- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is the only indigenous rattlesnake found in Northern California ... or for that matter in the entire Pacific Northwest. Due to the extreme variability in appearances and subspecies, many local folks have been led to believe that there are several species of rattlesnakes in the area ...such as "timber" rattlesnakes, "diamondback" Rattlesnakes, and "sidewinders" ... but this is erroneous.
Rattlesnakes are deaf, but they can detect vibrations through their skin. They have good vision, and can smell with nasal openings and with their tongues. The forked tongue, as seen here, collects molecules and other microscopic particles from the air, ground, leaves, etc., and when the snake pulls its tongue back into its mouth it inserts the forks of the tongue into two holes in the roof of the mouth. These holes are connected to a sensory organ called the Jacobson's Organ ... which may be in a way similar to the olfactory system (smell as we know it) but is a bit different. It's kind of a built-in lab that tests for chemical compounds. This sensory organ aids a rattlesnake in tracking its prey down after the prey has been injected with toxin.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Mendocino & Lake Counties have had recent wildfires that have blanketed the skies at times with smoke. That's the "downside" of the events ... with the "upside" being good smokey conditions for some striking sunsets and sunrises.
Here you see the skies over Sanel Valley from last week filled with clouds and smoke ...and allowing rays of sunshine to filter downward during late afternoon. Such conditions can affect plant growth and wildlife behavior ... but not much is known about such affects in oak woodlands.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The Common Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita) is one of many species of manzanita, of which there are five species found on the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. With at least six subspecies of Common Manzanita, this one (A.m. subs. manzanita) is an endemic shrub found in the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills of California.
This plant grows to be a large shrub sometimes reaching over 15 feet in height. The living bark on the long, crooked and twisted branches is deep reddish-maroon in color, but is many times bordered by adjacent twisting dead portions of the branch that are grey in color with growths of lichen. This deadwood is extremely dense and hard ... in a way creating a support structure for the living part of the plant. One might almost envision a growing vine supported by a strong dead piece of wood.
As this early succession-stage plant grows to maturity, it creates a protected environment for later succession plants such as oaks and madrones to become established ... protecting them from direct sun and cold and herbivory by deer.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) is a chicken-like bird of the Pacific Coast that inhabits coniferous forests. A unique behavior and physical adaptation of several species of grouse is that they can rely totally upon a single plant species for their winter-time diet. In the case of Sooty Grouse, they can thrive solely upon Douglas fir needles throughout the winter.
High intensity timber harvest of Douglas fir trees for timber during the late 1950s and the 1960s, in combination with a population of wild hogs that can destroy grouse nests upon the ground, are the most probable reasons for a Sooty Grouse population crash during this time period. I believe that the Mendocino County population is gradually recovering with the regrowth of the Douglas fir forests.
The species used to be called "Blue Grouse", but that species was split into two species, the Sooty Grouse and the Dusky Grouse, several years ago as the result of DNA work by Dr. George F. Barrowclough and researcher Jim Bland. DNA from birds collected around the western United States, including some collected here in Mendocino County, supported the split in the species status.
Sooty Grouse have been rarely seen on the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center, but observations in the southeast corner of Mendocino County seem to be increasing in recent years. This photo is of a recently observed bird from the Mountain View Road between Boonville and Manchester.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The UC Hopland Research & Extension Center has been blessed with several in-kind donations of products to assist the completion of the Rod Shippey Educational & Field lab Facility. As part of a energy-efficient HVAC (heating and Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system there is a very large fan that plays a key role in air movement within the large "multipurpose room" or "Extension Hall".
This large fan is actually manufactured by the Big Ass Fan Company located in Kentucky. It has a 12 foot wide diameter, and moves air subtly, efficiently, and quietly. The company first built fans for large open horse-arenas .... hence the name... but they now make many, many sizes and styles of fans. The company generously donated this fan to the cause ... which really helps to stretch the budget dollars even further.
