Birds of Bouverie Preserve
CLASS READINGS Some Common Birds of Bouverie (iNaturalist) What Makes a Bird a Bird? (Nature Scope, 1985) The Incredible Egg (Greij, 1998) FAQs about Birds Bird Topography (Sibley Guide to Birds, 2000) Flappers & Wing Beat Chart All About Feathers Bird Adaptations & Bird Bills (Teachers’ Packet) What is a Raptor? Hummingbirds (Bay Nature Magazine, Laws, 2010)) The Underappreciated Undertakers (Bay Nature Magazine, Eaton, 2014) Basic Ornithology for ACR Volunteers Caching In: The landscaping ideas of jays CALNAT: The California Naturalist Handbook Chapter 6, pp. 167‐169
Key Concepts
By the end of class, we hope you will LOVE Woodpecker, Hummingbird, Peregrine Falcon or BIRDS and be able to: the Turkey Vulture, and Talk to students about how bird bills and feet are Name 4 characteristics that all birds share, adapted to each bird’s habits and foraging Identify at least 3 adaptations that allow birds to behavior. fly, List some characteristics used to identify birds in the field, Identify the parts of a feather and encourage 3rd & 4th graders to speculate about the different functions of flight feathers, contour feathers, and down feathers, Observe birds in the field and speculate about subtle differences in habitat that affect how and where birds live, Amaze students with tales of some of Bouverie’s charismatic resident birds, such eas th Acorn
Resources Online Check out ACR’s online field guide to Some Common Birds of Bouverie Preserve on iNaturalist at www.inaturalist.org/guides/2118 All About Birds, the public website of Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, includes species‐specific information and general information on identifying birds. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds Sonoma County’s chapter of the National Audubon Society is Madrone Audubon. It offers ongoing bird walks, learning opportunities, newsletter and more. http://www.audubon.sonoma.net/ For information on local birding hot spots and bird counts, go to: www.sonomabirding.com/ Explore the Point Blue Conservation Science (formerly Point Reyes Bird Observatory) website at http://www.pointblue.org/. A wealth of information on local and global conservation science as it relates to birds. Meet the Geese!
One of the great excitements of spring at Bouverie is the arrival of the Belltower Geese. Each year, in March or April, a pair of Canada Geese builds a nest on top of the Belltower in to which Mama goose lays a clutch of 2 to 8 eggs. She won’t actually sit on the eggs until the last one appears, insuring that the entire brood hatches about the same time — after about 23 to 30 days incubation. The goslings are able to leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching, fully able to swim and feed.
The most exciting day is jumping day and there are no bungees involved!
We install a landing tarp so that the flightless Belltower goslings have a soft landing. The adults then lead the goslings to the Quarry Pond in the Lower field for their first swim.
In the Bouverie Library (alphabetically by title)
Bird Feathers. By S. David Scott and Casey McFarland. (2010) Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA A brand new resource for our library with excellent photos for comparing feather types and species.
Birds Nests and Eggs. By Mel Boring. (1996) NorthWood Press, Chanhassen, MN.
Bird Tracks and Sign. By Mark Elbroch and Eleanor Marks. (2001) Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA.
The Birders’ Handbook. (1998) . By Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye. Simon & Schuster Inc., New York.
California Birds, Their Status and Distribution. By Arnold Small. (1994) Ibis Publishing Company.
Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (2000) One of the birders’ Trail Tip bibles, published by the National Geographic Society. Have your students try out their “wings” by extending their arms Manual of Ornithology: Avian Structure and Function. By Proctor & Lynch. (1993) Yale University Press. and flapping away. See how long they can keep up an easy pace of one flap per second before Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North America (Second Edition). By Paul getting tired. Baicich And J.O. Harrison. (1997) Academic Press. Then tell them that some birds, The Sibley Guide to Birds. By David Allen Sibley. (2000) Alfred A. like the lesser golden plover, can Knopf, New York. fly for 48 hours straight flapping the whole time.
The Sibley Guide to Bird Behavior. (2001) Edited by Chris Elphick, Do their arms ache? Of course John Dunning, and David Allen Sibley. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. they do because humans get
around by walking so our leg
Sonoma County Bird Atlas. By Betty Burridge (1995) muscles are much stronger than
our “wing” muscles. But for most birds (except ostriches and other What the Robin Knows. By Jon Young. (2012) Houghton, Mifflin, big walkers), it’s just the Harcourt. The art and science of Bird Language and how to use it to opposite. sharpen your nature observation skills. Use the wing beat chart on the “Flappers” page in your reading to see what kind of bird your hikers can fly like. Get them
flapping. If they can flap 2-3
beats per second (20 flaps in 10 seconds), they are flying like a crow, a robin or a pigeon. What about a starling (that’s 4 to 5 beats a second!). Hummingbirds? At 60 to 70 beats per second….they are the champs!
SEQUOIA CLUB
More Key Concepts: By the end of this class, we hope you have a better understanding of The evolutionary relationship between birds and other animal groups, especially dinosaurs and modern day reptiles, The mysteries of bird migration, and The very cool way birds breathe.
Some Common Birds of Bouverie Preserve (August 2015)
Nuttall's Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii 1 Picoides pubescens 2 Dryocopus pileatus 3 Melanerpes formicivorus 4
Northern Flicker Western Screech-Owl Northern Spotted Owl Great Horned Owl Colaptes auratus 5 Megascops kennicottii 6 Strix occidentalis caurina 7 Bubo virginianus 8
Barn Owl Mourning Dove Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Tyto alba 9 Zenaida macroura 10 Patagioenas fasciata 11 Calypte anna 12
Allen's Hummingbird California Quail Great Blue Heron Peregrine Falcon Selasphorus sasin 13 Callipepla californica 14 Ardea herodias 1 Falco peregrinus 15
American Kestrel Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Falco sparverius 16 Accipiter cooperii 17 Accipiter striatus 18 Buteo jamaicensis 19 Red-shouldered Hawk White-tailed Kite Turkey Vulture Tree Swallow Buteo lineatus 20 Elanus leucurus 19 Cathartes aura 21 Tachycineta bicolor 22
Violet-green Swallow Baltimore Oriole Western Meadowlark Oak Titmouse Tachycineta thalassina 13 Icterus galbula 23 Sturnella neglecta 24 Baeolophus inornatus 25
White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Pacific Wren Bewick's Wren Sitta carolinensis 26 Troglodytes aedon 27 Troglodytes pacificus 28 Thryomanes bewickii 29
American Robin Hermit Thrush Western Bluebird Varied Thrush Turdus migratorius 10 Catharus guttatus 30 Sialia mexicana 30 Ixoreus naevius 31
Ash-throated Flycatcher Olive-sided Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Black Phoebe Myiarchus cinerascens 13 Contopus cooperi 27 Empidonax difficilis 27 Sayornis nigricans 13 Cassin's Vireo Warbling Vireo Hutton's Vireo Ruby-crowned Kinglet Vireo cassinii 27 Vireo gilvus 32 Vireo huttoni 30 Regulus calendula 33
Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Junco hyemalis 34 Melospiza melodia 34 Spizella passerina 35 Zonotrichia atricapilla 36
White-crowned Sparrow Spotted Towhee California Towhee Northern Mockingbird Zonotrichia leucophrys 37 Pipilo maculatus 19 Melozone crissalis 38 Mimus polyglottos 39
Black-headed Grosbeak Western Tanager Wilson's Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Pheucticus melanocephalus Piranga ludoviciana 27 Cardellina pusilla 40 Setophaga coronata 12 12
Black-throated Gray Orange-crowned Warbler Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Bushtit Warbler Oreothlypis celata 32 Polioptila caerulea 27 Psaltriparus minimus 42 Setophaga nigrescens 41 Cedar Waxwing Brown Creeper Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Bombycilla cedrorum 43 Certhia americana 44 Aphelocoma californica 45 Corvus brachyrhynchos 46
Common Raven Steller's Jay Lesser Goldfinch House Finch Corvus corax 47 Cyanocitta stelleri 48 Spinus psaltria 49 Haemorhous mexicanus 22
Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus 50
Photos: 1. (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY), 2. (c) Jason Means, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 3. (c) Scott Young, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 4. (c) Dmitry Mozzherin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 5. (c) Syd Phillips, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 6. (c) Erin and Lance Willett, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 7. (c) Miguel Vieira, some rights reserved (CC BY), 8. (c) Minette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 9. (c) Tim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 10. (c) Eric Heupel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 11. (c) Doug Greenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 12. (c) greglasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley, 13. (c) Len Blumin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 14. (c) Jörg Hempel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), 15. (c) Eric de Leeuw, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 16. (c) Blake Matheson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 17. (c) Chris Christner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 18. (c) David Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 19. (c) sarbhloh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 20. (c) Bob, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 21. (c) David Baron, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), 22. (c) Rick Leche, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 23. (c) Stewart Ho, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 24. (c) Dan Dzurisin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 25. (c) Doug Greenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 26. (c) Brian Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 27. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 28. (c) Scott Bowers, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 29. (c) BackyardBirderWA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 30. (c) Jamie Chavez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 31. (c) Pete, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 32. (c) Rick Leche - Photography, some rights reserved (CC BY- NC-ND), 33. (c) Dan Pancamo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), 34. (c) Robin Horn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 35. (c) Vitaliy Khustochka, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 36. (c) Terry & Julie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 37. (c) Yathin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 38. (c) Lucina M, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 39. (c) BJ Stacey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 40. (c) Michael Woodruff, some rights reserved (CC BY), 41. (c) Gregory "Greg" Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 42. (c) matt knoth, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 43. (c) Robert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 44. (c) Jerry Downs, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), 45. (c) Jessica Merz, some rights reserved (CC BY), 46. (c) DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/), some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), 47. (c) Anita Gould, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), 48. (c) Kai Schreiber, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), 49. (c) JanetandPhil, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), 50. (c) Jean-Guy Dallaire, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
Compiled by Jeanne Wirka, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Built with iNaturalist.org Guides -1 WHnrMnxEs A Bno A Bnnz
t may be hard to believethat a 300'pound(135-kg) ostrich galloping acrossthe Alricangrasslands has much in commonwith a wasp-sized hummingbirdhovering in front of a flower.But all birds,even those as diflerentas an ostrichand a hummingbird,share many characteristics. Birds belong to a large gror.rpof animalscalled. uertebrotes (animals with backbones).Birds make up a specialgroup (class)of the vertebratescalled Aues. (Auesis the Latin word for bird and it is the root of bird wordssuch as avianand aviary.)Fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammalsare examplesof other typesof -3 verteorates. Reptilian Relatives: You might not think reptiles such as turtles, crocodiies,and n lizardshave much in commonwith birds,but theydo. About 160million years ago, CJ birds evolvedfrom ancient reptiles, keepingmany reptilian characteristics.(Many { .! lrl\ scientiststhink birdsevolved from sma dinosaurlikereptiles.) For example,both P birdsand reptileslayeggs, have partially hollow bones, have similar types of skulls $- and ear bones,and havescales covenng parts of their bodies. ^f But as birdsevolved, they also became very diflerent from reptiles.Many ofthe ci.-< scalesthat coveredtheir bodiesbecame flatter and longer,evolving into /eothers. ^\ Birdsalso deveioped horny beaks but keptreptilelikescales on theirlegs and feet.ln {, addition,their forelimbsgraduallg evolved into wings. dI Here's look som€ the characteristicsthat make -+rl ,n a closer at of a bird a bird: €l \) :\ Feathers: All birds grow feathers, making birds different from all other animals. Birds have several different tgpes of feathers, from stlff contour leathers, which *r \s coverthe wingsand body,to fluffydoun feathers,which helpinsulate a bird and tlrP9 keep it warm. The most common type is the contour feather. Contour feathels are l verystrong but alsovery lightweight. Th€ stem,or shq/l is a hollowtube made ofa ,vs veryhard material calied kerolin. (Keratin isthe sam€materialthat areptile's scales vi and our fingemailsare madeof.) The contour feathersare stiff but fledble and help streamlinea bird to giveit a smooth,sleek shap€. And the specialcontourfeathers {'l on thewings, called the flight feathers, are shaped to fanthe air,creating "lift" which rl.\l helps a bird get off the ground, maneuverin the air, and land saiely. sq Feathersgrow much the wag our hairgrows.The baseof eachshaft is rootedin a tiny folliclein the skinand receivesan ongoingsupplg of nutrientsfrom the blood. d .-. ) q Whenthe featheris fullygrown, the baseof the shaftcloses and the featherdies. f\ a \ [.J Eventuallyit willfallout or be pushedout by a new feathetthat growsin the same ,?c foilicle. * r,o Besideshelping birds flg, feathers help protect a bird'ssensitive skin, just as hair helpsprotecta mammal's skin. Some feathers are also geat insulatorsbecause they \}
Motch the wingbegtt ol ot all birds lly in the same The large inner wing provides the lift th€y dillercnt birdt by lldwins way.Forexample, turkey vul. needto soar. But flappingbirds, such as turescan soar for hourswith' p€regrinefalcons, hav€ smallinner wings Objectiuec: out flappinga wing.Buthum- andlong hand s€ctions. Th€ handacts like Dsadbe three ditlerent mingbirdsflap their wingsover 70 timesa a propellerand pulls the bird forwardas it typet ol bitd flisht. secondas they hov€r, fly forward,or even flaps. "wings" Exploin why some birds fly backward.In this activity,your group Have your kids try out th€ir by haue '.l!'ngbeais la.a ond can find out how dif{erentkinds of birds fly. extendingth€ir alms and flappingaway. other. haue tlot!'er Th€y cancomparetheir arms to th€ wings See how long they can keep up an easy uringbedtu. "llap" ol a birdand see ifthey can asfast as flappingpace (one flap per second)before Aget: a bird can. they get tired. Then tell th€m that some First have everyonehold their arms birds,such as thelessergolden plover, can siraighi out. Explainthat a bird'swing is fly for 48 hoursstraisht, flapping the whole similarto ourarm. Both have Materiols anupper arm tim€.Ask iftheirarms ache a littlebit from . ',olch or clock thot boneconnect€d to th€ shoulder,an elbow flapping.(They should complain that their that connectsthe upperarm to the fore, outer chestmuscles-the p€ctorals-and . copiet ol Nge 16 arm,and a wristthat connects the forearm their arm musclesar€ tired.)Explain that to the hand.A bird'shand s€ction is a little sinc€w€ g€t around by walking,our leg . per 8 index cordt differentfrom ours. lt has a bony thumb musclesare more fully developedthan our stuck ofI to one side just . cholkbod,rd or larse and h,./o fingerlike chestmuscl€s. Bui for most birds,it's piece ol eotel paper boneson theend. (Because a bird'swing is the opposit€.Th€ir chest muscl€s are very coveredwith f€athers,it's hard to se€all well developed to power the wings, and the bones. Il possibl€,take a trip to a their leg muscl€sare w€aker.(Turk€ys, Su61ectr. naturalhistory museum or naturecenter chickens,ostriches, and other walking Science, Math, ond Ctuftr to look at a bird skeleton.)The upp€rarm birdshave well-developed leg muscles.) and forearrnmake up a bird'sinner wing. To comparethe differentwingb€ais of And the rest of th€ wing is th€ hand birds,copy the chartonto a chalkboardor section.(See diagram.) Gliding birds, such larg€ piece of eas€lpap€r. Ask the kids to asvultures and gulls, hav€ long inner wings decidewhich rate of Rappingthey think comparedto their small hand s€ctions. they can keep up with. For young€rchil- dren,hav€ the wholegroup come up and flap together,starting with 20 flaps every 10 s€condsto imitatea crow.Then try a robin and a pigeon. By the tim€ you get to o stailings,th€ kids willfind it's irnpossibl€to k€€pup. For old€r groups,divide into pairs \ and haveone p€rson keep time while th€ other personfhps.
THeWrNcaeer CHART
Bird Wingbeot/1oseconds Crow 20 Robin 23 Pigeon 30 Starling 45 Chickadee 270 Hummingbird 76
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7 The Incredible Egg BYELDON GREIJ
ffihe incredibleegg. Essentialto the "ht When the egg reachesthe shell I species.Relished fried or poached. cblckens,the single-cell gland in the uterus, a form of calcium I Ana the perfectpackage. But how ownnis neailyan ittch in carbonatccalled calcite is depositedto did it comeaboutl dlameter,and is generally make the hard shell. Magnification Like reptiles, birds broke awayfrom shows that calcite occurs as vertical o'watery" refenedto astbe yolk." the needto lay eggsin a en- cylinders with open pores scattered vironment, by bringhg the watery en- throughout. Thesepores allow air to vironment along*in a membrane per oviduct. The fertilizedegg contin- enter for gas exchange(respiration) sealedinside the egg. Two additional uesdown the or.iductwhere glandsin with a vascularmembrane below the membranes,packed with blood vessels, the oviduct lvallssecrete albumen (the shell. In many species,pigments from play important roles. One brings yolk so-calledegg white), which surrounds the liver and broken-downblood cells to the embryo for nourishment, and and protectsthe yolk. Thick albumen are brought to the shell gland u4rere the other functions as a lung by per- on the ends of the yolk form the nvist- they are depositedin the developing mitting gasexchange under the shell. ed chalaza,which helpskeep the yelL shell to give it color, including spots, The story of the egg be- blotches,and streaks. grnsin the ovary.Thc females For years,scientists were of almost all'birds have only \*,o puzzled as to how birds one functional ovary,oviduct, could muster enough calci- and uterus. The right side at- um to createegg shellsfor a rophies during the develop- \ q'picalclutch. Blood calcium ment of the chick. Wh,vonly Colla0sed levels don't conre close to lollicl€ f'l'i'li: onel These strucfures are providing enough. Given the premium. - :AlbrAlbumen largeand space is a - rate of calcium deposition A secondsystem is obviously \n" ovum during shellformation, all of not needed,and the weight 'a.'-'Albuns/,Chalsza the calcium found in the lossis an advantagefor flight. blood would gone i oyun be in Plus, it's alreadya struggle to minutes.Aurd, depending "-,..'*tl'-shell membranes on get enough calcium to form ^ clutch size, birds might lay just shellsfor the eggsfrom ! Uterus\ for six to tlvelve days. The ,1.' one ovary. d . secretwas learned when re' The ovary resemblesa I searchersnoticed that short- cluster of grapes,*.ith each ! Lalgeintesline\ \ ly beforethe nestingseason grapebeing a follicle having a kstirrloviduct. \ $ \\\ the hollorv long bones be- potential ovum inside. Under h came filled with a special influence of hormonesfrom ,1 form of bone called the anterior pituitarS severa.li medullary.During the laying folliclesbegin to enlargejust f; season,calcum is mobilized prior to the breedingseason fr fr 86 Br&onn'sWonlo . Drcwrrrn 1998 Some frequently-asked questions about birds What makes a bird a bird…..? Is it a bird because it flies? Most birds do fly, but so do bats and many insects. Some birds, like penguins and ostriches, don't fly but swim or run instead. Is it a bird because it lays eggs? All birds lay eggs, but so do snakes, turtles, frogs, fish and insects. Is it a bird because it builds a nest? Most birds build nests, but so do mice, squirrels, and even insects. Some birds, like Killdeer, barely scrape out a small patch of sand or gravel for their nests. So, what makes a bird a bird? Feathers! Only birds have feathers. Feathers help birds keep warm, provide a streamlined, light-weight body covering, and increase the surface area of wings and tail for flight. What characteristics to birds share? All birds: are warm-blooded. This keeps their muscles warm enough to allow powerful flight. lay eggs. Therefore, the mother doesn't have to carry around her developing young. This provides weight reduction for flying. have scales on their legs. This reminds us that they evolved from reptiles. have hollow bones (break open your next chicken bone!). This reduces their weight for flying. Do all birds have nests? The places where birds incubate their eggs are called nests, no matter how undeveloped some of these places may appear to humans. 1 DO ALL BIRDS BUILD THEIR OWN NESTS? No. Cowbirds deposit their eggs in nests of other birds, particularly those of red-eyed and solitary vireos, chipping sparrows, yellow warblers, and redstarts. WHICH IS THE LARGEST BIRD IN THE WORLD? -WHICH IS THE SMALLEST? The ostrich, a native of Africa but also seen in many zoos, is the largest. It weighs up to 300 pounds. The bee hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest, measuring 2-1/4 inches in length. (Ostriches also lay the largest eggs, and hummingbirds the smallest. However, the ratio of the size of the bird to the size of the egg varies greatly.) WHICH WILD NORTH AMERICAN BIRD IS THE LARGEST? -WHICH IS THE SMALLEST? The Trumpeter swan is the largest, the males averaging about 28 pounds. However, the whooping crane is the tallest, standing almost five feet. The Heloise's hummingbird is the smallest, measuring 2-3/4 inches in length. The calliope hummingbird is the next smallest, measuring 3 inches in length. WHICH BIRD FLIES THE FASTEST? Some swifts in Mesopotamia have been timed at 200 mph. A peregrine falcon has been timed at 180 mph in a dive. Some shorebirds can fly from 40 - 60 mph; geese and ducks range from 40 - 55 mph. The majority of small landbirds travel between 20 and 30 mph. HOW HIGH DO BIRDS FLY? Scientists on Mount Everest watched a vulture flying at 25,000 feet. On migration storks occasionally fly at 20,000 feet; some shorebirds reach 12,000 feet. Aviators have seen ducks, geese, and pelicans at 8000 and 9000 feet. However, most birds rarely migrate above 3000 feet. HOW MANY BIRDS ARE THERE? Many scientists consider the estimate of 100 billion birds, made by the English ornithologist, James Fisher, to be reasonable. Estimates of the number of North American birds vary considerably, but many authorities place this figure at between seven and eight billion individuals comprised of 650 species. CAN BIRDS FLY BACKWARDS? Hummingbirds are probably the champions of backward flight, but it is probable that any bird which uses fluttering flight can move backward when it is necessary. ARE ALL BIRDS' EGGS THE SAME COLOR? Eggs that are laid in burrows, cavities, or other well- concealed places, or eggs that are incubated by both parents so that they are continuously covered, are usually white. Eggs that are exposed to their surroundings usually look very much like those surroundings. Of course, there are exceptions in both cases. ARE BLUEBIRDS REALLY BLUE? No. There is no known blue pigment in birds' feathers. Bird colors are due to two different factors: 1, pigments of actual colors, and 2, reflection and diffraction of light due to the structure of the feathers. The blue appearance of some birds comes about from the second factor. Handout originally produced by the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, 1984. Modified in 2007 for ACR Education Programs by Jeanne Wirka. Based on information in 1001 Questions Answered about Birds, by Allan and Helen Czuickshank 2 Bird Topography Reproduced from the “Sibley Guide to Birds,” by David Allen Sibley for educational use of Audubon Canyon Ranch, a non-profit organization. (Z:\home\Ranch Guide Training\Bird Class\Bird Topography RG2006.doc) Bird Topography Reproduced from the “Sibley Guide to Birds,” by David Allen Sibley for educational use of Audubon Canyon Ranch, a non-profit organization. (Z:\home\Ranch Guide Training\Bird Class\Bird Topography RG2006.doc) Wing beats revisited “Wing beats” is a popular trail activity that demonstrates for kids the amazing power of flight in birds. The original wing beat chart and activity guide, published in Nature Scope in 1985 by the National Wildlife Federation, is included in the bird section of the docent training binder. Bouverie Docent Jim Moir, developed an expanded wing beat chart with additional birds and even an insect. Jim’s chart is shown below. Wing beats per 10 seconds Crow/Raven 20 Robin 23 Vulture/Eagle25 Pigeon 30 Owl 35 Starling 45 Kestrel 47 Chickadee 270 Hummingbird 700 Mosquito 6000 All About Feathers Feathers are one of the most prominent features of a bird's anatomy, and they are unique to birds. Every bird has feathers and everything that has feathers is a bird. Feathers perform a number of functions for a bird and there are a number of different types of feathers. Firstly, they provide insulation, this is very important in a warm blooded animal (body temperature of most birds is maintained at around 40C). It is believed by most scientists that this insulating effect was the primary force driving the evolution of feathers, i.e. ancestral birds developed feathers to keep themselves warm. Feathers also protect birds from UV light. Secondly, feathers allow for flight. Scientists believe that flight evolved in birds as a result of their possessing basic feathers and that this added selective pressure to the evolution of feathers making them larger, stronger and refining their structure. Thirdly, feathers control what a bird looks like. A plucked chicken or pigeon looks very different to a fully feathered one. Feathers supply the bird with colours allowing for camouflage and secondary sexual characteristics and sexual display. Consider the tail feathers of a peacock. Feathers evolved from reptilian scales, and in fact birds still possess scales in the lower parts of their legs and feet. Feathers grow quickly and are then sealed off at the base. Once fully developed a feather is a dead matter like your finger nails, though there are still muscles attached the base of each feather which can move each individual feather to help keep it in place. Feathers do not last forever, they become worn and battered and are replaced regularly by the bird once or twice a year depending on species. This replacing of old feathers is called 'MOULT' or the moult or moulting. Feathers have a basic form of a central hollow supporting shaft called a 'rachis' and a number of fine side branches. These side branches have even finer sub-branches in contour feathers. The side branches in these are called barbs and are linked together by a set of barbules and their hooklets sometimes called 'Hamuli'. Barbs have side branches of their own called barbules. The upper ones containing a series of hooklets and the lower ones without hooks but slightly convex in form to catch the hooklets of the barbules from the next barb along the shaft. This is perhaps best understood by seeing the diagram (right). The base of the feather - where there are no side branches - is called the calamus or quill and at the base of this is the hollow entrance that was used by blood veins to carry nutrients to the growing feather when it was alive, this is called the inferior umbilicus. The gripping effect of any one set of barbule hooklets is not great, but like the threads that hold your clothes together the combined effect is sufficient to keep the feathers together. Playing with any wing feather can demonstrate the affect of these tiny attachments. The overall presence of all these barbs and barbules together is called the vane of the wing. The rachis and the vane are the two parts of the feather you see with the naked eye. Some more fun facts about feathers!: Feathers are made of keratin, a protein which is also used to make horn and hair by different animals and beaks by birds. Owls have the outer ends of their flight feathers lacking in barbules, i.e.they are unzipped - this makes the edges softer and reduces the noise they make, silent flight helps an owl catch its prey. In primitive birds the feathers appear to grow at random all over the body, but in most orders the feathers appear in well defined patterns of rows or tracts called pterylae. The number of feathers a bird has depends very much on its size and where and how it lives, in general a third of a bird’s feathers are on its head. The bird with the least feathers is the Ruby Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) with only 940 feathers in total The bird with the most feathers is the Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus) which can have as many as 25,000 during winter. The longest feathers in the world belong to an ornamental chicken bread in Japan in 1972, this specimen had tail feathers 10.59m long. The longest feathers of a wild bird belong to the Crested Argus Pheasant (Rheinhartia ocellata) which commonly reach lengths of 173cm. From: http://birds.ecoport.org. Used by Audubon Canyon Ranch for educational purposes only. I]IRI) AD-4.PTATIONS (fronr thc lcachcrsPackel) l-ookingat a bird s lict cantcll J()ua lot abouthou lhc) arcuscd. t lnscramblethe bird s nanre.Write thc bird s nanreb) thebesl senlencc. Can )ou ntatchthe pictures r"ith thc ndmcs.' KAWH RECKWOODEP CKtrD N-ORLH ''Ml wcbbcd ticr arc great for srvimnring" "Nl) lccl arc grcat tbr $alking up trces." -l uselrl) llet uith longtocs t0 \\ddein theralcr and lnud.- " Iuse m\ slrongporlerlirl l'ccllo catchsmall animals.' ( anrhe shrpe ol a bird'sbill tcll 1ouan-vthing aboul ullalileals:)Look closcly at thc bills below.l,hscranlble thc bird s namc.\\rrite the bird's na]nc b! thc bcstscntcncc. Can \ou nalch le picturcswilh thc nanresl NOREH RI]CKWOODEP ILQATJ KAWH PANICLE BUM}lINCHIRI) "l poundholcs in wood1o li nd insects." 'l uscmv longbill ro gct neclarlilnr llo\reN.' ''l uscm) strongbill 1()crack ' open sccds. "l usem) sharybill to tear lhe lleshol anlnlals." '' I stabat snlalllish with m) sharpbill." ''I scoopup largemouthluls ol'$atcrand llsh-' 41 BIRD BILLS Bird bills are tools that help birds grab and eat their food. The many shapes and sizes of bills help birds to eat many kinds of food. Birds that feed on the same kinds of food have similar bills that help them get their food. Insect eaters usually have thin tweezer-like bills or strong bills to pound holes in wood. e.g. woodpecker, swallow, wren, warbler Fish eaters have long, sharp bills to stab or hold onto slippery fish, or big bills to scoop them up. e.g. egret, heron, cormorant, pelican Predators (of other birds and rodents) have powerful, hooked bills for tearing and cutting flesh and skin. e.g. hawk, owl, eagle Seed and nut eaters usually have short, stout bills for cracking seeds open. e.g. finch, sparrow, pigeon, quail. Nectar feeders have long, thin bills for reaching into flowers. e.g. hummingbirds. What is a raptor? Raptors are commonly called “Birds of prey” (but not all birds that eat meat are raptors; e.g. Loggerhead Shrike) From Latin “rapere” – to seize or kill. All raptors have very strong talons to seize and hold prey, very keen eyesight, and strong hooked beaks to tear flesh All hunt, kill, and eat meat (carnivorous) Three main groups in CA: hawks, owls, and vultures Hawks include falcons, eagles, kites, buteos, accipiters, harriers, osprey and are diurnal (active during the day) Basic Ornithology for ACR Volunteers (“Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about birds and MORE!”) FLIGHT Most birds fly and all birds are descended from ancestral fliers. No locomotor adaptation requires as much structural specialization as that of flight. Thus, structurally, birds are a homogeneous group. The reduction of weight and the increase of power were the two most important physiological adaptations for flight in modern birds. Hollow bones, the absence of teeth, a shorter tail, and the addition of several air sacs within the body cavity decrease the body weight in modern birds. The fusion of parts of the skeletal system adds to the strength of the entire skeleton which is subject to greater than average mechanical stress due to the impact of landing. In addition, modern birds have an enlarged breastbone, sternum, to which many of the flight muscles are attached. The survival advantages of flight are numerous and far reaching. Flying allows for greater mobility and maneuverability, enabling birds to search rapidly and efficiently for food and shelter. Fliers have access to food that is in the air (flying insects), that must be reached from the air (terminal flowers), and that can be located from the air (rodents, fish). In addition, flight provides for a rapid escape from non-flying predators as well as the ability to migrate according to season to regions where the climate,. food supply and nesting sites are more favorable. Flight made possible the dispersal of birds over distances and geographic barriers that would otherwise be insurmountable. Birds are found in all corners of the globe except the interior of Antarctica. It is perhaps the availability of such varied habitats that accounts for the evolution of so many species -- presently over 8600 species of birds. Adaptations for the reduction of weight: 1. Thin, hollow bones. 2. Extremely light feathers. 3. Elimination of most skin glands. 4.• Elimination of teeth and heavy jaws. 5. Elimination of tail vertebrae and some digits. 6. Extensive bone fusion. 7. A system of branching air sacs. 8. Oviparous reproduction. Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 1 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) 9. Atrophy of gonads between breeding seasons. 10. Eating of concentrated foods. 11. Rapid and efficient digestion. 12. Excretion of uric acid instead of urine. Adaptations for the increase of power: 1. Warm blooded. 2. Heat conserving plumage. 3. Energy rich diet. 4. Rapid and efficient digestion. 5. High glucose content of the blood. 6. A four chambered heart. 7. Rapid and high pressure circulation. 8. Highly efficient respiratory system. 9. Breathing movements synchronized with wing beats. 10. A high rate of metabolism. FEATHERS Feathers are an elaborate modification of the outer layer of a bird's skin. They are composed almost entirely of a substance called keratin. Unique to birds, feathers have various modifications to serve different functions. They were probably first developed as insulation, then later used for flight and display. The basic structure of a feather when fully formed includes a central shaft or spine from which a thin, relatively soft VANE or web emerges along its upper length. The lower, hollow portion of the shaft before the beginning of the vane is called the CALAMUS. The part of the shaft from where the vanes begin to the tip of the feather is called the RACHIS. The two vanes of the feather which may vary in width depending on the function consist of a continuous series of narrow, closely interlocked branches called BARBS. The barbs in turn branch on both sides into a close set of continuous series of much shorter BARBULES. The barbules come in two varieties -- hooked or flanged -- which interlock with adjacent barbules. The hooked barbules are sometimes referred to as HAMULI. The barbules also bear short, straight, pointed projections called BARBICELS which serve to increase the Velcro- like adhesiveness of the mesh. The most commonly recognized feathers are (1) the flight feathers, REMIGES, which are made of primaries and secondaries, (2) the tail feathers are referred to as RETICES. (3) Contour feathers cover the body and help make it more streamlined. They are smaller than the remiges and tetrices and lack a stiff shaft. Underneath the contour feathers is a layer of DOWN. (4) Down feathers do not have interconnecting Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 2 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) barbules and thus have a soft texture. The down feathers function as insulation. Newly hatched chicks are usually covered with down. Only later do the contour feather and flight feathers begin to grow. Many birds have specialized feathers around the eyes that serve the same function as eyelashes in mammals. Some insectivorous birds have bristle-like feathers rimming the mouth to aid in catching insects. Many birds, especially males, have large and colorful. tail feathers that are important in courtship displays. The peacock is perhaps the most familiar example of this feather specialization. Feathers can be raised or lowered to vary the thickness of the insulation layer they form. In cold weather, birds fluff their feathers to increase the insulating layer. In warm weather, the feathers are held close to the body. In this respect, feathers resemble the hairs of mammals which can also be raised or lowered. MOLTING Birds shed their feathers and grow new ones in a process called MOLTING. The new feather grows inside a sheath. These new "pin" feathers are usually whitish and look like small pins projecting from the skin. The sheath contains a blood supply to provide the growing feather with nourishment. When the feather is grown, the sheath comes off in flakes revealing the feather inside. The bird preens itself frequently at this time in order to remove the dead sheaths. The fully formed feather is made of dead material similar to the hair, nails, and hooves of mammals. Most birds molt once a year. Some, such as parrots, molt continuously throughout the year. Other birds, like waterfowl, molt two or three time a year. Besides replacing worn feathers with new ones, the molt may be associated with camouflage or courtship plumage. Many songbirds, for instance, molt in the fall to a drab winter plumage and then again in the spring to the bright courtship colors. Ducks molt in the late summer prior to their long autumn migration. The flight feathers are all shed at one time leaving the bird unable to fly. During this ECLIPSE MOLT, ducks are very secretive and will hide in the reeds which form a camouflaging cover for them. After the fall migration, the ducks molt again into breeding plumage. GROOMING One instinctive behavior common to all birds is PREENING. The feathers of the body are run through the bill. This activity reconnects the barbules and is important in keeping the feathers in flying condition. At the base of the tail most birds have a special oil gland called the uropygial gland. The bird rubs its bill against this gland and the oily secretion is transferred to its feather during preening. The oil helps to waterproof the feathers. Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 3 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) In addition to preening, many birds bathe in water or dust. These baths keep the skin in condition and cut down on external parasites. Some species of birds such as Blue Jays, engage in an activity called ANTING in which ants are placed among the feathers of the tail and wings. Although the function of anting is not clearly understood, it is believed the repugnant substances that many species of ant emit may repel external parasites. WINGS The wings of birds are adapted for different kinds of flight. A long, broad wing is adapted for soaring in the birds of prey and for the slow, measured flight of the herons. The rapid flyers, many of which catch insects on the wing, have long, pointed wings. The ducks exemplify direct, rapid fliers over short distance with moderately short and pointed wings. Short, rounded wings indicate a slow flier like the Bobwhite Quail. Some birds, like the Chimney Swift, have become such specialized fliers that they have almost lost the use of the hind limbs for walking. The chimney swift cannot take to the air if placed on a flat surface; its feet and legs function only in grasping vertical surfaces such as the sides of a chimney. MIGRATION The evolution of flight also enables birds to migrate when food supplies dwindle. Since food supply is related to climate, migrations are generally seasonal in nature. Bird migration is triggered by the changing length of day, both in autumn and spring. However, several other factors affect the exact time of migration. Birds of the tropics, where environmental conditions are fairly stable throughout the year, do not undergo migrations. In the temperate regions, however, there are definite seasons. Birds of these regions may undergo very long migrations in search of food. Generally, these migrations are in a north-south direction. Some temperate species, such as the Blue Jay, do not undertake long migrations but have more localized movements. Many birds that inhabit mountainous areas undergo seasonal movements up and down the mountainside. Moving to an area a few hundred feet lower in elevation may accomplish the same climatic change as a migration of thousands of miles. The longest recorded migration belongs to an Arctic Tern which was banded in northern Russia and then recaptured in Australia, a distance of 14-thousand miles. Most birds migrate in flocks, perhaps seeking safety in numbers or perhaps all triggered by the same stimulus at the same time. SENSES Endothermy allows for "fast-acting" responses to sensory stimuli. The senses of birds Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 4 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) are well developed, and the area of the brain which coordinates response to sensory input is proportionately larger in birds than in most other vertebrates. The time required for a bird to process a visual image can be as little as half the time required by humans.. This quick reaction time in birds has significant survival value, especially during flight. Additionally, birds have a wide field of vision which can reach 300-degrees compared to our own visual field of 45-degrees. The avian eye can detect movement as well as color. In addition to excellent vision, birds can hear very well. All birds have ear openings in the side of the head, although they are usually hidden by feathers. Some birds, such as owls, rely more on hearing than vision when they hunt for food. Many birds are able to identify other birds individually by the slightest difference in song. In many, but by no means all bird species, the mother recognizes her chick among thousands of other peeping birds by its voice. A few birds, such as vultures which feed on carrion, have a well developed sense of smell. ENDOTHERMIC ADAPTATIONS Birds share with mammals the feature of warm-bloodedness, or endothermy. Endothermy is a prerequisite for powered flight and a warm-blooded physiology is emphasized in the circulatory and respiratory systems of birds. They have a four chambered heart that achieves complete separation of venous and arterial blood. There are numerous air sacs- associated with the lungs which contribute to the ventilation of the respiratory system and serve as evaporative coolers during periods of activity when too much heat is produced by the body. The bird can cool itself by GAPING or opening its beak. air sacs also contribute to the buoyancy of the bird. As with small mammals, small birds must eat large amounts of food to help maintain their body temperature. The phrase "to eat like a bird" is misleading. An extreme example is the hummingbird which may eat twice its body weight in food per day. REPRODUCTION Many birds illustrate a principle of animal coloration called SEXUAL DICHROMISM in which the two sexes differ in color. Generally the female is a dull, drab color, camouflaging her as she sits on the eggs. In contrast, the male is very brightly colored. Because he does not incubate the eggs, he is not as susceptible to predation. In some species, sexual selection has produced very brightly colored males. In some species of birds, both sexes incubate the eggs. Here, both sexes have dull colors for camouflage. The newly hatched chicks of many species are also mottled in full colors for camouflage. Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 5 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) Birds are well known for staking out and defending territories during the breeding season. Usually the female acquires and maintains his territory by displaying visually or vocally and if necessary by threatening invaders. Territoriality assures the occupants a suitable nesting site and sufficient food for the young. Colonial nesters such as penguins and herons need only a very small nesting territory because their feeding grounds are distant from their nesting grounds. In these birds the territory extends only about as far as the bird can reach while sitting on the nest. Much of the courtship behavior in birds is genetically programmed. Cranes go through elaborate dances. Many waterfowl have a sequence of head-bobing and swimming. Ostriches get down on their "knees", shake their wings and roll their heads from side to side. Colorful displays by the male are an important part of courtship in many species. Generally, there is a fairly strict sequence of events that precedes mating. If either partner fails to respond "correctly" to a signal, the courtship terminates and mating does not occur. Theoretically, the result of this programmed sequence of behavior is that each species has its peculiarities; members of another species would not respond "correctly" and no mating would occur. In fact, however, successful mating attempts between two closely related species sometimes do occur. So, in general, the system works, but exceptions happen. In birds, fertilization in internal. The male inseminates the female through the cloaca (a single opening used for both excretion and reproduction) during mating. The process of insemination in birds is often referred to as a"cloacal kiss". As the fertilized egg passes down the oviduct, it is surrounded by layers of hard, brittle shell before being laid. There is diversity in bird' eggs. Naturally, the larger birds lay larger eggs. The contents of one Ostrich egg are equal to three dozen chicken eggs. Clutch size (number of eggs) depends on the species. Pheasants and partridges may lay up to 30 eggs. Most birds will lay a second clutch if the first one is lost. Many passerines normally lay two or three clutches per year. Perhaps the record belongs to the tiny Goldcrest, a warbler, which may produce up to 144% of its body weight in a ten egg clutch. The shape and color of the egg is related to the habitat. Many birds that nest on cliff ledges, such as auks and murres, lay pearshaped eggs which roll in a small circle and are less likely to fall off the ledge. Owl eggs are almost round. The more typical shape is a ovoid between these two extremes. Eggs which are laid in open nests on the ground are usually spotted for camouflage. Eggs which are laid in elaborate nests hidden from view may be bright and colorful. The variety of bird nests is remarkable. Many terns and penguins simply place a few Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 6 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) stones together to form the nest. Weavers and orioles weave elaborate hanging nests from plants and trees. The South American Ovenbird builds a hollow ball from sand and cow dung. The Mallee Fowl lays its eggs in a huge pile of rotting vegetable matter which is collected by the male. The internal temperature of the nest is tested with the beak, and material is removed from the top if the fermenting vegetation produces too much heat. Many birds utilize natural cavities for their nests, often a hole in a tree. The male Hornbill seals the female in a tree cavity, except for a small hole through which he passes her food. The incubation period depends upon the species. The extremes are about 13 days for many small perching birds and 81 days for the royal albatross. During the breeding season, most incubating birds have naked patches on their breast where the eggs are warmed next to the skin, called a BROOD PATCH. Incubation is performed by the female only as in the pheasants, the male only as with the emu, or both sexes as with the ostrich. Upon hatching, baby birds fall into two categories. Some species are ALTRICIAL - they depend upon the parents for food and warmth for several weeks. The newly hatched chicks are naked and helpless. Generally, altricial birds build elaborate, well-constructed nests. The other category is PRECOCIAL - the chick leaves the nest soon after hatching and follows the parents in search of food. The chicks are fully developed when they hatch. Baby ducklings are able to swim within hours of hatching. Generally, precocial birds lay larger eggs and have longer incubation periods than altricial birds. Both of these factors are related to the advanced state of the hatchling. Generally: males and females that look alike both incubate and care for young. Those which look different don't. One unusual form of learning found in birds is called IMPRINTING. It was thought that baby birds invariably followed their mothers. However, in experiments using geese, it was discovered that goslings instinctively follow the first movinq obiect they encounter after hatching, which is not necessarily their mother. The gosling continues to respond in the same manner to this object be it fowl, human, or an inanimate object, in the future. Imprinting takes place during a very limited time in a bird's early development. This is known as the critical period. VARIATIONS WITHIN BIRDS: the bill, legs, and feet While the shape of the bird's body and wings are for the most part dictated by the physical demands of flight, there is a wide variation in the shape and size of the bill, the legs, and the feet. The bill of a bird is adapted to its way of life, especially its feeding habit. Birds of prey have sharp, hooked bills for ripping flesh. Finches and other seed eaters have short, conical bills for cracking seeds. The long, pointed bills of woodpeckers are adapted for catching insects in the bark of trees. The angled beak of the flamingo has a sieve-like structure for capturing small aquatic organisms. Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 7 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) Lorikeets, members of the parrot group, have a small, brush-like tongue. This specialized tongue is an adaptation for collecting and eating pollen and nectar, the Lorikeet's major food source. The feet of birds are also adapted to the bird's way of life, particularly to the habitat. Swimming birds, like the penguins and waterfowl, have webs between the toes to aid in propulsion through the water. Flamingos use their wide webbed feet to stir up mud which contains their food items. The birds of prey have strong, hooked claws for grasping flesh. The flightless birds have long toes for running. Some shore birds have long, slender toes to support their weight in mud or aquatic vegetation. The passerine birds, which are "perching birds" have three toes pointing forward and one tow pointing backward for perching. When the bird perches on a limb, ligaments in the legs automatically lock the toes around the branch. Woodpeckers and parrots have two toes pointing FORWARD and two toes pointing backward, zyqodactvl feet. This arrangement of toes affords better footing on vertical tree trunks. Doublewattled Cassowary has a large nail on its inside toe which it uses as a defense weapon. Most birds use their voice for audible communication. A few, such as the storks, lack a syrinx (voice box) and rely on other means of sound production such as clattering the bill. Those birds that have a voice box similar to that of man (Parrots, Mynah birds, Starlings) are capable of "talking", i.e., mimicking human sounds. Call notes in birds are generally very simple, abrupt sounds that communicate messages of alarm or distress. Some gregarious birds have a vocal sentry system to warn the flock of approaching danger. True song is, for the most part, restricted to the passerines or perching birds. The song of each individual bird is unique, which allows others to identify the singer. Song plays an important part in claiming and maintaining territory during the breeding season. Social behavior in birds is most developed in those species that congregate in flocks. In these birds, there is a definite peck order, or hierarchy, with the older and more experienced birds in the top position. Generally, the pecking order is established with bluffs and threats. Physical confrontations are rare since one of the antagonists usually backs down in time. In this way, unnecessary loss of individuals in avoided. Hierarchy assures the survival of the most fit individuals. During times of food shortage or in harsh climate conditions, the old and weak birds are the first to perish because they are generally at the bottom of the pecking order. The strongest and healthiest individuals survive to reproduce and continue the species. This is one way that natural selection favors certain individuals to better ensure the success of the species. Prepared by Audubon Canyon Ranch Staff for ACR Education Programs 8 (original date unknown; modified July 2007) T"H fumsacT-scffi&}sa?s \-) t::':.:i &r ii "l ,:."t& ..e ln -itrrj*:r I tt:: ..', "") " .: 4.,\ ':.-j nv Junrrn LenNrn Lou,'nv ii savarnas,and scrub-oak chaparral,would not exist asthey do today, or, when burned in the inevitablefires, would not be replaced.On that day by the river, Grinnell understood some- thing that had beenunclear to him until theru the role of the westernscrub-jay in the landscapingof California. IJeasof J"y. Grinnell's reflections,which may seemobvious to us now werenot commonly understoodin his day.Only rr years before,another well-known ornithologist, William Dawson, ln I9)4, eminentnaturalist Joseph Grinnell sat by the in his classicBirds oJ Calfornia,called this critical ecological T -I-,rn. lower KaweahKrver in southernTulareCounty, watching role a minor function of the jay. "Doubtless,"he wrote, "this bright blue westernscrub-jays zoom uphill. Each beak held a miserly tricl (of burying acorns)has served naturet purpose singleacorn, plucked from the bounteousblue oaks along the now and then in producing new trees."To the nativepeoples riverbank,to be cachedrn the dry upland hills. A1l day long, jays of California, the importance of the jay'srole has been repeatedthis journey,fying uphiil with an acorn, returning, as apparentfor a longer time. According to C. Hart Merriam, Grinnell describedit, "empty-bi11ed." "The Middle Mewuk of [the] StanislausRiver region say: Previously,climbing the westernslope of the southern Ki-ki-ah, the CrestedBluejay of the mountains [Stellert jay], SierraNevada, Grinnell had observeda rich crop of blacl acornsdropping from the trees,tumbling down the mountain, (Severalother tribes mention the samehabit, whicfi, ,. round, smooth, and heary."In that placeand on that day I saw by the way,is hardly a myth.)" no acorn moving uphill. Gravity alonewas acting asthe agency of distribution."Without animal help, such ,t:( asthat provided by the western N.j ii scrub-jay, acorn woodpecker, chipmunk, gray squirrel, or ground squirrel, our " tir i. upland forests,woodlands, 1i .:. ;.\i) i; B = In my ownWest Marin garden,I've enjoyed z the resultsof scrub-jayseed-planting for zryears. = Of the nine coastlive oaksnow growing here,I take credit for the planting of only tfuee; Aphelocoma calfornita,the westernscrub-jay, accounts for the rest, California hazel x well turns up far ftom the parent shrub, ftequently in the hospitableembrace of coy- ote bush. Coffeeberry,California bay laurel, and California black walnut are other speciesI find growing here and there.Like acorns,their seedsare too largeto be moved by ants and too denseto be carried by the wind. Just a short way inland from here,the acorn woodpecftermight be responsible, or the chipmunk, grey squirrel, and ground squirrel. Other animalsengaging in cachingbehavior in Cali- fornia include chickarees,wood rats, Steller'sjays, and band-tailed pigeons.Here, on this marine ter- race,scrub-jays-whici rangeall over theWest south of Oregon-are the primary tree planters, acting out of an implacable desire to bury things, paired with the abiliry and necessiryonly sometimes to retrievethem. The trees and shrubs that grow ftom tfie seeds that the western scrub-jay cac-hesin my garden are generally allowed to stay in place. I like to think that in so doing, I am honoring the landscaping ideasof jays.This concept is a device,a wayof thinking about a kind of gardeningthat helps us becomeaware of the actions,needs, and impact of buttetflies, deer,ants, bees, jays, and numerousother wild ceatures, lvho can become, in a sense,olJt geF dening partners. Western scrub-jaysneed to be good but not too good at corvids,have been the subjectof many ornithological srudies acorn retrieval.The more acornsand nuts they cacheand the sinceDawson and Grinnell ponderedrhese marters. Ornithol- fewer they retrieve,the better for the spreadof oaks,hazelnuts, ogists crefit scrub-jap with only moderaresuccess in seed walnuts, and various pine trees.Yet they must be able to retrieve retrieval.They arenot geniusesat it, like their corvid cousins, enoughto maintain viablepopulations, to feed themselvesdur- the Clarkt nutcradcer and the pinyon jay. Clark's nutcrad I -t 22 | BAY NATURE ocroBER-DEcEMBER 2oo5 yadbftdfeeder that jays exhibit so much of the behaviorthat Relinquishing a bit of designcontrol to theseperspicacious bird-watchersdislike. (In general,Geupel is not a fan of the bird birds may be appropriatefor other situationsbesides gardens. feeder."lJse the money you would otherwisespend on birdseed In many landscaperestoration projects, acorns are harvested, and bird feedersto restorehabitat," he says.)Indeed, I recom- hauledfrom collecting grounds, deaned,refrigerated, taken mended to severaldients who complainedto me about jay to the planting field, sown rn the ground, and protected with behavior that they eliminate their feedersand focus insteadon screensand tubes from deer aboveand gophersbelow. Perhaps appropriatenative plantings; it seemsto work. Using bird feed- time and effort might be saved,however, if the acornswere left ers with openingsand perchestoo small for scrub-jayuse is also in a hugepile nearthe areato be restored.It might not be long effective.Open compost piles are another jay attractantthat carr until, like an Andy Goldsworthy sculptureof twigs and stones encourageout-of-balance popula- borne out by the tide, adver of tions of jays,as well as crows and birds pours down from the sky to ravens.Gardali says,"]ays and deconstructthe pile and find for other corvids only really havethe eachacorn a likely resting place.A potential to be a problem when bird- and oak-loverin Modesto, their populations aresubsidized to living in what wasonce the flood- the extentthat they grow beyond plain of theTirolumne River, put normal levels.Subsidies indude a out hundredsof valley oak acorns solid food supply(for example, for the local scrub-jays.In the feeders)during times when food courseof tfuee days,dozens were would naturally be scarce(winter). removed and cachedall around her Or more food during the breeding house,garden, and neighborhood, seasoncould lead to largeclutch in loose soif lea{' debris,roof size and double broodingl' Scrub-jaysobviously have their own concerns-tike feeding and raising their tiles, gutters,and plantet boxes. Jayhunts organized in the young-butthe authoralso likes to thinkofthem as wild partners in her Acrossftom her house,a lone oak, r93os,for the ostensiblepurpose garden,where theil forgottenacorns have grown into several[arge trees. the sourceof this bountp is sil- of retaining high quail popula- houetted againstthe westernsky, tions, are another exampleof historic prejudiceagainst scrub- the last survivor of what wasonce a denseriparian forest,Given jays.YetI ftequendy find scrub-jaysin the middle of quail a chance,the westernscrub-jay could return the original vegeta- flocks, peaceablyforaging for seedsand insects.Native peoples tion, shadethe housesthat now bake in the summerheat, and knew the scrub-jayas a thief, but also as a watchdog,who let relandscapetlre neighborhood. no intruder appearwithout warning.When the quail coveyis Such a project would also provide an opportunitJ for what disturbed and scatters,thejay fies to a nearbytree, screlching Cornell Ornithological Laboratoriescalls " citizenscience," indignandy on behalf of his friends.When I put acornsout for which I practicedmyself one day while cleaningseeds in our the quail, they leavethem untoucheduntil the jays come along. seedroom with the door open. Spotting a bowl of coastlive Using horizontal branchesas anvils,the jays areable to cracft oak acorns,a jay swoopedinto the dim cool room, grabbedan the nuts open, and the otherwiseinaccessible nutmeat that they acorn, and left with it.Thirty consecutivetrips to the seedbowl inadvertentlydrop or leavebehind becomesavailable to the followed, aslo acornswere removed, one by one, from the bowl. quail waiting nearby. (Unlike Clark'snutcracker, the scrub-jaycan only carry one In my garden,I will alwaysremember which trees were trans- acorn at a time.) My presence,three feet awayfrom the bowl, planted from containersinto the ground and which had the luck did not deter him. Our unplannedexperiment lasted for about to grow from acornsplanted direcdy in the ground by the beak an hour, with about two minutes betweenraids, presumably for of a cheekycorvid, whoseapparent intention wasto return for a cachingnearby. Somehow he knew it wasworth cJreckingout later snac-k.I honor theseplanting choicespardy becausetrees the seedroom that fatl day. planted duectly in the ground by jayshave a different and prob- Coveringthe tray with a cloth, I waited for the jayt return, ably healthier trajectory through time than the ones that begin curious to seeif he would employ complexretrieval behavior in their lives in nursery containers,to be subsequentlytransplanted my presence.He assessedthe situation, then left, returning three into the ground with somedegree of careand coddling.Tlees minutes later to seeif things had improved.When I pulled back that grow from acornsplanted directly in the ground, pounded a bit of the cloth so that some of the acornswere in view, he in by the jay'ssturdy beak,their roots neverfor a singlemoment grabbedone of the visible nuts, and left. Coveringthe bowl confined by a container,have a significant advantage.Once, that again,I waited to seeif he would pull the cloth back himself, is, they make it past the seedlingstage. Acorns in the ground are but apparendythis activiry requiredtoo muc-htime in my pres- vulnerableto many kinds of hazards,from rot and mold to wee- for the cocJ BAy NATURE *, ocroBER-DECEMBER 2oo< (ontinwedJrompagezl inthe earlyyears wasright, after all, and I apologized!'In of my garden,let them staywhere they this way,my designdecisions are aided were,though they havesince turned and abemedby the creaturesthat share a greenhouseinto a shadehouse and tl". to.'it^." kept a new addition small. Sometimes, Perchedat the cop of one of the I find advantageslater that werenot treesplanted by an ancestor,weeping, at first apparent.One jay-plantedoak screlching,zeeping, zraanhing, rattling, The GeneralStore nicely framesmy garden;another pro- chukking, or shlenking, the jay encour- for Birdwatchers vides a nighttime roosting site for quail agesme to continlre to considerhis so that their nocturnal cooingsand landscapingideas. I regardeach small Feeders.Seed.Houses rustlings can be heard from a bedroom seedling,whether an oak, California Baths. Statuary. Jewelry window. I didnt anticipatethese pleasant hazeT,bay,or coffeeberry,as something r Clothing Windchimes consequences,As Dawsonsaid, "the jay more than itself, a proof of contimrance and much more of a partnership,not at all trivial, still at work. }t Los Gatos 792 Blossom Hill Rd ludithl-arner Lowry is the proprietor oJLarner 4O8l358-9453 Suds,speclalizing in Calfornia natite plant seeds. Sheconsults on restoration?rojectsJor homeowners, San Carlos is theauthor gf Gardening with aWild Heart, 926ElCamino Real andis currentllat workon her Jorthcoming book 650/595-0300 The LandscapingIdeas of Jays,expectud in springzoo6Jrom the Untuersitl oJ Calfornia Press. Southeru Peninsula KathleenONeill is a Marin painterwho worksin oikand watercolors. Her workk shownat theBolinas Calbryin d.owntownBolinas, Maps of Bay Area parks and trails For futther readingon jays,other seed-caching Custom maps for books and displays birds,and attracting birds to youryard, ww.peasepress.com . (415) 387-7437 visit www.baynature.com. Ann i.i* ,l_t-rrrw ect "Corvs and Tomales Bay Rogers/Point Reyes California ({rom the Farming and Ranching Series) l-resentectT\t1 by KRCB Public Televison from the North Bay For more inf ormation, to make a contribution or to remind us about vour part of the story please visit www.forloveofplace.org I I r^ | FAY NATIpF * nrr They dont really needto usememory for that. I wouldnt saythat they are Finding the Stash not intelligent, but food cachingwould Int en iew with Vk dimir P ra t osu dov not lead m high intelligencein this par- ticular speciesbecause all they needto 'poor tun snowdrftsoJ Siberia to thelabs oJ UC Dnis, assistantresearch proJessorVladtmir do is protect ltheir cache].They cache L Prarotrdo,has studted theJood-cachingbehavior oJwrious birds, including Russian birds that cache all their acornsin one tree-cailed a granary-and then they protect it from up tohalJ a millionitems in one1ear. Born in Leningrad(now St.Petersburg), Prawsudov says hls child- all their competitors. boodinterest in birdscarried himJrom northwestern Russia to Siberia to tbeUnited States, where he became BN: Do yu worryabout anthropomorphizing agraduate student at OhioState (Jnit;ersit1, AJter subsequent work at Purfuie Unhersity and UC Dattis, theanimak yu workwith? PratosudouruentLl accepted a position with the University oJ Nnada-Renok biologt department to \{P: I'm not too worried about it. continuebis studies oJ spatial memory andJood-cachingbehavior Pravosudol met witb Bay Nature I think this whole [food caching] cachingblblrds andhis long-Iited passionJor his subjects. toexplainJood mec-hanismhas evolvedto rncrease survivorshipof theseanimals. Itt not BN: Whatled yu tostart researchingJood qpes of food. Potentially,this is very ju.t becaurethey're cute, or that they cacbingbehaaior? interestingbecause you're cachingper- can think. It's very simple.They cache VP: I wasinterested because I sawthese ishableand nonperishableffood items] to survivethe winter. For evolution, small birds [in Kandalaksha,Russia]- all over the place,overlapping in differ- for selection,it doesnt matter if itt chicl -!h ocroBER-DEcEMBER 2oo5 BAY NATURE