation, removal Accelerometers collect data on three-dimen- of pollutants travelling between rivers and sional movement that can be used to estimate oceans, buffering the effects of rising sea levels the energy costs of particular behaviors. Thus, and increased storm intensity, and aesthetic the tags provide data on where birds go and benefits (Horwitz et al. 2012, Scholte et al. about what they do when they get there. 2016). The San Francisco Estuary is the largest A key advantage in using GPS telemetry to wetland ecosystem in the western United study animal movement and habitat use is that States and provides essential habitat for diverse it avoids the bias that may be associated with wildlife, including large proportions of popula- field researchers observing individual animals tions of migratory and resident bird species in the field. Rather than choosing when and (San Francisco Estuary Partnership 2015). where to observe animals, a researcher can use This estuary is a complex, broadly urbanized GPS tracking to intensively sample behavior and landscape, with a range of conditions (ecological habitat use, and then apply analytical methods processes, wildlife values, human land use, to let the animal movements themselves define recreation, etc.) affected by altered hydrologic the spatial and temporal scales of the investiga- Figure 1. A solar-powered GPS telemetry tag used patterns and by widespread restoration and tion. Another benefit of using GPS tags is that to generate three-dimensional data on Great Egret conservation efforts (Cohen 2000). they generate a tremendous amount of data, movements, postures and behaviors. measuring animal locations and behavior far ❚ 2 The Ardeid ❚■

more frequently and over much larger land- they forage. We will also join collabora- scapes than field observers can. These extensive tive investigations with similar studies data will allow us to answer numerous ques- in the Midwest and along the East tions in several broad areas. We will begin with Coast, to reveal how regional popula- descriptive analyses of movement, habitat use, tions of herons and egrets differ in their and energetics. This information will provide a movements, behavior, and environ- foundation for more complex analyses that link mental requirements. individual movements and behaviors to survival and reproductive performance and, ultimately, A nationwide collaboration to population dynamics. Our investigation will This is an ambitious project and we be structured around the following five lines of have a tremendous amount to learn, inquiry. but we are not embarking on this new 1. Landscape movement and habitat use. We research alone. ACR is the newest will describe and quantify how individual partner in an exciting—now nation- egrets move across the landscape and wide—science-based education project the environmental factors that influence called “1000 Herons,” which integrates their movement and habitat use. This will the cutting-edge science of GPS telem- provide far greater detail about the lives of etry with the unique opportunities for egrets than previously known. conservation education and outreach this method provides. Key partners in 2. Energy balance. We will investigate this collaboration are Dr. John Brzorad and describe individual patterns of (Lenoir-Rhyne University, North energy intake and expenditure across Carolina), Dr. Alan Maccarone (Friends the landscape. We will generate maps of University, Kansas), Danielle D’Auria the “energy landscape” of these birds to (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries show how the temporal and spatial costs and Wildlife), and the U.S. Forest of movement relate to the benefits of Service’s Northern Research Station in foraging in different areas and habitats. the eastern United States. 3. Survival probability. We will quantify the Drs. Brzorad and Maccarone trav- relationships between egret survival and elled to California in early June 2017 their movement patterns, habitat use, and to teach us the egret capture method energy expenditure. they developed and how to safely attach the GPS tags. We use padded foot-hold 4. Reproductive success. We will quantify the traps, modified to minimize any risk of relationships between egret reproductive injury to the birds, placed in shallow success (nest survival, number of fledged water in egret foraging habitat. We chicks) and their movement patterns, use decoys—lawn flamingoes painted habitat use, and energy expenditure. white!—to attract these gregarious Figure 2. Location data for our first three tagged birds during two 5. Population correlates of individual behavior. foragers from the surrounding area, weeks in June, 2017. Each dot represents the location of the bird, We will combine the individual-based and a tub stocked with live minnows to collected by GPS tag every five minutes. aspects of egret behavior and fitness with guide the birds to the traps. While the ACR’s long-term studies of regional nesting traps are set, we hide as close to them as performance and abundance, to predict possible (generally 50-100m) so we can release Initial data reveal interesting how changes in wetland conditions influ- birds as soon as they trigger a trap. Our learning patterns ence the abundance and ecological roles of curve during Brzorad and Maccarone’s visit was The tagged egrets are already providing Great Egrets in the San Francisco Bay area. steep, but by the time they left we had attached transmitters to three Great Egrets. These first a fascinating window into the lives of these birds. For example, although all three birds ACR’s long-term research on heron and three egrets were captured at ACR’s Toms Point, were captured at Toms Point, and all of them egret abundances and reproductive success in northern Tomales Bay. Our goal for the rest continue return there, they are showing throughout the Bay Area provides a powerful of 2017 is to deploy an additional 11 tags, in interesting individual differences in where context for the new telemetry research. This San Pablo Bay and Suisun Marsh, to study the else they go (Figure 2). While the first Great expansion of our work promises new insights movement ecology of egrets throughout the Egret (GREG_1) has remained on Tomales into the environmental conditions needed to area covered by our long-term monitoring of Bay, the other two egrets have spent substantial sustain heron and egret populations. Addition- regional nesting colonies. time inland. GREG_2 has focused its inland ally, this research will set the stage for under- time in the Fallon-Two Rock area, in the standing the role these top predators have in broad fields and rolling hills of the lowlands structuring the biological communities where ❚ ■❚ 2017 3

traveled inland to forage along Chileno resulting from climate change may alter the Creek and other areas (Figure 3B). hydrology, and thus foraging quality, of these inland foraging areas, possibly affecting the Increasing ACR’s commitment number of egrets that can nest in the region. to heron and egret Knowledge about the choices individual conservation egrets make as they move through large wetland landscapes, and how these choices influence As the Heron and Egret Telemetry egret population dynamics, can help us to guide Project continues to generate new land managers, agencies, and others working to information on the movement patterns manage environmental processes and protect and habitat use of these birds (Figure the quality of wetlands. This new direction in 4), we will gain important new insights ACR research will open new opportunities for protecting the lands they rely on— for national and international collaboration with particular attention to shifting and expand ACR’s role as a regional leader in climate and land-use patterns. For conservation science. example, comparing the time budgets and reproductive performance of birds Avian Ecologist Scott Jennings is the lead inves- that stay along the coast (like GREG_1) tigator on ACR’s Heron and Egret Telemetry to those that spend part of their time Project. inland (like GREG_2 and GREG_3) can provide critical information about References cited the relative importance of different Cohen, A. 2000. An Introduction to the San Francisco habitats. Estuary, Third Edition. San Francisco Estuary Project, Additionally, by understanding Oakland CA, Save The Bay, Oakland CA and San how current environmental conditions Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond CA. Horwitz, P., C. M. Finlayson, and P. Weinstein. 2012. influence egret movement and habitat Healthy wetlands, healthy people: a review of wetlands use, we can predict how climate change and human health interactions. Ramsar Technical Report Figure 3. Location data for GREG_3 (A) during a period of several or shifting land-use patterns will affect No. 6. Gland, Switzerland & Geneva, Switzerland. days when eelgrass beds were available for foraging in tidal areas this species. For example, if eelgrass Huang, A. C., M. Essak, and M. I. O’Connor. 2015. Top-down control by Great Blue Herons Ardea several hours per day versus (B) a period of days when the eelgrass beds begin to drown because they are beds were available for less than a few hours per day. herodias regulates seagrass-associated epifauna. Oikos unable move to higher elevations as 124:1492–1501. sea level rises, then egrets may depend Nathan, R., W. M. Getz, E. Revilla, M. Holyoak, R. Kadmon, between Petaluma and Bodega Bay. In contrast, more strongly on inland ponds and creeks. At D. Saltz, and P. E. Smouse. 2008. A movement ecology paradigm for unifying organismal movement research. GREG_3 has spent most of its inland time in the same time, shifting precipitation patterns Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Chileno Valley and, interestingly, has traveled 105:19052–19059. near Laguna Lake but has not visited the lake San Francisco Estuary Partnership. 2015. The State of the itself. Both of these birds appear to be focusing Estuary 2015. Oakland, CA. Schmitz, O. J., P. A. Raymond, J. A. Estes, W. A. Kurz, G. W. their inland foraging at farm ponds and along Holtgrieve, M. E. Ritchie, D. E. Schindler, A. C. Spivak, small creeks, highlighting the habitat values of R. W. Wilson, M. A. Bradford, V. Christensen, L. Deegan, particular private ranch lands. V. Smetacek, M. J. Vanni, and C. C. Wilmers. 2014. Environmental conditions such as tidal Animating the carbon cycle. Ecosystems 17:344–359. Scholte, S. S. K., M. Todorova, A. J. A. van Teeffelen, and .P patterns also appear to be influencing the H. Verburg. 2016. Public support for wetland restoration: movements of our first tagged birds. During what is the link with ecosystem service values? Wetlands low tides, Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons 36:467–481. forage in the extensive eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds of the intertidal and shallow subtidal areas of Tomales Bay. As the daily tidal cycle shifts from week to week, the amount of time the eelgrass beds are available for foraging during daylight hours fluctuates. These fluctuations in eelgrass availability may be shaping where GREG_3 spends its time. During a week when the eelgrass was available (water level ≤ 1 foot above MLLW) for 3.5-5.4 hours per day, GREG_3 remained on Tomales Bay (Figure 3A). However, during the following week, eelgrass Figure 4. A solar-powered GPS telemetry tag transmits availability dropped to only 0.8-3.4 hours per information on Great Egret movements and habitat use. day, and it was during this time that this bird Photo by Barbara Wechsberg. ❚ 4 The Ardeid ❚■

California fire ecology The Foundation by Sasha Berleman

ire is a keystone ecological process, and most of the total wildfire area during the “extreme” native bulbs and grasses; production of high- Fof California’s ecosystems have evolved to wildfire decade of 1994–2004 for the entire quality basketry materials; harvesting of insects depend on it as a dynamic process that main- United States (Stephens et al. 2007). Because of such as grasshoppers and wasp larvae for food; tains ecological resiliency. As a very conserva- this history of annual burning, smoky skies were and corralling of game animals such as rabbits, tive estimate, approximately 4.5 million acres typical through most of the summer, and fires deer, and elk. (1.8 million ha) burned annually in California were patchy, of mixed severity, and self-limiting As a result of the intensive and extensive before European arrival; this equates to 88% in size (Keeley 2002). Studies on lightning fire-based land management by native people, strike distributions show each of California’s ecosystems came to depend that lightning occurrence in on site-specific fire regimes. Fire regimes are the North Coast and Central defined by the combinations of fire qualities Coast regions of California is that maintain resilient ecosystems. Factors among the lowest in the state that make up fire regimes are seasonality, (Figures 1 and 2, Cuthrell et al. fire-return interval, size, spatial complexity, 2012), yet ecosystems in these intensity, severity, and fire type. Extensive regions are among the most research combining dendrochronology, charcoal significantly fire dependent. deposition, and ethnographic interviews have California’s landscape habitat helped to determine and define fire regimes for configurations depend on ecosystems across California. Some of the plant- fire as an ecological process. specific adaptations to fire include but are not Particularly in the North and limited to: for trees, self-pruning limbs, thick Central Coasts, this fire depen- bark, and resprouting; for native grasses, peren- dency is primarily a result of nial and bunched structures with deep roots; anthropogenic influences, as and for native forbs, long-lived bulbs and seeds Native American populations that require smoke or heat to germinate. Fire were at remarkably high densi- regimes maintained by Native American tribes ties here (Keeley 2002). for thousands of years sustained open meadows For at least 13,000 years, with high forb abundance and selected for large, Native American tribes across old trees with open and diverse understories. California used fire for a myriad of reasons (Anderson The problem: Impact of regime shift 2005; Keeley 2002). The bene- With the arrival of non-native peoples in fits of using prescribed fire as California in the 1800s came a rapid depopula- a management tool included, tion of Native Americans and a Euro-American but were certainly not limited culture that actively declared the use of fire to: reduction of wildfire risk illegal. So began the era of fire suppression to villages; management of in California, and with the removal of land pests and pathogens, such as stewardship by Native American peoples also acorn weevils and mistletoe, came rapid change to ecosystem structure and to improve acorn and other function. Whereas Native American tribes food crops while limiting had managed lands for open meadows, big disease; improvement of forage trees, high diversity, and resilience against Figure 1. Distribution of lightning strikes (average annual densities per 100 availability and value; habitat dramatic sudden change, our meadows and km2) in California, 1985-2000 (from Cuthrell et al. 2012). Lightning occurrence improvement for people and open woodlands became encroached with in the North Coast and Central Coast is among the lowest in the state. wildlife alike; stimulation of native and non-native invaders alike—trees and ❚ ■❚ 2017 5

shrubs and grasses that do not benefit from fire but whose populations increase and encroach Lightning Strike Density in California Regions (1985-2000) )

rapidly in the absence of fire. This change in -1 ecosystem structure—from fewer, larger trees yr and open space to large trees with an understory -2 of densely populated and unhealthy smaller trees and heavy accumulated fuel loads—led to increased ecosystem stress, as a result of resource competition from overstocked trees, and reduced resiliency of the ecosystem against catastrophic change. As resource competition weakens the health of individual native peren- nial plants, this increased stress results in higher susceptibility to pathogens and pests, reduced Strike Density (100km capacity to tolerate drought, and ever-increasing North Central Central South Klamath Cascade Northeast Sierra Southeast Coast Coast Valley Coast Mountains Range Plateau Nevada Deserts vulnerability to catastrophic fire—all challenges that threaten ecosystem conversion to new Region ecological states that no longer resemble their predecessors. The widespread encroachment of Figure 2. Average annual lightning-strike densities per 100 km2 in California bioregions, 1985-2000 (from Cuthrell invasive plants, combined with increased fuel et al. 2012). See Figure 1: The statewide distribution of lightning strikes.

Our First Burns at ACR On May 30 this year at Bouverie Preserve, ACR accom- plished its first major prescribed burn event of its Fire Ecology Program (Figure 3). Prescribed burns were conducted on 17.5 acres (7.1 ha) of grassland and oak savannah. Our ecological objectives within the burn areas were to (1) consume 40 years of thatch from non-native annual grass, (2) tip the scales in favor of native plants for 2-5 years by reducing competi- tion from non-native annual grasses and stimulating fire-adapted seeds, and (3) consume leaf litter and debris under the oaks. In the open grassland, our first objective was well met. Fire was lit in a corner at the highest point of the unit and was carried across the unit in three-meter strips. These strips were allowed to burn into each other until there was no longer any fuel available and the fire went out on its own. An assessment of ecological monitoring plots next year will confirm whether the second objective was met in year one. However, based on initial observations on site, we fully expect that this objective was also met (Figure 4). About four of our 17.5 total acres did not Figure 3. To ensure desired fire behavior and effects before continuing with ignitions, Burn Boss Ben carry fire and have not yet burned. These were areas Jacobs observes fire behavior during a test burn, with CAL FIRE and ACR representatives looking on. beneath the oak trees where the shade held moisture in the grass, causing the fire to go out on its own when it reached these locations. This fire-behavior result is in fact ecologically ideal, as we intend to go back into this remaining oak understory in the fall to complete the prescribed burns, the timing of which will allow us to better control native acorn weevil populations and to clear leaf litter and debris just before the acorn crop falls. Additionally, we were successful in meeting our objective to make this a cooperative burn. We had engines and personnel from eight different local agencies on site. All of the diverse teams worked seamlessly together and voiced their enthusiasm for coming back to do this again. For the firefighters, this experience helped them all to practice working as a cohesive unit and to improve their communication skills. Firefighters also had the opportunity to see and receive training on ignition strategies, which is key to increasing the pace and scale of fire use in ecologically mindful ways. In addition to the diverse operational crews, we had diverse observers as well-members from a local tribe, land managers and ecologists from multiple land preservation agencies around the region, and many local media representatives. ❚ 6 The Ardeid ❚■

Figure 4. Photographs one week before and two days after ACR’s first prescribed burns at Bouverie Preserve, as part of its Fire Ecology Program.

loads, dramatically changed fire behavior in our The solution beneficial way, for the good of people, and for landscapes. We now see high-severity fires that the good of the environments we so cherish and As a culture, we are finally beginning to are not self-limiting and burn over much larger depend on to thrive. understand our role in managing our land- areas, rather than less-severe burns that generate scapes. We finally see that in California, the a landscape mosaic of fire effects. Dr. Sasha Berleman leads ACR’s new Fire Ecology question is not if but, rather, when the next fire Fire ecology is undeniably tied to anthro- Program. She has a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in will occur. Wildland fires cannot be prevented, pogenic impacts, and recent studies have even Wildland Fire Science, with a focus on prescribed but merely postponed, and often have dramatic shown that fire frequencies, sizes, and severities fire, and is a qualified firefighter with extensive consequences for ecosystems and people alike. are not only tied to but are undeniably driven hands-on prescribed fire experience. California is in a severe fire deficit, and it will by anthropogenic factors, with climate being require an “all-hands, all-lands approach” to only a secondary contributing factor to these References cited make a positive impact on future landscape anthropogenic-fire eras (Skinner et al. 2016). conditions. Across the state, all agencies have Anderson, M. K. 2005. Tending the Wild. University of Humans living in native North American tribes California Press, Berkeley, CA. agreed that we need more fire on the ground, operated as a keystone species for thousands of Cuthrell, R. Q., C. Striplen, M. Hylkema, and K. G. specifically in the forms of prescribed fire years in California’s ecosystems (Kat Anderson, Lightfoot. 2012. A land of fire: anthropogenic burning (planned ignitions with specific objectives) and on the central coast of California. Pages 153–172 in T. U.C. Davis, personal communication), and their managed wildfire (allowing wildfires to burn L. Jones and J. E Perry (eds), Contemporary Issues in removal from the landscapes with European California Archaeology. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, under supervision where and when they pose arrival, combined with fire suppression and the California. no direct threat to life or property). Not only “wilderness” ideology that nature and humans Keeley, J. E. 2002. Native American impacts on fire regimes are land management agencies in agreement of the California coastal ranges. Journal of Biogeography should be kept separate, has created some of the on these objectives, but research on air quality 29:303–320. greatest land management challenges of modern impacts has also brought support from the Long, J. W., L. W. Tarnay, and M. P. North. 2017. Aligning times. While people are capable of bringing smoke management with ecological and public health California Air Resources Board. We now have goals. Journal of Forestry (in press) [www.ingentaconnect. a myriad of effects to landscapes, we need to cost-benefit analyses showing that the negative com/content/saf/jof/pre-prints]. make conscious decisions about those effects we impacts of smoke from mega-fires such as the Stephens, S. L., R. E. Martin, and N. E. Clinton. 2007. have. While wilderness ideology has protected Prehistoric fire area and emissions from California's Rim Fire far outweigh the impacts of smoke many landscapes from threats of development forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands. Forest that would be produced from increased use of Ecology and Management 251:205–216. and conversion, we must collectively acknowl- prescribed fire across the state (Long et al. 2017). Taylor, A. H., Trouet, V.; Skinner, C. N., Stephens, S. 2016. edge that we put these same lands we aim to We have the honor of living in this exciting Socioecological transitions trigger fire regime shifts and protect at risk through refusal to manage them, modulate fire–climate interactions in the Sierra Nevada, time, when science, social, and political cultures and that, in fact, the decision to not manage USA, 1600–2015 CE. Proceedings of the National are all finding alignment. We now have an Academy of Sciences 113:13684–13689. www.pnas.org/ lands is a management decision that puts all of opportunity to reengage in active ecosystem content/113/48/13684. our beloved landscapes at risk. management, but in a knowledgeable and ❚ ■❚ 2017 7

Investigating Native American history at Tomales Bay Toms Point Archaeology by Tsim D. Schneider and Lee M. Panich

n 2015 and 2016 we conducted an archaeo- although native people Ilogical research project at Audubon Canyon also found other ways Ranch’s Toms Point preserve (Figure 1). The to remain connected to field research was part of a larger project aimed their homes and loved at studying indigenous Coast Miwok living ones. Padre-approved during and especially after the Mission Period furloughs, creative (1769-1830s). Many readers will be familiar living arrangements, with the 21 Spanish missions that stretch from and illicit departures Sonoma to San Diego, California. The loca- from missions helped tions of missions within the province of Alta to circumvent restric- California (the name given to colonial terri- tions on food collecting, tory north of San Diego) were determined by dances, and traditional Franciscan missionaries who sought to convert rites of passage imposed Native Californians to Christianity and, in at many missions. For doing so, to inexpensively populate the remote us, the continuation of northern frontier of New Spain with loyal such activities beyond the subjects. Accompanying the missions, presidios walls of Spanish missions (forts) and pueblos (towns) rounded out the offers a compelling, blueprint designed to block competing Russian alternative understanding interests in colonizing California. Many present- of the Native American day Californians—especially fourth-graders experience in colonial who build, or now purchase, small models of California. Figure 1. Archaeological research took place in 2015 and 2016 at ACR’s Toms Point missions—learn how the Franciscan priests (indicated by the arrow) in northern Tomales Bay. stationed at each mission enticed California Colonial Tomales Indians to join the Church and convinced them Bay to abandon their homes, their languages, and cultures. But was this always the case? Few archaeologists are investigating this recorded the names and home villages of native Our continuing archaeological and historical different point of view. Compared to the highly people baptized at each mission. At Mission research examines the interactions between visible remains of mission chapels and walls San Rafael, for example, padres listed several native communities and colonial missions, seen on the present-day landscape, evidence Tomales Bay communities—including Segloque, as well as the numerous instances of native for the continuation of indigenous hunting and Calupetamal, Xotomcohui, Echacolom, Yuipa, resistance and resiliency during and following gathering, dances, and mortuary practices can and others—suggesting a complex social California’s Mission Period (Panich and be more challenging to detect in the archaeo- landscape at the time of European contact. Schneider 2014, 2015). As we see it, this work logical record. But it’s not impossible. What Recorded 40 years after the first Coast Miwok counters popular views of missions as places makes Tomales Bay especially intriguing is its were baptized at Mission San Francisco in of confinement and cultural loss for California role as a homeland since time immemorial, a 1783 (Milliken 1995), the Tomales Bay people tribes. Doing so requires carefully balancing refuge area for native people fleeing colonial reported at Mission San Rafael also reflect an well established accounts of native mortality, projects, and an important site of redirection for improbable story of resiliency for native cultures cultural transformation, and violence at the Coast Miwok after the missions were secular- and identities. missions with significant examples of indig- ized in the 1830s. Previous archaeology, further Missionization was neither swift nor enous and mission-sponsored resistance. The discussed below, recorded numerous sites along complete, and remote western Marin County term “resistance” might bring to mind images Tomales Bay, including several sites that date appears to have facilitated critical continuities of violent attacks on missions and mission- to the Late Period (AD 1000 to 1800) and still between Coast Miwok people and place, even aries. Such assaults certainly did take place, older places. During the Mission Period, padres as other colonial programs came and went from ❚ 8 The Ardeid ❚■

the landscape. The operation of Fort Ross from An 1862 USCS map confirms the location of chronology. A third pulse of research occurred 1812 to 1841 briefly repositioned Tomales Bay the Toms Point datum and shows an L-shaped in the 1960s, when an amateur archaeologist communities in an international borderland structure surrounded by three small triangles amassed a large collection of precolonial and sandwiched by the Russian mercantile colony that we interpret to be the trading post and the historic artifacts from the beaches of Tomales to the north and Spanish missions to the south houses of native laborers. The report and map Bay. However, none of the previous archaeo- and east. During and following the seculariza- were important starting points for designing our logical studies discuss Wood or the shoreline tion of missions, wealthy citizens of Mexico and archaeological research methodology at Toms trading post. ex-military personnel acquired vast tracts of Point. The 2015 archaeological field investigations land throughout Marin and Sonoma coun- With permission from Audubon Canyon took place at archaeological site CA-MRN-202, ties—former mission property held in trust for Ranch and the Federated Indians of Graton the most likely location of the trading post. In California Indians—and established ranches Rancheria, the sovereign tribe of Coast Miwok addition to mapping the site and collecting a that that thrived on native labor. and Southern Pomo people whose ancestral few scattered surface artifacts, we used ground During the 1840s to 1860s, when the United lands include all of present-day Marin County penetrating radar (GPR) to help pinpoint buried States took possession of California, Tomales and southern Sonoma County, we commenced archaeological remains and features that could Bay transformed once more. At Toms Point, archaeological field investigations during the be identified later in a few well placed test exca- George Thomas Wood, or “Tom Vaquero,” late spring of 2015. vation units. The GPR survey identified several established and operated a trading post. Wood Our initial trips to Tomales Bay were small anomalies just below the ground surface, had jumped ship sometime in the 1840s and oriented around locating previously recorded and our excavations at CA-MRN-202 revealed made a living selling cow hides and tallow to an archaeological sites that might contain mission numerous metal artifacts that may have been assortment of international ships that cruised or post-mission era artifacts. Beginning in the salvaged from the wreck of the Oxford, which along the Pacific Coast. The trading post was early 1900s, for instance, archaeologists from ran aground off Sand Point in 1852. The panel made profitable by an indigenous work force, UC Berkeley surveyed and recorded numerous of an iron box stove, broken glass and pottery, most likely Coast Miwok people who originally “prehistoric” archaeological sites along the chipped stone and bottle glass (Figure 2), pig hailed from Tomales Bay. In 1916, one year shores of San Francisco, Tomales, and Bodega bones, fish and shellfish remains, and five AMS before his death at the age of 95, Charles Lauff bays. A little later, archaeologists searching (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) radiocarbon narrated his memories of early Marin County primarily for evidence of Francis Drake’s 1579 dates suggested that we had located a midden, for the San Rafael Independent, including his stopover in California returned to Point Reyes or trash dump, associated with the historic visit to the trading post: and Tomales Bay to systemically excavate several trading post. Architectural remains, however, previously identified shellmounds. At around are more elusive. Tom’s home was the rendezvous of all of the same time, many Point Reyes and Tomales With funding from a National Science the Indian tribes… During the summers Bay sites—such as the “McClure” site across the Foundation grant, we returned to Toms Point of 1845-46, it was not an uncommon bay from the Toms Point preserve—were exten- for three weeks during the summer of 2016. Our sight to see 1,000 Indians along the bay sively studied to collect time-sensitive artifacts research team included students from Santa shore. They would come overland with for the purpose of building a local prehistoric Clara University and UC Santa Cruz (Figure 3). their supplies of hides, tallow and skins, The bulk of this field season was concentrated and would wait for weeks for the arrival of at CA-MRN-202, where we sought to augment a vessel… Among them were carpenters, previously excavated collections from the site cobblers, cooks and blacksmiths. Some of and confirm site chronology in a dynamic the younger Indians had fairly good voices dune system. We excavated six additional and would sing the Latin hymns taught meter-square units and several smaller (10-cm them by the padres while altar boys. 4cm x 1cm bar diameter) auger units to determine whether an This quote suggests that the trading post may older component of the site lay deeply buried have been an important hub—and homeland— below the historic midden. To do so, we care- for Coast Miwok people returning home from fully exposed a small, half-meter-wide cut in other colonial places. By combining such infor- the dune face nearly three meters below the mation with field investigations at Toms Point, trading post midden and collected archaeo- we seek to understand just how Coast Miwok logical samples for dating purposes. Two AMS people made decisions about keeping their past radiocarbon determinations suggest that this and selectively incorporating new social and older deposit is approximately 1,000 years old, a economic practices. testament to the long history of native residence in the area. Toms Point archaeology, 2015-2016 In 2016 we also examined two additional archaeological sites at Toms Point, CA-MRN- Of special relevance to our project, an 1856 201 and CA-MRN-363, to add important detail United States Coast Survey (USCS) report Figure 2. The arrow points to a section on a glass bottle about indigenous landscape use during precon- describes the placement of a permanent survey base exhibiting purposeful flaking (see inset), which tact and colonial times. Similar to the methods marker on Toms Point, “immediately above suggests creative reuse of discarded materials using employed at CA-MRN-202, we mapped each and to the southward of Tom Vaquero’s house.” traditional stone tool manufacturing techniques. ❚ ■❚ 2017 9

Our interpretations of the archaeology at Toms Point will continue to develop in the next few years as greater portions of the artifact assemblage undergo analysis. At this stage, however, it is already apparent that still more can be done to illuminate the picture of colonial-era indigenous communities in Marin County. Specifically, is Toms Point an exceptional case of native autonomy, or is it representative of a more common pattern found throughout California? How does Toms Point connect to the broader social landscapes of the post-Mission Period in the San Francisco Bay region? To help answer these questions, we’ll turn to the geochemical sourcing of obsidian artifacts to identify resilient social and economic exchange systems including—and extending beyond—Toms Point. An isotope study is also underway using archaeological clamshell to determine the seasonal return of native people to Toms Point. In other words, how did indigenous Coast Miwok fit the effects of colonial-era influences into their own sched- ules and social priorities? We’ll also continue to explore the rich collection of historical documents, maps, travelers’ journals, censuses, and mission sacramental registers to help us reconstruct the resilient social worlds and native lives in colonial California.

Acknowledgements. Figure 3. Students from UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University conducted field investigations at three sites on Toms Point in 2016. We have been fortunate to conduct our research in one of the most beautiful places in the world. For that, we are especially grateful to Audubon Canyon Ranch and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for supporting site and then conducted a systematic surface Looking forward and seeing value in our research at Toms Point. We also acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our students artifact collection to identify the size and At the conclusion of each of the 2015 and from UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University. Research composition of each site. Radiocarbon dates for this project was funded by a Collaborative Research 2016 field seasons, all of the artifacts and soil from clamshell collected from the surface of Grant from the National Science Foundation (BCS 1558987 samples from Toms Point were transported to and 1559666) and by an American Philosophical Society CA-MRN-201 suggest that one part of the site our respective laboratories at UC Santa Cruz Franklin Research Grant. dates to the same time period as the historic and Santa Clara University for identification, trading post. To our surprise, another area Tsim D. Schneider is an Assistant Professor of cataloging, and analysis. The current catalog of of CA-MRN-201 produced radiocarbon ages anthropology at UC Santa Cruz. Toms Point artifacts consists of historic glass ranging from approximately 4,500 to 2,500 and pottery, metal artifacts and debris, chipped Lee M. Panich is an Associate Professor of anthro- years before present. In addition to mapping stone and groundstone fragments, shellfish pology at Santa Clara University. and surface collection at CA-MRN-363, we remains, and several thousand pieces of faunal excavated a single test excavation unit to bone. We will be submitting soil samples for References cited assess site depth and age. The clear absence archaeological flotation and paleoethnobo- of mass-produced metal, glass, and pottery Milliken, R. 1995. A Time of Little Choice: The tanical analyses to recover tiny items from the Disintegration of Tribal Culture in the San Francisco Bay artifacts at CA-MRN-363 was confirmed by soil and determine past plant communities Area, 1769–1810. Ballena Press, Menlo Park, California. multiple 4,000-year-old AMS radiocarbon dates and diet among Toms Point residents. In the Panich, L.M., and T.D. Schneider. 2014. Indigenous associated with a 50-cm-thick shell layer. Taken Landscapes and Spanish Missions: New Perspectives from accompanying article in this issue, Dr. Anneke together, the radiocarbon data further open the Archaeology and Ethnohistory. University of Arizona Janzen and Amanda Hill describe the extensive Press, Tucson. Toms Point preserve to new ways of under- assemblage of zooarchaeological evidence from Panich, L.M., and T.D. Schneider. 2015. Expanding standing the persistent and dynamic history of the 2015 and 2016 seasons at CA-MRN-202 and mission archaeology: a landscape approach to indig- native land use as reflected in three areas of the enous autonomy in colonial California. Journal of CA-MRN-363. landform. Anthropological Archaeology. 40:48-58. ❚ 10 The Ardeid ❚■

Archaeological faunas shed light on the diets of past Toms Point residents Toms Point Zooarchaeology by Anneke Janzen, Amanda Hill, and Tsim D. Schneider

aunal remains from archaeological sites can exploited by indigenous Coast Fprovide a wealth of information about past Miwok peoples and other species environments, subsistence strategies, and social brought in by the Spanish. relations. When identifiable in the archaeolog- ical record, the species exploited by past human CA-MRN-202 groups have the power to illuminate the range of In the previous article, Tsim environments accessed by people. Furthermore, Schneider and Lee Panich outlined if the resources are highly seasonal, then the Figure 1. Pig skeletal elements recovered at Toms Point are indicated the 2015 and 2016 archaeological specialized techniques of zooarchaeological by shaded areas. In the case of axial elements (vertebrae, ribs), whole investigations at three sites in the analysis can bring to light people’s scheduling sections are highlighted, even though not all vertebrae from the skel- Toms Point preserve. At Toms Point, decisions concerning their use. eton were recovered. Figure modified from Coutureau (2003). through the 1840s to 1860s, George Foodways—or foraging strategies and Wood enlisted indigenous Coast culinary practices—of Native Californians Miwok to aid in his entrepreneurial in prehistory have been studied extensively. endeavors, which involved selling However, while missions and ranchos have hides, tallow, grain, and abalone seen numerous studies of faunal remains, the to merchant ships. An eyewitness foodways of Native Californians living outside account from Charles Lauff (2009 of colonial settings and in the wake of the [1916]) indicates that Coast Miwok Mission Period (1769-1830s) are relatively laborers who worked and lived at understudied. Our research at ACR’s Toms Point George Wood’s trading post also preserve (see page 7, Figure 1) and this zooar- maintained traditional cultural chaeological study, which examines the faunal practices. assemblage from two Toms Point archaeological Fauna recovered from excava- sites, evaluate the various ways native people tions at CA-MRN-202 reveal diverse kept tradition and took on new ways of living wild species exploited by the Toms in the years following missionization. The Point occupants, including wild analysis of faunal remains from Toms Point and domestic fauna, waterfowl, offers a unique opportunity to learn more about Figure 2. This pig mandible (left) and abalone shell fragment (right) marine mammals, and fishes. Table resource use and culinary practices during were found in association. 1 outlines the vertebrate faunal this time period. Fundamentally, we ask this remains (excluding fishes) identifi- question: did Native Californians living at Toms able to narrow taxonomic groupings. This table environments, so it is not possible to deduce Point continue to exploit traditionally utilized excludes very fragmentary specimens identifi- the environments in which they were captured. animals, or did they incorporate introduced Old able, for example, to just “large mammal.” Only three elements were identifiable to species. World domesticates? The fishes recovered from the 2016 excava- One, the Pacific herring is found in a range of This article reports on the faunal assem- tions at CA-MRN-202 are currently undergoing environments, including marine, freshwater, blages from recent excavations of two archaeo- analysis, and here we present data from the and/or brackish waters, and therefore does not logical sites at Toms Point preserve (CA-MRN- 2015 excavations. The taxa recovered generally lend any specific information on environments 202 and CA-MRN-363). The larger of the two point to nearshore fishing activities. Most fish exploited—although, to this day, huge numbers assemblages, CA-MRN-202, yielded a diverse remains were identifiable to family only (Table of Pacific herring spawn in the eelgrasss beds of array of animal bones, which provides evidence 2). Most numerous are fishes belonging to the Tomales Bay each winter. In addition, both the for native foodways in the post-Mission period family Embiotocidae (surfperches), Clupeidae pile perch and cabezon inhabit rocky intertidal at Tomales Bay. The use of wild and domestic (sardines and herrings), and Atherinopsidae areas and kelp beds, indicating that these areas taxa and marine and terrestrial fauna shows (neotropical silversides). These broad taxonomic were favored for fishing. a unique combination of species traditionally groups include species that occupy a range of ❚ ■❚ 2017 11

Table 1. Identifiable faunal remains from Toms Point (CA-MRN-202). We use the abbreviation “cf.” (from the Latin confer) to indicate the specimen is very similar to a particular taxonomic group but is not securely identified. We use the abbreviation “sp.” when specimens are attributable to a genus but not species.

Taxon Common Name Number of Taxon Common Name Number of specimens specimens Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe 2 Larus (cf.) gull (cf.) 1 Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler 6 Laridae gull 1 Anas cyanoptera Cinnamon Teal 2 Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican 1 Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 5 Phoca vitulina harbor seal 14 Anas platyrhynchos (cf.) Mallard (cf.) 2 Enhydra lutris sea otter 4 Anas sp. (small) small dabbling duck 1 Lynx rufus bobcat 1 Anas sp. (medium) medium dabbling duck 28 Puma concolor mountain lion 1 Aythya valisineria Canvasback 1 Bos taurus cow 18 Branta canadensis Canada Goose 2 Bos taurus (cf.) cow (cf.) 2 Branta canadensis (cf.) Canada Goose (cf.) 1 Caprinae sheep/goat 1 Chen hyperborea Snow Goose 1 Odocoileus hemionus mule deer 1 Anser albifrons Greater White-fronted Goose 1 Ruminant (medium) medium ruminant 1 Anatidae (medium) medium ducks, geese, swans 8 Sus scrofa pig 65 Anatidae (large) large ducks, geese, swans 1 Artiodactyla (medium; medium artiodactyl 4 Anatidae (cf. large) large ducks, geese, swans 1 indeterminate) Buteo sp. hawk 1 Artiodactyla (large; large artiodactyl 13 Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe 1 indeterminate) Melanitta sp. scoter 2 Equus sp. horse/donkey 1 Phalacrocorax penicillatus Brandt's Cormorant 4 Sylvilagus bachmani brush rabbit 3 Phalacrocorax sp. cormorant 2 Lepus californicus black-tailed jackrabbit 7 Gallus gallus Chicken 4 Leporidae rabbit (indeterminate) 40 Gallus gallus (cf.) Chicken (cf.) 1 Ondatra zibethicus muskrat 1 Galliformes chicken-like bird 1 Thomomys sp. northern pocket gopher 5 Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon 1 Peromyscus sp. deer mouse 2 Gavia immer Common Loon 1 Sciuridae squirrel 1 Gavidae loon 1 Scapanus latimanus mole 3 Larus sp. gull 1 Total 273

Among marine mammals, the remains of Deer have been an both sea otters and harbor seals were recov- important resource for Table 2. Fish remains from the 2015 excavations at Toms Point (CA-MRN-202); ered. Both species can be found close to land. Native Californians for “cf.” indicates very similar, but unconfirmed, association with a particular taxonomic group. Harbor seals can frequently be encountered millennia, and deer are near shore where they haul out, and sea otters ubiquitous in the region. Taxon Common Name Number of commonly inhabited kelp beds (Grigg et al. However, excavations specimens 2009). Sea otters were nearly extirpated in the from CA-MRN-202 Chondrichtyes cartilaginous fish (indeterminate) 1 nineteenth century as a consequence of the recovered only one Actinopterygii ray-finned fish (indeterminate) 2 Atherinopsidae neotropical silversides 5 Russian-American Company enterprise at Fort element identifiable to Clupeidae sardines & herrings 9 Ross (1812-1841) and, with the exception of deer. Such low numbers Clupea pallasii Pacific herring 1 extremely rare occurrences, they are currently may be attributable to at Embiotocidae surfperches 16 absent in Tomales Bay. The profits of this least three factors. First, Embiotocidae (cf.) surfperches 2 Russian mercantile colony hinged primarily on deer may have been avail- Rhacochilus vacca pile perch 1 Native Alaskan laborers who were highly skilled able but simply were not Scorpaenichthys cabezon 1 at hunting sea mammals from their lightweight exploited at Toms Point. marmoratus skin boats (baidarkas). Yet Native Californians Second, deer may have Sebastes sp. rockfish 4 and Americans were also involved to lesser or been hunted, but their Total 42 greater intensities in the maritime fur trade and bones were so fragmented hunting sea otters in Point Reyes, Tomales Bay, they were not identifiable. and Bodega Bay waters. It is quite possible that Third, deer may have been rare in the region 1 and 2). These patterns suggest that pigs were the Toms Point occupants took part in these during the time, possibly a consequence of likely slaughtered onsite, as cranial remains endeavors. habitat loss resulting from vegetation changes are commonly discarded first as carcasses are Terrestrial carnivores are rare at the site; stemming from large-scale ranching operations processed. The presence of very young indi- mountain lion and bobcat are each represented beginning during the Mission Period. viduals suggests that pigs were raised rather than by only one phalanx (finger bone). The absence Domestic ungulates, including pigs and hunted, feral individuals. Cattle make up a much of other parts of the skeleton from these taxa cattle, are indeed more common in our results smaller percentage of the identifiable speci- suggests the presence of pelts, as bones of than wild ones. In addition, one sheep or goat, mens. As seen in the faunal remains collected the paws often remain attached. Pelts of both and one horse or donkey specimen were also from mission and rancho settings, hide and species were traditionally used by Native recovered. Chickens are also present. Pigs are the tallow production usually focused on cattle, and Californians and may also have been another most abundant domestic animal, and nearly all documentary evidence suggests that hide and trade item (Lightfoot and Parrish 2009). parts of the skeleton are represented, including tallow sales were a major economic pursuit at numerous cranial and dental fragments (Figures Toms Point. However, this suggested produc- ❚ 12 The Ardeid ❚■

tion of these goods is weakened by the overall hunting practices, as indicated by numerous he mammal and avian faunal assemblages lack of cattle at the site. In fact, the Toms Point wild species. Yet we also see the adoption of Old Tfrom CA-MRN-202 and CA-MRN-363 at assemblage stands in stark contrast to the pattern World domesticates in this context, particularly Toms Point demonstrate the long-term exploita- of tallow production at missions, which regularly the emphasis on raising pigs. This incorpora- tion of wild fauna from California’s rich coastal yield substantial proportions of cattle bones. tion of European “materials” by Coast Miwok is environments. The diverse vertebrate faunal Particularly interesting is the large and mirrored in other aspects of the CA-MRN-202 assemblage recovered from CA-MRN-202 species-rich avifaunal assemblage. Birds recov- assemblage, such as evidence of modifying bottle illuminates both foodways and economic activi- ered from the site are numerous, and while glass into tools. The paucity of deer remains ties among the site occupants. These remains chickens are present, the avifaunal assemblage recovered, despite their reported abundance reveal a constellation of foodways influenced comprises mostly wild fowl and seabirds. Most in the region, further points to an emphasis on by indigenous hunting practices and new ducks recovered belong to the genus Anas. domesticated animals, at least among terrestrial species introduced by European and American These are dabbling ducks, such as Mallards, fauna. During an expedition around Tomales colonizers. The faunal remains recovered during Northern Shovelers, and Cinnamon Teal. These Bay in 1793, Felipe Goycoechea remarked that excavations thus lend a more nuanced view on taxa outnumber diving birds, including diving “chickens and pigs” had been left for him by Native Californian decisions regarding subsis- ducks, grebes, loons, and cormorants. Dabbling another Spanish expedition (Wagner 1931:344). tence practices and foodways in a changing ducks generally inhabit smaller bodies of water This comment suggests a long history of landscape during and following California’s than do diving ducks, suggesting that the Toms domestic animals in the region, for which the Mission Period. Point occupants targeted such areas for hunting local populations may have developed a taste. fowl, possibly using nets (Kelly 1978). Similarly, Economic endeavors at Toms Point during Acknowledgements birds like the Pied-billed Grebe, which typi- the 1840s through 1860s appear to have been Funding for the research was provided by the National cally inhabit ponds and marshes, testify to the varied, rather than exclusively dealing in the Science Foundation (BCS 1558987 and 1559666) and by an exploitation of smaller bodies of water. Other hide and tallow trade. However, it is possible American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grant. taxa such as pelicans and gulls were likely hunted that tallow producing areas at Toms Point simply We thank Audubon Canyon Ranch and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Richard Baldwin, Alyssa using other methods. Only one raptor bone was haven’t yet been recovered. Nevertheless, given Gelinas, and Tate Paffile (Department of Anthropology, recovered, that of a hawk (Buteo sp.). The bone the overall diversity of fauna recovered from University of California, Santa Cruz) provided labora- tory assistance and Dr. Thomas Wake (Cotsen Institute of is from the wing, suggesting that the animal was Toms Point, it is likely that the occupants of this Archaeology, UCLA) provided further comparative mate- used for its feathers (Gifford 1967). “trading post” maintained multifaceted interests. rials and assistance. Beyond providing a window onto hunting strategies, the avifaunal assemblage provides a CA-MRN-363 References cited view on seasonal scheduling at Toms Point. The The vertebrate faunal assemblage from the Coutureau, M. 2003. From: Pales, L., and M. A. Garcia. 1981. presence of scoter (Melanitta sp.), as well as the much earlier CA-MRN-363 site is compara- Atlas ostéologique pour servir à l’identification des presence of other migratory birds species that Mammifères du Quaternaire - Carnivores/Homme. CNRS tively smaller. Invertebrates collected from this winter in California, including the Snow Goose, éditions, Paris. site—including numerous, whole clam shell Greater White-fronted Goose, and Canvasback, Gifford, E.W. 1967. Ethnographic Notes on the Southwestern valves—continue to be analyzed. Elk, sea otter, Pomo. University of California Press, Berkeley. points to a likely winter occupation and the and Brandt's Cormorant comprise the identifi- Grigg, E., A. Klimley, S. Allen, D. Green, D. Elliott-Fisk, and exploitation of migratory waterfowl. able and non-intrusive portion of the CA-MRN- H. Markowitz. 2009. Spatial and seasonal relationships Again, documentary evidence points to a between Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) and 363 faunal assemblage. Several mole and rodent summer occupation of the area: their prey, at multiple scales. Fishery Bulletin 107:359-372. remains were also recovered, but they are likely Kelly, I. 1978.Coast Miwok. Handbook of North American Tom’s home was the rendezvous of all of the to be intrusive from modern contexts and there- Indians 8:414-425. Indian tribes and it was not a difficult matter fore are not listed (Table 3). Lauff, C. 2009 [1916]. Reminiscences of Charles Lauff: as published in The Independent, San Rafael, Jan. 25–May for him to keep them supplied with food…. 23, 1916. Compiled by the Anne T. Kent, California Room During the summers of 1845-46, Marin County Free Library, San Rafael, California. it was not an uncommon sight Lightfoot, K. G, and O. Parrish. 2009. California Indians to see 1,000 Indians along the Table 3. Identifiable vertebrate fauna recovered from Toms Point and Their Environment: An Introduction. University of (CA-MRN-363). Analysis of the fish assemblage from this site is California Press, Berkeley. bay shore (Lauff 2009 [1916]; currently underway. Wagner, H.R. 1931. The last Spanish exploration of the emphasis ours). Northwest Coast and the attempt to colonize Bodega Bay Taxon Common Name Number of California Historical Society Quarterly 10:313-345. Taken together, the archaeo- specimens logical and documentary evidence Phalacrocorax Brandt's Cormorant 1 Anneke Janzen is a postdoctoral fellow at the support the idea that Toms Point penicillatus was occupied year-round. Ongoing Talpidae mole 3 Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA. stable-isotope analysis of shellfish Rodentia rodent (indeterminate) 2 Amanda Hill is a field technician at Albion will help clarify the seasonal sched- Geomyidae gopher (indeterminate) 1 Environmental, Inc. in Santa Cruz. Thomomys talpoides pocket gopher 10 uling of resource acquisition. Tsim D. Schneider is an Assistant Professor of In summary, analysis of the Cervus canadensis elk 1 Enhydra lutris sea otter 1 anthropology at UC Santa Cruz. CA-MRN-202 faunal assemblage clearly shows the maintenance of Total 19 ❚ ■❚ 20172016 13

Electronic walk-through cage for mountain lions Walk Through to a New Era by Quinton Martins and Neil Martin

arnivore biologists find that Cthe low densities and often cryptic habits of free-ranging large predators make their behaviors and ecology extremely challenging to understand. Data are often gleaned through GPS-collaring of animals in the wild. Such data are currently being gathered by ACR’s research on mountain lions (Puma concolor) in Sonoma and Napa counties and used to develop effective habitat conser- vation and management strategies. This process requires the safe capture and handling of these magnificent animals. In order to obtain scientifi- cally sound research results, capture methods should not have a negative effect on the study animals. Methods should also be efficient in terms of the rate and cost of captures. Despite the fact that animal capture by humans is an age-old activity, the Figure 1. Mountain lion cage trap set on a path (left) with detailed setting using stepping sticks with no treadle-plate (right). techniques required by federal and state regulations should take into account advancements in technology that opti- In response to such difficulties, mize animal welfare as well as improve efficacy the ACR Mountain Lion Project Advantages of Electronic Walk- within the context of the research. developed a new, high-tech trapping Through Trap In California, we have been limited by the method for mountain lion capture. The state as to how mountain lions may be captured. concept grew out of research previ- • Use with choice of no bait or bait; or use as Two primary methods, capture by hounds and ously conducted in South Africa by conventional single-door trap. by cage traps, are permitted, whereas a third, Quinton Martins (2010; The ecology the use of foot cable restraints (foot snares), of the leopard Panthera pardus in • Trap all-year round, with no seasonal limita- was banned in 1990. Because of the highly the Cederberg Mountains. PhD tions due to bait degradation. fragmented nature of the Sonoma County Dissertation, University of Bristol, UK). • Improve trapping success where lions do not study area and the small sizes of land parcels, While trapping and radio-collaring return to baited-sets or when lions are trap running hounds to “tree” a mountain lion is not leopards between 2005 and 2014, he shy. practical, leaving cage trapping the only option. used double-door walk-through box However, throughout the mountain lions’ vast traps, placed on paths where leopards • Set trap timer to activate the cage only range in North and South America, cage trap- were expected to walk or had previ- when capture teams are on standby. ping has been limited to using traps with bait. ously been recorded during camera trap In areas where bait is scarce, prey is abundant, surveys (Figure 1). Vegetation was used • Set electronic sensors to target size-specific or conditions not suitable, capture success is to camouflage the traps and to guide animals, increasing humaneness of the trap. significantly compromised. the animals into the traps. A fragrance ❚ 14 The Ardeid ❚■

Figure 2. Actuator mechanism for electronic capture cage. Figure 3. Mountain Lion cage operation.

such as a perfume or leopard scat was used on Going high-tech How the trap mechanism works the centrally located treadle-plate in conjunc- The disadvantage of the manual treadle The cage doors drop instantaneously when tion with diagonally placed stepping-sticks in was having the trap triggered by non-target the “pull-rods” are pulled by high-powered front of either side of the treadle-plate (Figure species such as badgers, small ungulates, and 12-volt solenoid (Figure 3). To simplify the 1). These measures were designed to break other mammals, despite weighting the treadle design, the pull-rods rebound after a timed the momentum of the leopard and enhance for leopards or mountain lions. Consequently, delay, becoming the door-lock mechanism. For the chance that it would place its foot on to avoid non-target captures in our mountain the electronic actuator we used ultrasonic range the treadle-plate, thereby triggering the trap lion project, a simple, “high-tech” electroni- sensors installed at the top of the cage pointing (Figure 4). cally operated cage was developed to improve downwards. By measuring the distance from Considering that leopards and cheetah efficacy while simultaneously minimizing trap the top of the cage to the animal, we could set (Acinonyx jubatus) have been repeatedly management (Figure 2). For easier transport and it to trigger for mountain-lion sized animals captured using this method, we believed the handling, the cage was made in two parts, then only, minimizing the chance of triggering on a method could also be used to capture mountain connected in the field. A horizontal guide for a smaller animal such as a fox. We added a 12-volt lions. If so, the method would provide another middle door insert acts as type of “crush-cage,” timer to ensure we only power the trap during useful tool for biologists when other trap- forcing the cat into a smaller space for easier times when the capture team are on call. All ping methods are considered less suitable or immobilization. The door is inserted as soon as components are housed in a single weather- unavailable. the researchers arrive at the captured cat. proof case. Field set-up is extremely easy and involves setting the box that houses the actuator mechanism and timer on top of the cage in a center location and adjusting the actuator rods for the doors to rest on.

Proof of concept and benefits To prove the concept worked, we first had to demonstrate to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that mountain lions would walk through our cage (unset) and, second, that this trap was safe to use. We placed a trap on a suitable path and produced video evidence of mountain lions walking through. We then tested the trap on a Labrador dog, demonstrating that the mechanism worked by setting the sensors to safely trigger when the dog walked through the cage. In one week, we captured one adult male and one adult female mountain lion in the new trap (Figure 5).

Figure 4. Quinton (in the cage!) and Neil setting up the trap in the field. Photo by Jim Codington. ❚ ■❚ 2017 15

The use of hounds to tree mountain lions in Quinton Martins is the the semi-urban, fragmented landscape of our principal investigator and study area in Sonoma and Napa counties is not Wildlife Ecologist for ACR’s a viable option for lion capture. Effective baiting Mountain Lion Project. is limited to the cooler months when baits Neil Martin is the don’t degrade as quickly. Bait procurement is Marketing Director for challenging, and decomposition is exacerbated Keysight Technologies, by excessive scavenger activity. Furthermore, Santa Rosa, California, lions have seldom returned to baits on the and is an electrical engi- second night when traps were set, possibly due neer by trade. to the abundance or availability of prey. We therefore see this walk-through trap as an effec- tive replacement for trapping mountain lions. Furthermore, with minor adjustments, this cage concept could be implemented in other studies, to safely capture multiple species such as bobcat, foxes, or even bears.

he new trap dramatically enhances the Teffectivenss of our our field research. We anticipate future design improvements, which include remote cage control and release of non- target species using small, motorized 12-volt winch. Image recognition software, where sensors are able to identify a species or even Figure 5. individual may be useful for certain studies. Female mountain lion captured in walk-through cage.

Visiting investigators Audubon Canyon Ranch hosts graduate students and visiting scientists who rely on the undisturbed, natural conditions of our preserves to conduct investigations in conservation science. Dispersal vectors and risk assessment of noxious weed spread: medusahead invasion in California rangelands. Emily Farrer, University of California, Berkeley. Context and scale of seagrass effects on estuarine acidification.Tessa Hill, Bodega Marine Lab, University of California, Davis. The role of microbiota in mediating local adaptation and plant influence on ecosystem unctionf in a marine foundation species. Melissa Kardish, University of California, Davis. Interactions between marsh plants along a longitudinal gradient: the effect of environmental conditions and local adaptation. Akana Noto, University of California, San Diego. Long-term monitoring of the Giacomini wetland. Lorraine Parsons, Point Reyes National Seashore. Analysis of sedimentation in natural and restored marshes. Lorraine Parsons, Point Reyes National Seashore Effects of non-motorized recreation on medium- and large-sized mammals in the San Francisco Bay Ecoregion.Michelle Reilly, Northern Arizona University. Spatial and temporal variability in eelgrass genetic structure. Laura K. Reynolds, University of California, Davis. An archaeological study of indigenous landscapes and social networks at colonial Toms Point, California. Tsim D. Schneider, University of California, Santa Barbara. The wildlife photo index: monitoring connectivity and ecosystem health. Susan E. Townsend, Wildlife Ecology and Consulting/Pepperwood Preserve. Sonoma County Vegetation & Habitat Mapping Program. Mark Tukman, Tukman Geospatial and Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Paternity comparison of seeds sired by a variety of pollinators to Clarkia concinna. Kathleen Adams, University of California, Santa Cruz. Aramburu Island Enhancement Project (propagation of Extriplex californica from Toms Point). Shannon Grover and John Takekawa, Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Tiburon, California. ❚ 16 The Ardeid ❚■

Current projects by Audubon Canyon Ranch focus on the stewardship of In Progress preserves, ecological restoration, and issues in conservation science.

Bolinas Lagoon Heron and Egret the Bay Area and beyond. The (Lepidium latifolium), known to Rosy Sandcrocus. At Bouverie Project. All heron and egret nesting project will determine how key quickly cover estuarine wetlands, Preserve, ACR staff are testing attempts in Bolinas Lagoon have habitat features needed by these compete with native species, and management techniques, including been monitored annually since top wetland predators can be used alter habitat values. the use of prescribed fire, to (Romulea 1967. The heronry at the Martin to advance wetland conservation Saltmarsh Ice Plant Removal. After control rosy sandcrocus rosea), Griffin Preserve was abandoned planning and restoration. eradicating non-native ice plant an invasive forb with a in 2014, but we are continuing to Hydrogeomorphological from ACR’s Toms Point on Tomales potential to severely degrade track nest abundances and repro- Assessment of Martin Griffin Bay, we are continuing to remove California open spaces and rangelands. ductive performance in the lagoon, Preserve Canyons. ACR is resprouts, along with occasional including the active heronry near working with Kamman Hydrology new patches introduced from other Harding Grass Meadow Bolinas. & Engineering to characterize areas by high tides and currents. Restoration. ACR’s Fujita Research Tomales Bay Shorebird Census. watershed conditions in MGP’s Vernal Pool Restoration. We Fellow Dylan Gallagher is working Since 1989, qualified four canyons, incorpo- are monitoring native plants with ACR staff at Bouverie Preserve birders have helped rating climate change and in Bouverie Preserve’s vernal to test the effectiveness of burning, ACR to monitor the linkages with the Bolinas mowing, solarization, and planting pools, including a patch of feder- shorebird use in Lagoon ecosystem. of native grass seeds to restore a ally endangered plant Sonoma Tomales Bay. The grassland dominated by invasive Cape Ivy Control. ACR stew- sunshine (Blennosperma bakeri) data are used to Harding grass (Phalaris aquatica). ardship staff have been that ACR restored in 2009, and investigate winter implementing a phased controlling invasive plants using Mountain Lion Project. ACR is population dynamics, approach to the control of manual removal and prescribed tracking the movements of moun- habitat values, and non-native, invasive cape cattle grazing. tain lions fitted with GPS satellite other topics. A paper ivy (Delairea odorata) in collars to study wildlife corridors, on the benefits of Yellow Starthistle at Modini the riparian corridor of regional abundance, and the tidal marsh restora- Mayacamas Preserves. Sherry Volunteer Canyon. Adams is investigating the conservation needs of mountain tion to shorebirds, by ACR’s John lions in areas east of Highway Kelly and Emiko Condeso, was Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve. responses of native and non-native ACR’s Martin Griffin Preserve, a grassland plants to the removal 101 in Sonoma County. As part of featured as the cover article in this effort, ACR is collaborating Restoration member of the United Nations of non-native yellow starthistle the July 2017 issue of with Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma Ecology. Golden Gate Biosphere Preserve (Centaurea solstitialis). She has also since the 1990s, will now become developed guidelines to reduce the County Regional Parks, California Tomales Bay Waterbird Survey. part of the “core area” of this spread of this invasive pest plant. State Parks, and other members Since the winter of 1989–90, regional partnership. of the Wildlife Observers’ Network teams of qualified observers Invasive Species Management at Bay Area (WONBA) convened by have conducted winter waterbird Monitoring and Control of Modini Mayacamas Preserves. Pepperwood Preserve. Non-Native Crayfish.Bouverie We collaborate with volunteers censuses from survey boats on Ecological Restoration of the Preserve staff and volunteers on early detection, monitoring, Tomales Bay. The results provide Inverness Shoreline. After are continuing to control inva- and elimination of wildland weeds information on the habitat values removing non-native vegetation sive signal crayfish (Pacifastucus such as distaff thistle (Carthamus and conservation needs of more and all buildings on property lenisculus) in Stuart Creek to reduce lanatus) and barbed goatgrass than 50 species. donated by Helen McLaren, ACR is the impacts on native amphibians, (Aegilops triuncialis). For wide- North Bay Counties Heron and restoring two acres of habitat with steelhead, and other species. spread species, such as milkthistle Egret Project. Annual monitoring a natural gradient of riparian and (Silybum marianum) and yellow of all known heron and egret Biological Species Inventory. tidal wetlands. (Centaurea solstitialis), Resident biologists maintain starthistle nesting colonies in five northern Wet Meadow Restoration ongoing inventories of native plant, we use containment to limit their Bay Area counties began in 1990. at Ferguson Spring, Modini animal, and fungal species known spread into new areas. Results are used to measure the Mayacamas Preserves. ACR is to occur on ACR lands. Songbirds of the central effects of climate change, impacts removing invasive vegetation and Mayacamas Mountains. To of human disturbance, and the Non-Native Spartina and Hybrids. planting native species along an measure the breeding-bird habitat status of herons and egrets in ACR is continuing to collaborate intermittent waterway that has relationships, we are conducting the San Francisco Bay area. ACR’s with the San Francisco Estuary become incised due to the place point counts from the bottom to - online regional atlas and Google- Invasive Spartina Project to coor- the top of Pine Flat Road, near ment of an historic road that is no Earth program show the locations dinate and conduct field surveys Healdsburg, including ACR’s longer in use. and status of individual heronries and removal of invasive, non-native Mayacamas Mountains Sanctuary. McDonnell Creek Restoration, (www.egret.org/atlas). Spartina in Tomales Bay. The work is augmented by investi- Modini Mayacamas Preserves. Heron and Egret Telemetry Project. Perennial Pepperweed in Tomales gations at Modini Ingalls Ecological We are removing an unused road We are using GPS telemetry to Bay. We are conducting baywide Preserve. Interested birders who crossing over a creek and restoring track the movements, regional surveys of shoreline marshes and can identify birds by ear are encour- the channel to protect downstream landscape use, and foraging behav - removing isolated infestations of aged to contact ACR’s Cypress creek habitat and stabilize the site iors of Great Egrets throughout invasive, non-native pepperweed Grove Research Center. with local native plants. THE Ardeid

ACR Staff The Watch

Conservation Science, Stewardship, and Education Volunteers for ACR research or habitat restoration projects since The Ardeid 2016. John Kelly, PhD, Director of Conservation Science, Cypress Please call (415) 663-8203 if your name should have been included. Project ❚ ❚ Grove Research Center (CGRC) Classifications: B—Bouverie Stewards C—Songbirds of the Central Mayacamas H— Jeanne Wirka, Director of Stewardship/Resident Biologist, Heron and Egret Project ❚ MG—Martin Griffin Preserve Stewards ❚ ML—Mountain Lion Bouverie Preserve (BP) Project ❚ MP—Modini Mayacamas Preserves Stewards ❚ R—Other ACR Research and Gwen Heistand, Director of Education/Resident Biologist, Stewardship ❚ S—Tomales Bay Shorebird Census ❚ W—Tomales Bay Waterbird Census Martin Griffin Preserve (MGP) Sherry Adams, Manager/Resident Biologist, Modini Nancy Abreu (H), Bob Adhers (B, MP), Steve Leslie Lihou (MP), Iris Lombard (S), John Mayacamas Preserves (MMP) Albert (H, S, W), Sarah Allen (W), Mae Barrett Longstreth (S, W), Carolyn Longstreth (S, W), Quinton Martins, PhD, Wildife Ecologist (BP) (S), Bob Battagin (S), Tom Baty (H, W), Anne Mike Mahoney (MP), Ron Mallory (H, W), Sasha Berleman, PhD, Resource Ecologist (BP) Baxter (C), Gordon Beebe (C, S, W), Seamus Meg Marriott (H), Susan Maxwell (MP), Mark Julianne Bradbury, Resource Ecologist (MMP) Begley (MP), Gordon Bennett (W), Patti McCaustland (H, W), Melinda McCutcheon Julia Clothier, Education Programs Manager (BP) Blumin (H), Ellen Blustein (S), Janet Bodle (H, (MP), Sarah Millus (H, W), Jim Moir (ML), Emiko Condeso, Ecologist/GIS Specialist (CGRC) S), Janet Bosshard (H, MP), Bill Bridges (H), Ian Morrison (C), River Mortenson (MP), Maria Figueroa, Facilities Assistant (BP) Denice Britton (H), Justin Brown (MP), Ron Gerry Mugele (H), Kathleen Mugele (H, S), David Greene, Land Steward (CGRC) Brown (H), Brianne Brussee (H), Phil Burton Dan Murphy (S), Sheryl Nadeau (H), Len Kurt Heffernon, Land Steward (BP) (H), Denise Cadman (H), Debbie Carpenito Nelson (H), Don Neubacher (W), Wally Alex Hettena, Mountain Lion Research Associate (BP) (MP), Ann Cassidy (H), Joanna Castaneda Neville (H), Susan Nuernberg (B), Jeremy Jared Jacobs, Land Steward (BP) (H), Joanne Castro (H), Penny Chambers Nusser (MP), Rebecca Olsen (C, W), Trent Scott Jennings, Avian Ecologist (CGRC) (MP), Chip Chipman (R), Richard Cimino Orr (W), Tony Paz (MG), Don Pendleton (C), David Lumpkin, Avian Ecologist (CGRC) (H, S), Julie Clark (MP), Margaret Colbert (S), Sean Peterson (S), Margaret Petrie (H), Todd Jennifer Potts, Resource Ecologist (BP) John Comisky (H), Judith Corning (S, W), Plummer (S, W), Carol Poole (H), Penny Tomas Ruiz, Land Steward (MMP) Bob Cox (B), Mishella Craddock (B), Nan Proteau (H), Louis Ptak (W), Peter Pyle (S), Claire Seda, Weekend Program Coordinator (MGP) deLormier (MP), Mark Dettling (W), Patricia Greg Raynor (H), David Reichel (H), Ken Reid David Self, Education Specialist (MMP) DiLuzio (S), Amanda Dunker (MP), Daniel (MP), Louise Riedel (B), Julie Roemer (H), Eileen Shanahan, Education Program Coordinator (MGP) Edelstein (H), Tim Engel (MP), Chris Engel Mary Rooney (S), Susan Rose (MP), Glenda Steve Trivelpiece, Land Steward (MGP) (B), Janeann Erickson (H), Tiffany Erickson Ross (B), John Rudell (MP), Ellen Sabine (H), Administration (H), Jules Evens (W), Eric Fessenden (B, MP), Wendy Schackwitz (H), Don Schmidt (MP), John Petersen, Executive Director Ginny Fifield (ML, MP, R), Binny Fischer (H, Ken Schneider (S), Lynn Schofield (S), Peter Yvonne Pierce, Executive Administrator and Manager, W), Ime Fitzgerald (ML), Mary Anne Flett Schurch (MP), John Schwonke (B), Victoria Martin Griffin Preserve (S), Jobina Forber (B), Ruth Friedman (H), Seher (H), Mimi Shaul (ML), Deb Sheppard Leslie Melendy, Receptionist/Office Assistant, Martin Griffin Denny Fujita (B, MP), Tom Gaman (S), Juan (H), Ann Shippey (MP), Richard Shipps (B), Preserve Garcia (C, S, W), Anthony Gilbert (S), Carolyn Beckie Simmie (S), Paul Skaj (W), Elliott Nancy Trbovich, Manager, Bouverie Preserve Greene (C, S), Kelly Grieve (MP), John Guilfoy Smeds (MP), Grant Snetsinger (B), Jackie Barbara Wechsberg, Administrative Assistant, Cypress Grove (MP), Kathy Hageman (H), Bob Hahn (B), Sones (W), Jude Stalker (W), Amy Stanfield Research Center Madelon Halpern (H), Lauren Hammack (H), (ML), Michelle StClaire (MP), Lang Stevenson Finance and Philanthropy Linda Hammer (MP), Roger Harshaw (W), (S), Daniel Stone (ML), Kandice Strako (W), Hugh Robertson, Director of Finance and Operations Mac Hartford (MP),Luanna Helfman (C, H, Kate Symonds (H), Phoebe Tanner (H), Naomi Sultana Young, Director of Philanthropy S), Hugh Helm (B), Earl Herr (B), Howard Francis Toldi (W), Vernon Vale (MP), Village Marie Fox, Donor Engagement Officer Higley (W), Kim Horell (MP), Lisa Hug (C), Charter School (MP), Tessa Wardle (S), Wendy Coy, Communications Manager Connor Jacobson (ML), Richard James (R), Richard Wasson (MP), Anna Weinstein (W), Jennifer Newman, Development Manager Lorraine Johnson (MG), Jason Jordan (H), Alan Wight (C), Adele Wikner (H), Larry Erica Obedzinski, Development and Communications Tom Joynt (B), Gail Kabat (W), Kate Keiser William (MP), Ken Wilson (C, W), David Assistant (H), Joan Lamphier (H, S, W), Brett Lane (H, Wimpfheimer (S, W), Suzie Winquist (W), Gary Schick, Controller MP), Toni LeCompte (MP), Stephanie Lennox Judy Withee (B), Patrick Woodworth (C, H, S, (H), Robin Leong (H), Peter Leveque (MP), W), John Worden (MP)

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THE Ardeid Conservation Science and Stewardship at Audubon Canyon Ranch

Fire Ecology Burning in the hills above Glen Ellen, one of the widespread wildfires in the North Bay in October caused major damage at Bouverie Preserve. The phenomenal fires occurred just a few months after ACR launched its new commitment to regional actions in Fire Ecology, intended to reduce fuel loads and restore the diversity and health of ecosystems (see page 4).