- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) can occasionally be found on the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center's 5358 acres. In some recent years there have been one or two pair that nested here also. This raptor has an all white underneath, a bright white tail, and jet black wingtips and shoulders. For many past decades this species was lumped with the Black-winged Kite of Europe/Africa and was called the Black-shouldered Kite ... but now each has been given its own specific status.
Once very rare in California, probably due to shooting and egg-collecting, this species is now common once again in California. Their preference for open grassy lands to hunt, in combination with the need for trees to roost and nest in, gives them a patchy distribution across the landscape.
The White-tailed Kite feeds primarily on rodents, which they spot using keen eyesight from the air. Upon spotting a possible meal below, the kite will hover in one spot in the air, and then hold its wings upward and rapidly approach the ground in a controlled-drop in a V-shaped form to pounce upon the unsuspecting mouse.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
I mentioned some time ago in a BLOG post that all of the Mendocino County bird records are archived at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. Some of these records date back to the 1800s and early 1900s, but most are from the last thirty years. 410 species of birds have now been documented in Mendocino County.
One of the highlights was the discovery on February 28, 1994 of a Laysan Albatross at Point Arena Cove on the southern Mendocino coast. Subsequent sightings of this bird confirmed that the bird routinely uses this cove each winter as a rest area, and has returned now for 19 consecutive winters. The locals, including the surfers, have adopted "AL" as a kind-of mascot... and there seems to be a mutual relationship between bird and man. On December 31st I photographed a surfer passing by "AL" and stopping to say hello to the bird ... and "AL" was observed paddling over to the surfer for the anticipated greeting.
This is probably the only place in North America where one can stand on solid ground (not a boat) and see a Laysan Albatross. Here is a summary of the historical observation records for this bird:
????? to 28 February 1994 when first discovered by Todd Easterla and Jim Booker – fed anchovies by Todd
> 30 Nov 1994 to 27 Mar 1995 report of two birds in synchronized flight beyond the "cove"
> 5 Dec 1995 to 14 Mar 1996
> 3 Dec 1996 to 26 Mar 1997
> 27 Nov 1997 to 8 Mar 1998
> 12 Dec 1998 to 21 Mar 1999
> 4 Dec 1999 to 12 Feb 2000 with a fly-by-the-cove (same bird?) on 2 Apr 2000 (G.Chaniot)
> 26 Nov 2000 to 26 Feb 2001
> 28 Nov 2001 to 24 Mar 2002
> 21 Nov 2002 to 12 Mar 2003
> 25 Nov 2003 to 28 Feb 2004
> 28 Nov 2004 to 21 Feb 2005
> 26-30 Nov 2005 to 19 Mar 2006
> 25 Nov 2006 to 16 Mar 2007
> 7 Dec 2007 to 5 Mar 2008
> 22 Nov 2008 to 23 Mar 2009 5:26 PM
> 18 Nov 2009 to 23 Mar 2010
> 22 Nov 2010 to 28 March 2011
5 Dec 2011 to wait and see??
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Buteos are high-soaring hawks with broad-wings for catching the thermals. They are among the easiest daytime birds-of-prey to spot as they soar overhead against the background sky.
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most common buteo-type hawk in North America, and is a common resident at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. The plumage of these hawks can be quite variable ranging from dark-phase coloration to rufous-morphs to light-phase morphs. To add to the confusion, there are several different subspecies that generally have specific breeding ranges, but can overlap during winter due to long-ranging vagrants.
Almost all of the Red-tailed Hawks will have a belly-band of dark streaks and a dark head. Adults have a reddish-orange upper tail, but the immature birds will have a gray-brown tail with blackish bands. A dark bar on the leading edge of the underwing is characteristic of this species. Here you see an adult western race B.j.calurus soaring overhead.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
As the 2011 year comes to a close I recall many of the memorable photos and messages that I have placed onto this UC Hopland Research & Extension Center blog-site. I hope that you have enjoyed them ...and will continue to follow the BLOG during the 2012 year.
Here, I leave you with a beautiful sunset photo of the coast range horizon on the west side of Sanel Valley as viewed from UC-HREC just last evening. Just imagine what the exact same location-photo would look like without the oaks!
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
As a wildlife biologist who lives and works amongst oak forests I cannot express the importance of large natural cavities that old decadent oak trees provide for wildlife. Not only are these cavities utilized by numerous wildlife species for nesting or denning, but they are extremely important for year-round roosting and sleeping. Just think what you you do if all of a sudden your house was gone due to some disaster ... you would immediately know that you must seek shelter for you and your family. Well, the same with wildlife!
So many times I have seen landowners remove old oak trees just because a single limb falls, which totally removes that intrinsic wildlife habitat value. It is best to just understand and live with the oaks ... don't place picnic tables, sheds, vehicles, barns or houses directly underneath them. Instead give them their space and enjoy their aesthetic value and the wildlife that are attracted to them.
Here you see a Western Screech Owl (Otus kennicottii) sunning itself on the edge of its roosting cavity in a large California Valley Oak. These owls are more commonly heard than seen, but are the most common owl species in our North Coast oak woodland habitat and at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center.
