• Wintering Shorebirds on San Francisco Bay

    By Maureen Lahiff

     

    Spring is almost here, but there’s still time to enjoy the shorebirds that are here for winter R&R.  Many of the species that winter in large numbers on San Francisco Bay have come a long way on their fall migration. They spend the summer nesting  in a wide diversity of habitats, from the high Arctic and sub-Arctic, to the forests of Alaska and across northern Canada, and across the Great Basin and the Great Plains.

    Shorebirds are drawn here for the winter by our climate; our shorelines bordered by marsh plants; and the large variety of invertebrates and small shellfish that make their homes in the mudflats and intertidal zones bordering the Bay, thriving in the Bay’s mix of salt and fresh water, referred to as “brackish.”

    The miracle of wetlands

    Although we’ve lost 90% of the wetlands that ringed the Bay before 1850, what’s left still provides a smorgasbord for shorebirds.  The food chain is driven by microscopic organisms, phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are consumed by invertebrates and tiny fish.

    Conservation efforts by a number of organizations including Golden Gate Bird Alliance have led to improved habitat for shorebirds.  At the same time, restoring wetlands provides a buffer against sea level rise.

    What is a shorebird?

    Not all birds at the shore are shorebirds, and not all shorebirds are found close to water. The essential characteristic of shorebirds is that they feed by picking and probing with their bills. Some hunt by sight, while others with longer bills probe in the mud and the bay floor, hunting by touch and smell.

    When you see a number of shorebirds feeding together, notice how their different sizes and bill lengths allow them to use slightly different niches in the same habitat, so that they are not directly competing for the same food resources.

    Shorebirds are also notable for their long legs: The Brits call them “waders”!

    Some great birds to get you started

    Shorebird watching is rewarding for beginning birders and children, as many species are easy to see when feeding along the shoreline.  Unless disturbed, they walk or wade while searching for food, so you can get a leisurely look.  It’s helpful to have binoculars, but you don’t necessarily need a spotting scope.  If you don’t want to carry a field guide, consider the “Beach and on the Bay ” foldout guide in John Muir Laws’s The Laws Pocket Guide Set: San Francisco Bay Area.…

  • Reflecting On An Unusual SF Christmas Bird Count

    By David Assmann

     

    The 2020 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count nearly didn’t happen due to the pandemic. Fortunately, San Francisco birders adapted to the challenge. Although we had to follow strict new guidelines, this winter’s count turned out to be one of the best in decades. 103 socially distanced counters ended up tallying more than 68,000 birds by the end of the day on December 29th – the highest tally in more than 30 years. This was also up about 35% from last year’s total – which is even more impressive considering we had a lot fewer counters, and we didn’t have access to all the areas we are normally able to access.

    In addition to solo bird counting, this was also the year of modernization. We transitioned away from paper tallies to using eBird for data collection and compiling. A total of 269 eBird lists were submitted. Counters were also able to accurately pinpoint the boundaries of each area, thanks to GIS maps created by William Wiskes. And the traditional count dinner was replaced with a well attended Zoom countdown.

    By the time count week was over, the species tally stood at 189 – only two species fewer than last year’s record 191 species. There were lots of rare species – 29 in all. Almost every area (14 of 17) had one or more rare species.

    The best bird of the count was a Black Storm-Petrel, spotted by Josiah Clark, flying 100 yards offshore at Crissy Field. A Storm-Petrel has never before been seen on a San Francisco Christmas Bird Count, and Black Storm-Petrels have only been seen five times in the 120-year history of the count in California. An Ancient Murrelet seen from Ocean Beach was the other seabird of note.

    Ancient Murrelet by Eric Ellingson

    Overall duck numbers were similar to previous years, with increases in American Wigeons and Northern Shovelers but declines in other species.  We missed White-Winged Scoter for the first time ever, which is remarkable considering that in 1990, there were more than 1,200 seen. Scaup numbers dropped to 611 (down almost two-thirds from last year). We had two Redheads on the count (Crystal Springs), as well as a Long-Tailed Duck (Land’s End). A Harlequin Duck (Cliff House) was seen during count week.

    The highest number for a single species was for Double-Crested Cormorant, with 5,303 reported, with almost all of these viewed on the Bay from the South of Market area.…

  • Plants for Birds: It’s Not Too Late to Dig In!

    By Noreen Weeden

     

    Planting season in the San Francisco Bay Area is late fall through winter.  With a forecast of rain ahead, it is not too late to get some beautiful native plants in the ground to benefit our birds.  You may have heard that Plants for Birds is an exciting partnership of GGBA and the Yerba Buena chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). This season we are promoting a native tree, vine, bush and groundcover.  Each of these plants provide food for butterflies and birds.

    Over one third of the birds in the US eat insects. Doug Tallamy, entomologist and author, has worked with student researchers conducting studies on the insects which eat or lay eggs on plants which are then consumed by birds.    In fascinating co-evolutionary strategies most insects require specific plants.  Many exotic plants and plants sold as pest free have chemicals in their tissues which repel insects.

    Early last year I spoke with Kathy Kramer of Bringing Back the Natives fame.  She and her husband Michael May had taken Tallamy’s research and looked at west coast plant – insect associations.  Taking this further was a chance to evaluate San Francisco plant species.  Using that data, I took the San Francisco plant list and looked at CalScape- a CNPS plant resource.  After analyzing these a tree, vine, bush and groundcover were selected for the program which attract local birds and butterflies.  The GGBA San Francisco Conservation Committee then went to work to make it local by contacting local nurseries to see if they would be interested in selling these plants.  Qiting “Tina” Cai, an intern with CNPS, prepared graphics to promote these plants.

    This season’s four fabulous featured plants:

    Coast Red-flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum is an awesome plant. It blooms in the winter and is attractive to Anna’s Hummingbirds and the Satyr Comma and Ceanothus Silkmoth.

    Coast Red-flowering Currant by Noreen Weeden

     

    Anna’s Hummingbird by Noreen Weeden

    Coffeeberry Frangula californica a bush with berries which Cedar Waxwing and other birds consume and the Gray Hairstreak and Pale Swallowtail Butterflies depend upon.

    Coffeeberry by Neal Kramer

     

    Cedar Waxwings by Noreen Weeden

    California Honeysuckle Lonicera hispidula is a native vine with pink flowers appeal to Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds and Chestnut-backed Chickadee as well as the Variable Checkerspot butterfly.

    California Honeysuckle by Margo Bors

     

    Allen’s Hummingbird by Noreen Weeden

    Beach Strawberry Fragaria chiloensis was the selected groundcover. …

  • Bird like a Mother, With or Without Children

    By Bryony Angell

     

    Despite appearances, this post is not about how to get children into birding! And you need not even be a mother to get something from it, either. I’m considering instead one aspect of prejudice in birding that if addressed, could have broader benefits for all birders who experience being marginalized.

    Birding with my daughter at Spencer Island, Everett, WA, October 2020. Pandemic mask dates this. Photo by Elisa Murray, also a mother!

    In my personal experience as a female-identified parent of small children who is a serious birder, my participating in birding is now impacted by said children. And I am not blaming my children, who are future voters for conservation and birds. No, I’m directing an eagle eye at the defined practice of birding itself.

    I observe this birding culture that I love is steadfastly designed by people who never factored in the care of small children in celebrating what it means to be a “serious birder”: The chasing of rarities, self-funding Big Years, serving on boards and committees, exotic birding travel, even taking part in birding festivals as a regular attendee—none of these things is something a mother can easily participate in without not one but all the following components in her own household: child care arrangements, a supportive partner, reliable transport and time and income to accommodate birding or volunteering.

    But the biggest constraints may be outside her control: How many organizations, tours and festivals are designed and scheduled at times that parents could participate (with or without children)? The world of birding promoted hither and yon from my vantage looks much more accessible for men (with partners at home taking care of the kids) or birders of any gender who are child free.

    I talked about being a mother birder on the ABA podcast and have since banded with another professional birder (and mother), Bridget Butler of Bird Diva Consulting, to organize a “Bird Like a Mother” Zoom meet up on Sunday, January 10, 2021 (join us if you are interested!), to further learn the joys and challenges from other birding mothers. I hope as a group we’ll come up with some solutions to suggest to festival organizers, trip planners and non-profit boards and committees for making participating easier for us.

    Meanwhile, I’ll bird as I can—15 minute intervals here and there on the way to somewhere else, with a kid who may or may not be obliging of the opportunity.…

  • November at the Lagoon

    By Gerry Traucht

     

    Around mid-November, I saw some interesting events at the Berkeley Lagoon. Normally, the lagoon is rather calm during this time of year. Occasionally, one could see up to four or six Brown Pelicans at a time. But on a mid-November morning, I saw something remarkable: about 35 (and counting!) enormous Pelican fledglings among the adult Pelicans. There were nearly as many Cormorants with adolescents as well. To top everything off, Snowy Egrets arrived with their teenagers.

    At the peak of my observations, I saw nearly one hundred Egrets, Pelicans and Cormorants, gathered by the lagoon. Photos below.

    For a couple of November days, usually around 9 am, as if on signal, the Egrets would gather into a group by the mud mound. An adult squawked at late arrivals and stray youngsters while herding them into a loose standing formation until they all faced the water.

    https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/9-Traucht-video-of-male-herding-young-egrets-to-stand-together-IMG_2740-2.m4v

     

     

    The Egrets stood, waiting. Watching. One was distracted, another grabbed a fish. Soon they all stood quietly, observing the lagoon. This was the same spot where the October Egrets performed their gymnastic fishing, each in turn flying the loop. The set of Snowy Egrets I saw in November seemed to be a different group. In this magical location, however, an equally eye-opening event happened.

    For over two weeks in November, the group activities built and led to a climax of interesting behaviors. In the beginning, the three species would visit each other, hang out and barge into each group’s activities. Many of the birds engaged in play, lounging around the lagoon in various combinations of two or three species.

    The fishing process appeared playful. It looked to me like a joyous reunion among these waterbirds and waders. Much revolved around the adults instigating activity, as the curious young birds found friends amongst themselves. There, in mid-day moments of profound group contentment, these birds rested, drifted and glided along the lagoon in dream-like calm.

    On November 26th, the Pelicans, Cormorants, and Snowy Egrets came together in an event that resembled a procession out of a carnival. Does nature have Fellini-esque gatherings? This menagerie waded, swam flew, dove, and moved together in a caravan, often two abreast with clusters of Pelicans in the middle. Leading the caravan were a pair of Cormorants. Other groups of Cormorants hid among the clustered Pelicans. Some swam and watched along the sides of the lagoon.…