Flight oF the Condor - Golden Gate Audubon Society
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the newsletter of the golden gate audubon society // vol. 106 no. 1 winter 2022
Flight of
the Condor
by eric schroeder
J oseph Belli picked up a ping from a GPS transmitter
at 8:30 a.m. on September 12, 2021, as his subject
crossed the Altamont Pass. A short while later, the subject
circled Mount Diablo, and within two hours, headed
back south. If you’d been on the mountain that day and
looked up, you might have seen her, a California Condor
(Gymnogyps californianus), with a wingspan of over nine
feet, the largest bird in North America.
CONTINUED on page 3
Condor 828 soaring over Pinnacles National Park.
Tim Huntington
Sandhill Cranes.
Loggerhead Shrike is among the birds found at Tesla Park.
Peter Shen
Steller’s Jay on bench.
Building a Case for Better Bird Names
by glenn phillips, executive director
a t a recent parent event at my daugh-
ter’s school in Orinda, a large, noisy
blue bird with a black crest flew over the
The related Mutsun-speaking people called
it KiKi, and the Plains Miwok-speaking
people, including the neighboring Saklan,
family with crows and ravens, as opposed to
the New World jay subfamily.
In November, Golden Gate Audubon
assembled parents in the school garden. called it KajKajtʃaja, both of which echo endorsed the Bird Names for Birds move-
The head of the school looked me right in the easily recognizable call of this bird. ment, joining David Allen Sibley and
the eyes and announced that the school The Steller’s Jay and the Blue Jay are in hundreds of other scientists and conserva-
mascot, a “Blue Jay”, had arrived to welcome fact closely related, so calling the crested, tion groups in calling for the end of eponyms
us. We both knew it was a Steller’s Jay that blue and black jays of the west, “blue jays”, in the official common names for birds.
had flown by and she expected me to cor- is correct if we are only identifying the “Western Blue Jay” tells you so much more
rect her. This time, I didn’t. In the moment, birds at the genus level. Who would look about the bird: where it lives and what other
I wondered, ‘why did this bird need to carry down on someone for correctly identify- species are closely related to it, while also
the name of a German explorer? What did ing a flycatcher as a member of the genus avoiding associations with colonialism and
the Chochenyo-speaking Huchiun people Empidonax, while not being able to dis- racism that names like Steller, Scott, and
who lived here call this bird? tinguish which species? Even the English McCown conjure. At the same time, we
Unfortunately, the Chochenyo name for name “jay” is suspect here. New world jays open doors for new people to love and take
this bird is lost to mankind, a victim of the are not particularly closely related to the care of the birds whose planet we share.
same colonialism that doomed the Dodo. European Jay, which is in the same sub- (Being dinosaurs, birds were here first.)
news briefs
Altamont Pass Update Winter Classes Annual Report 2021
In response to Alameda County’s failure to Winter is finally here, which means our adult The 2021 Golden Gate Audubon Annual Report
require an adequate environmental impact report education class schedule is up and registration is now publicly available on our website. Check
on the proposed Mulqueeney Ranch Wind Farm is open. This line up includes new classes on out what we’ve been working on over the past
project in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource gulls in Northern California and swifts and fiscal year. From our education programs to our
Area, Golden Gate Audubon along with other hummingbirds, plus introductory classes and restoration and conservation projects, the annual
local Audubon chapters filed a lawsuit in early classes on shorebirds, diving birds and birding by report is a great way to see your contributions in
November 2021. ear. Check out our website for more information. action.
2 THE GULL winter 2022
features
FLIGHT OF THE CONDOR from page 1
Belli, a volunteer at Pinnacles National
Park, knew this particular bird, Condor
828. In April 2016, she was the first chick
to fledge successfully there since condors
were reintroduced in 2003. At five-and-
a-half years old, she’s almost mature, and,
as Belli says, “She likes to roam.” But her
visit to Mount Diablo was something new.
Although juveniles without their own ter-
ritories are known to explore new places,
none had ever been documented venturing
this far north into the Bay Area.
Twenty-five years ago, condors were on
the brink of extinction due to habitat loss,
Matt Mais
shooting, egg collection and poisoning.
But a captive breeding program with the
last remaining 27 condors, run by the San Tiana Williams-Claussen, Director of Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, with California Condor.
Diego Wild Animal Park and Los Angeles
Zoo, proved successful. Two condors were
initially reintroduced into the wild in 1992.
As of 2020, there were 504 living California condors, 329 of
Today wild populations exist in southern which fly free.
California, Arizona, Baja California (Mex-
ico), Big Sur, and Pinnacles. As of 2020,
there were 504 living California condors, fire near Big Sur in 2020, and another 13 in chickens, pigeons and some finches, but
329 of which fly free. from the central California flock died from the offspring rarely survive. While exam-
These birds still commonly face setbacks dangers such as lead poisoning. The over- ining the genetic database for California
however. Generally hatching just one egg all mortality rate for the central California Condors, researchers noticed two chicks
per year, California Condors are susceptible population was 20 percent last year— were biologically fatherless. Each bird car-
to natural calamities and human-caused much higher than the three to five percent ried genes from its mother but neither had
hazards. Fourteen birds died from the Dolan rate that Belli says condors need to be self- genes from any male bird in the database.
sustaining in the wild. One bird died while still a juvenile, but the
But there’s good news, too. A collabo- other lived to be eight and died from com-
ration between the Yurok tribe from the plications of an injured foot.
Klamath River area on the California- Meanwhile, could the September sight-
Oregon border and the U.S. Fish and ing of Condor 828 over Mount Diablo
Wildlife Service will soon expand the signal the arrival of a condor population in
range of condors in California. Condors the East Bay? Unlikely, according to Belli.
(prey-go-neesh in Yurok) are the top birds “Condors are very, very social birds and
in the Yurok ceremonial hierarchy. Soar- don’t really stake out new territories,” Belli
ing up to 15,000 feet, they are thought said. “The birds in the Central California
to carry prayers to heaven. According to flock haven’t migrated more than 35-40
Tiana Williams-Claussen, director of the miles from their original release sites.”
Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, four Still, 828’s brief visit highlights the
juveniles, three males and a female, will need for us to keep our local skies safe
arrive in February 2022 and be released for all kinds of winged creatures. Golden
later in spring. Gate Audubon Society returned to court
Other startling news about condor this fall to protect birds and bats from a
propagation came in November when San poorly-planned expansion of wind turbines
Diego Zoo scientists announced two cases at Altamont Pass. We’re fighting not just
Mark Mauno
of parthenogenesis—a rare event when for Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and
an egg becomes an embryo without the American Kestrels—but also for the occa-
California Condor. introduction of sperm. It’s been observed sional California Condor like number 828.
winter 2022 THE GULL 3
features
The Inaugural Berkeley Bird Festival
by ryan nakano
f rom the Peregrine Falcons nesting in
the Campanile of the UC campus to
the hummingbirds zipping along in back-
way at the David Brower Center, a four-
hour-long program of bird stories, images,
poems, songs, and demonstrations took
With many people turning to the outdoors
since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,
birdwatching has seen a dramatic increase
yards, birds are everywhere in Berkeley. place upstairs in the form of Winged in popularity and the inaugural Berkeley
At the same time, many common Wonderment. Just outside of the Winged Bird Festival was a perfect way to foster
backyard birds in Berkeley including; Chick- Wonderment program, groups participated that energy, excitement and willingness to
adees, Juncos and Woodpeckers, risk facing in painting birds with watercolor, folding take action to protect local birds and their
a significant population decline from cli- origami cranes and building pinecone bird environment.
mate change, according to a report from the feeders. The Berkeley Bird Festival was made
National Audubon Society. By the end of the day, an estimated possible by the financial support of the UC
In an attempt to celebrate the city’s 1,000 attendees took part in some aspect Berkeley Chancellor’s Community Partner-
diverse birdlife and acknowledge the resil- of the festival’s programming. Importantly, ship Fund, and the following partnerships;
ience of these winged wonders, Golden the 350 East Bay action table collected over the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, the
Gate Audubon and the California Institute 100 signatures to be sent to Congress to UC Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zool-
for Community, Art, and Nature (California pass legislation known as the Build Back ogy, Cal Falcons, David Brower Center, Bay
I CAN) organized the first ever Berkeley Better Act to combat climate change. Nature, and Berkeleyside.
Bird Festival on Sunday, October 17, 2021.
Spread between the UC Berkeley Cam-
pus, the David Brower Center and nine
distinct birding hotspots in the greater
Berkeley area, the festival offered attend-
ees multiple opportunities to learn about
the lives of their feathered neighbors and
the important role they play in the local
ecosystem.
Over 200 new and seasoned birders alike
enjoyed guided birding field trips throughout
Berkeley; exploring Aquatic Park, the UC
Botanical Garden, Vollmer Peak in Tilden
and Cesar Chavez Park, among other sites.
Following the lead of Golden Gate
Audubon Eco-Ed Director Clay Ander-
son, individuals and families chalked their
Ryan Nakano
favorite birds onto concrete in front of the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and the Li
Ka Shing center on campus. Across the Youth participate in chalk art for the Berkeley Bird Festival.
Upcoming events
Engaging Elders in Climate Change Great Backyard Bird Count Birdathon
January 9, 2 - 4 p.m. on Zoom February 18–21 March 12 – April 24
Bill Mckibben co-founded 350.org to Didn’t get your fill of bird counts this winter? We’re returning to in-person field trips for this
mobilize youth to address climate change. Join the Great Backyard Bird Count and spend year’s Birdathon running from March 12 to April
Now Mckibben is calling on the older as little as 15 minutes counting birds to be 24. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience
generation to step up to support youth submitted to birdcount.org from February one-of-a-kind birding trips while contributing to
activists. For more information on this talk, 18 - 21. Your data will help researchers better Golden Gate Audubon so we can continue offering
visit ashbyvillage.org understand the health of our bird populations. free field trips throughout the rest of the year.
4 THE GULL winter 2022
FEATURES
Mark Rauzon
Two Ashy Storm-petrels with six Fork-tailed Storm-petrels.
Ashy Storm-Petrel in Peril:
A Farallon Islands Story
by whitney grover
s tanding on the coast, looking out at the Pacific Ocean, it’s
easy to see why early colonizers considered this the end of the
earth. On clear days, due west of the Golden Gate, you can barely
naturally occurring there) who are attracted by the food supply. The
Burrowing Owls stay, the mouse populations decline, eventually
crashing to low levels. The timing of this crash is unfortunate, as
make out the sharp tooth of islands on the horizon. seabird chicks are hatching. Burrowing Owls switch to a diet of
Venturing out by boat, you lose sight of land but miraculously, you the young Ashy Storm-petrel and others. The house mouse popula-
are not alone. First Gulls and Murres, then; Shearwaters, Jaegers, tions bounce back, and today they are at plague levels. Humans
Auklets, Puffins and Albatross come into view. Further out you’ll created this new food web and it happened too quickly to allow the
find the Storm-petrels, impossibly small birds zooming over the sea. birds to adapt. Scientists at Point Blue Conservation Science have
Their drab gray bodies are shorter than a robin’s, but their wing- determined that eradication of the house mouse will allow the Ashy
span is twice as long. They prey on small sea creatures at night, Storm-petrel populations to rebound.
drink seawater and nest in rocky crags. Thirteen years ago U.S. Fish and Wildlife began a study cul-
Most humans will never see an Ashy Storm-petrel, and you’d minating in a 2019 published plan to eradicate the invasive house
think all their adaptations to a world outside our bounds would keep mouse from the South Farallon Island. Although rodenticide will be
them safe. Unfortunately, seabirds worldwide face many human used, it is not without serious consideration of the environmental
caused threats and Ashy Storm-petrels are designated endangered impacts and review of all possible alternatives. The plan also uses
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). case studies of other islands where the same techniques were used
Thirty miles off San Francisco Bay is that mysterious tooth: the successfully. Rodenticide should always be a last resort, but unfor-
Farallon Islands. Half the world’s Ashy Storm-petrel population tunately that’s where we are in correcting the ecological imbalance
nests there along with many other seabird species, marine mam- to protect these sensitive seabird species from potential extinction.
mals, reptiles, and insects. But there’s one animal found on the
islands you will certainly recognize, brought by humans: the house
mouse.
Humans came to the Farallones in the 1800s and centuries
of coming and going left the natural state of the island heavily
impacted. Today, the Island is a Natural Wildlife Refuge, and the
only humans allowed are biologists, tasked with studying and
protecting its natural resources. Improvements have been made
Susan MacWhorter
including removal of other introduced species such as cats and rab-
bits. But the house mouse remains, and they’re a serious problem for
the Ashy Storm-petrel.
On the island, house mouse populations increase each year Housing structures now occupied by Point Blue staff and volunteers on the Farallon
just in time for raptor migration, bringing in Burrowing Owls (not Islands.
winter 2022 THE GULL 5
speaker series
The California online
spotted owl Thursday, February 17
7 p.m. program
anu kramer Zoom
“How do different kinds of
fire influence the California
spotted owl?” We examined
owl behavior in a high-
severity mega-fire, as well
as in fire-restored National
Parks and found consistent
Sheila Whitmore
preferences regarding fire
severity and patch size that
inform future forest and fire California spotted owl in burned snag nest.
management throughout the
region and influence the future of these owls as well as human com-
munities and the Sierra Nevada ecosystem as a whole.
Anu Kramer received her doctorate in 2016 from the Univer-
sity of California – Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy,
and Management, where she specialized in fire ecology, GIS, and
remote sensing. She has been a researcher with the Peery Lab at
Eddie Bartley
the University of Wisconsin – Madison since 2018, where she works
primarily with California spotted owls.
Lazuli Bunting.
Gardening for online
Birds Thursday, January 20
7 p.m. program Connecting online
noreen weeden and
eddie bartley
Zoom
Ecotourism and Thursday, March 17
7 p.m. program
Conservation Zoom
You can have a beautiful native plant garden that attracts amaz- ivan phillipsen
ing birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Learn about the benefits of
local native plants and some of the wonderful birds that are drawn Conservation of the world’s
to this place and to these plants. Noreen Weeden and Eddie Bartley bird and wildlife diver-
will discuss what migrating and resident birds need and how to pro- sity has become a topic of
vide what the birds are seeking. enormous importance in
Eddie Bartley is President of the Yerba Buena chapter of CNPS the 21st century. Ecotour-
and the Farallon Islands Foundation. He is an avian researcher and ism is among the many
instructor for the California Academy of Sciences and Golden Gate approaches for channeling
Ivan Phillipsen
Audubon. Noreen Weeden was formerly Volunteer Director with resources into conservation
Golden Gate Audubon and is currently project managing a habitat efforts. This presentation
restoration project. She is on the board of Yerba Buena CNPS. will explore some ways that New Zealand Kaka.
we can help protect the nat-
ural world by experiencing it through travel.
Ivan is a dedicated naturalist with a background in scientific
Our monthly Speaker Series is now online!
research. He holds a M.S. in Biology from Cal State San Bernardino
To receive email alerts with links to each Zoom presentation,
and a doctorate in Zoology from Oregon State University. As Co-
email us at mturner@goldengateaudubon.org and put
owner of Wild Latitudes, Ivan has been able to apply his knowledge
“speaker series” in the subject line.
in crafting and leading ecotours around the world.
6 THE GULL winter 2022
donations masthead
Thank you for being part of our donor and member community. board of directors
President
We are deeply appreciative of every individual, business, and organization who Eric Schroeder
supports Golden Gate Audubon. In this issue we recognize our new members in 2021 Vice President and Co-Chair of
East Bay Conservation Committee
and all our major donors from the past year, January 1, 2021 through December 1, 2021. Laura Cremin
Secretary and Co-Chair of Development
Carol Baird
Major Donors Bracke, Tim Bramer,
Margaret Bray, Marilyn
Jett, Mona R. Jhaveri, Susan Poirier-Klein,
Felicia S. Johansson, Patricia Powell, Kayla Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee
Brenner, Kate Bristol, Laury A. Joseph, Joe Powers, Karen Pressprich,
$10,000 and above Bruce Mast
Terry Britt, Ronald Brown, Joseph, Margaret V. Julia Rabkin, Jeffrey
Anonymous Jared Brubaker, Nancy Katcher, Sean Kawa, Rachlin, Robert Raffel
Chancellor’s Office, UC Rebekah Berkov, Amy Chong, Blake Edgar,
Buermeyer, Cynthia Daniel Keady, Emilie , Jerome Rainey, Paula
Berkeley Whitney Grover, Derek Heins,
Butler, Debra A. Callahan, ‘M’ Keas, Grant Kerber, Rantz, Peggy D. Rehm,
National Fish & Wildlife Susan MacWhorter, Christine Okon,
Stephen Cassidy, Pascale Joanie Kibbey , Christine Cheryl A. Reinman,
Foundation Dan Roth, Christina Tarr
Cervantes, Davin Chan, Kiesling, Amy Kilgard, Ann C. Reis, Susana O.
National Audubon Jessie Chen, Emiy Elyse King, Gabi Kirk, Renaud, Peter Richards,
Society Cheng, Simon Chiu, Lisa Powers Kirkpatrick, Deborah L. Robbins, staff
Karen & Ben Rosenbaum Amy Chong, Raymond Howard Kirsch, Marsha Elizabeth Rock, Michael
University of California, Executive Director
Chu, Richard Compean, Kirschbaum, Edna Rodevich, Valerie C.
San Francisco Glenn Phillips, 510.843.2222 ext. 1002
William E. Conaway, Kiyono, John Klabau, Rodgers, Leslie Roffman,
Salesforce.com gphillips@goldengateaudubon.org
Elayna Contreras, Phillis Helen Knights, Denise E. Wendy Rogers, Sara
Foundation Cooper, Caren Corley, Koker, Steven Kornberg, Rosario, Janet Rosati, Director of Development
Eric Schroeder & Susan Susan Cossette, Ronnie Alexander Sahba Koumis, Vicki Rosen, Patti Rossi, Catherine Millar
Palo E. Cramer, Joe Cristofalo, Karen Kramer, Alan Sarah Royce, Gabriella cmillar@goldengateaudubon.org
Kathy Cutting, Janis Kren, Sam Krueger, Lisa Santis, Lisa Sargent,
$5,000 to $9,999 Dairiki, Courtney A Gayle Kwietniak, Anne Michele Schaal, Debbie Volunteer Services Manager
Carol Baird & Alan Harper Damkroger, Eli Davey, Landstrom, Kathryn K Schantz, David Schlais, Janet Carpinelli
Mary Betlach Cian Dawson, Manisha Layton, Lynn Lazarus, Victoria Schlesinger, jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org
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Foundation (Agerter Tina Lenderman, Mary Margaret Schrand, Sarah
Judd Fund) Demer, Paul J. Derenthal, R. Levak-Cohen, Cathy Schroeder, Michelle Ryan Nakano
Flora Family Foundation Jane Diamond, Andrea Lewis, Wendy Leyden, Schurig, Margot Sheffner, rnakano@goldengateaudubon.org
Kathryn Jordan Dorn, Elaine Dowd, Linda Liebschutz, Eileen Shields, Claudia Youth Programs Manager
Ardeen Russell-Quinn Monica Duclaud, Ben M. Frank Limacher, Boshin Sieber, Betty Sin, Alok Clay Anderson
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Foundation (Buehler Ericson, Laural Fawcett, Kathleen Maclay, Anthony Starr, Gunther Stein, mturner@goldengateaudubon.org
Fund) Carol A. Felch, Anushka Maguire, Maureen Lisa Stockholm, Lori
Josh Jensen Fernandopulle, Nikola Database and Membership Coordinator
Maher, Rosemary Mans, Stoneman, Michael
Pat Kirkpatrick & Sid Filby, Jean Fiske, Bryan Justin Pepito
Jacquelyn Marie, Dell Sullivan, Stephen R.
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Regina Phelps Friedman, Teale Fristoe, Barbara Matz, Randy Kathleen E. Taylor, Susan
Helen Mckenns and Allan Dawn Furseth, Linda volunteer LEADERSHIP
McDevitt-Parks, James Tenney, Lee J. Thomas,
Ridley Garber, Pamela Garcia, McElroy, Mary McIlroy, Karen L. Thompson,
Jacqueline Smalley Adult Education Chair
Ruth Geos, Afshin Gharib, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Erika J. Thost, Barbara
Geraldine Young Maureen Lahiff, mlahiff@aol.com
Rebecca Ann Gies, Pilar Mendoza, Rohit J. K Tjernell, Rebecca
Mike Gifford, Anna Gil, Menezes, darcy mercord, Todd, Mary M. Torpey, Field Trip Coordinator
New Members Kathleen A Gilcrest, Mary
Gilliford, Jan-Christian
Declan Brice Mercord- Elizabeth Tuckwell, Christina Tarr, christina.tarr@gmail.com
Weiss, Peter Meyer, Johanna Turko, Wakako
in 2021 Goettsche, Miye Goishi, Howard E Meyerson, Elia Uritani, Aleeta M Van Travel with GGAS Coordinators
Thank you to all our Daniel Goldstein, Meza, Catie Michel, Beata Runkle, Laura Veit, LJ Cris Heins, Dawn Lemoine, and Eric Schroeder
members, including these Michael Gollner, R. Milhano, Samantha Vincent, Terry Vogt, KF travelprogram@goldengateaudubon.org
new members who joined Robert S. Gomez, Taryn Miller, Laura Miller, Vollmayer, Mary Wakely,
Golden Gate Audubon for Goomishian, Guido Karen L. Miller, Roger Gwen Walden, Barry MISSION STATEMENT
the first time this year. Gores, Mia Gottlieb, and Win Mixter, Keith Adam Waldman, James Golden Gate Audubon Society engages people
Seiko Grant, Alexa Moody, Susanna Moore, Walker, Katharine Walter, to experience the wonder of birds and to translate
Tom Adams, Melissa Graumlich, Hunter Green, Edith Morrow, Lynn Ryan Watson, Michael that wonder into actions which protect native bird
Agnello, David Aid, Kelby Green, Mick Griffin, Mueller, Katie A. Murphy, Wei, Karen Weil, Lisa populations and their habitats.
Rikki Anderson, Janan Bob Gronke, Yumang Cristina M Najarro, Weiss, Sharon Rose
Apaydin, Catherine Guintu, Jennifer Hackney, Emma Nation, Nancy Welch, Louise White, Tom
M. Archbold, Michelle Iman Haidarzada, Alex Neal, Tuan Nguyen, Whitehead, Maribeth ABOUT GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON society
Arguelles, Laura Armor, L. Hansen, Sue Hawley, Amelia Nielsen, Linda Willcox, Nancy Williams, The Golden Gate Audubon Society was founded
Diana Austin, Alan Bade, Peter Hawrylyshyn, C. Nowell, C. Alexandra Patricia E Williamson, January 25, 1917.
Margaret Balk, Robyn Donna Hayes , Daniel D. Odabachian, Barry M. Sam C. Wilson, Stanley
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Barbara Boyle, Paul Ann Jawili, Richard This issue of The Gull was published January 2022.
winter 2022 THE GULL 7
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4 Berkeley Bird Festival 5 Ashy Storm-petrels and the Farallones 6 Speaker Series
The first ever Berkeley Bird festival brought The endangered Ashy Storm-petrel under Winter is the perfect time to learn how to
beginner and seasoned birders out to threat of extinction from invasive house plant a beautiful native garden that equally
support their feathered neighbors. mice on the Farallon Islands. attracts and benefits local birds.
backyard birder
seen flying in small groups and feasting on berries in trees including
fruit from Juniper, Mistletoe and Elderberry plants. They also love
dining on insects, enjoying grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, beetles
and moths, to name a few.
During the breeding season, they often migrate south, arriving
in early spring and lingering into fall. The male scouts out potential
nesting sites, usually natural hollows in oaks or pines or old wood-
pecker holes, and sings to defend his territory. Nesting boxes set on
fence posts are also attractive options, though no matter where he
goes, competition is fierce and he often has to fend off competitors,
particularly Tree Swallows.
Rick Lewis
After courting the female by fluttering in front of her, wings and
tail spread, serenading her with his song, the business of building the
Western Bluebird at Crab Cove in Alameda. nest commences. The female being the primary architect, creates a
cup of weeds, grasses and twigs. She’ll lay on average four to six pale
Western Bluebird blue eggs and both parents will share the duty of bringing food to the
nestlings. The young will fledge within two to three weeks and the
by lydia bruno and ryan nakano parents may attempt another brood.
o
Due to loss of habitat and nesting sites among other significant
ften seen perching on fence posts or wires near open fields factors, Western Bluebird populations are in decline. Their preferred
dotted with trees or open woodlands, the Western Bluebird nesting cavities are often found in dead trees which are frequently
is striking at first glance, especially the male with his deep terra- cut down and removed. Nesting boxes help fill this void, yet, like
cotta breast and gleaming cobalt blue neck, wings, back and tail. human shelter, the supply is not keeping up with demand.
His partner’s coloring is more subtle, with her peach colored breast, If you have a yard, building a nesting box is an easy and effective
soft gray back and wings shaded gently with blue. way to help maintain Western Bluebird populations. Cornell’s Nest-
Found throughout the western U.S., extending down into Mexico, watch website (https://nestwatch.org) provides detailed instructions
the Western Bluebird is social during the nonbreeding season, often on how to build and maintain these boxes.
8 THE GULL winter 2022
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