- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
News flash: This year, at the 13th annual Biodiversity Museum Day, set Saturday, Feb. 10, visitors are bound to marvel at "A Bird's Eye View."
It's an epic large-scale ceramic-mosaic of raptors (and insects) that's newly installed on an outside wall of the visitors' center. It pays tribute to "the interactions between insects and birds," said UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman, an internationally recognized entomologist and artist with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
It's primarily the work of UC Davis students in the Entomology 001 course, "Art, Science and the World of Insects," a general education class taught by Ullman and supported by the department.
Ullman and Gale Okumura, a visual communicator and a retired faculty member in the UC Davis Department of Design, led the project and created pieces, as did others from UC Davis and members of the community.
Ullman describes "A Bird's Eye View" as "an epic large-scale mural, 8-feet tall and 22-feet wide, made of more than 1300 handmade ceramic relief artworks, tiles and trim pieces."
"The mural celebrates 11 key raptor species found in California and 84 insect species that are either parasites of these raptors or eaten by them," Ullman said.
More information--illustrated with photos--will be posted next week on the UC Davis Entomology and Nematology website (and on Bug Squad blog).
The Raptor Center will be open from 9 a.m. 3 p.m., Feb. 10 during the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. ""Our non-releasable ambassador raptors can be seen on exhibit, and several of our glove-trained ambassador raptors will be out with their handlers throughout the day," said Julie Cotton, co-manager of operations. "Visitors will have the opportunity to see multiple native raptor species up close and talk to our experts. We are happy to answer questions about birds of prey! Our small on-site museum will also be open with taxidermy specimens and interactive raptor-related activities."
Meanwhile, what is the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day? It's like a Super Science Day. This year 10 museums and collections will be featured. It's a great opportunity to talk to UC Davis scientists and see their work, and it's free and family friendly.
- Anthropology Museum, 328 Young Hall and grounds, open from noon to 4 p.m.
- Arboretum and Public Garden, Habitat Gardens in the Environmental GATEway, adjacent to the Arboretum Teaching Nursery on Garrod Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Bohart Museum of Entomology, Room 1124 and main hall of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Botanical Conservatory, the greenhouses along Kleiber Hall Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- California Raptor Center, 1340 Equine Lane, off Old Davis Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Located three miles south of the central campus.)
- Center for Plant Diversity, Katherine Esau Science Hall off Kleiber Hall Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Nematode Collection (part of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology), Katherine Esau Science Hall, off Kleiber Hall Drive, 10 am. to 2 p.m.
- Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, Room 1394, Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Paleontology Collection, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1309 Earth and Physical Sciences Building, 434 LaRue Road, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Phaff Yeast Culture Collection, Robert Mondavi Institute Brewery and Food Processing facility, Old Davis Road, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
See Biodiversity Museum Day website for more information and to download a map, which shows the locations, where food purchases are available, and free parking lots. The map points out grayed-out parking lots that may require paid parking.
Last year's Biodiversity Museum Day drew some 4000 people, said chair and co-founder Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator for the Bohart of Museum of Entomology. See Biodiversity Museum Day website for more information and to download a map, which shows the locations, where food purchases are available, and free parking lots. The map points out grayed-out parking lots that may require paid parking.
And when you visit the California Raptor Center (part of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine) be sure to see the "Bird's Eye View." Absolutely incredible!
![This is the newly installed mural, This is the newly installed mural,](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/104781.jpg)
Which is the better choice for controlling pests in our gardens and vineyards: man-made pesticides with their environmental cost or nature's pest squad in all of its beauty?
Consider songbirds. They eat a wide variety of insects, including aphids and snails. They feed on the ground, in mid-air and from vegetation. Especially during their breeding season, songbirds need a high-protein diet. The nutrition they derive from insects is essential for the growth of nestlings and even for the breeding adults. Could there be an easier, more natural way to control garden pests?
To attract these birds to your garden or vineyard, build some birdhouses. Before you begin, take a look at “Songbird, Bat and Owl Boxes” (University of California Publication 21636). The information is aimed at vineyard managers, but it's useful for homeowners as well.
“Songbird boxes should keep birds safe from predators, protect them from weather extremes, and be placed in a manner that is attractive to native species but not to non-native birds,” the publication says. For recommended box styles and building plans, consult conservation groups, specialty stores, woodworkers or the local grape growers' association.
In natural tree cavities, the songbird nesting success rate is 50 to 70 percent. However, boxes mounted on eight-foot T-posts and protected with a PVC sleeve under each box average a 99 percent success rate.
Barn owls were common before agriculture replaced grasslands. By installing nest boxes, you can help increase their numbers to near the level found in their native habitat. Barn owls have exceptional low-light vision, and their hearing is so acute that they can locate prey by sound alone. Adult barn owls kill and eat the equivalent of a large rat, a gopher or a dozen mice every night. How's that for an effective rodent trap?
Barn owls will readily nest in boxes larger than about two square feet. You can build the boxes from materials such as barrels and beehive boxes. Follow the guidelines in the University of California publication or buy a box from a specialty store.
My husband and I built an owl house for the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Connolly Ranch in Napa. We will wait until December to install it, since the owls show interest in newly erected boxes around January and lay eggs between February and April.
Owl boxes should be installed 12 to 20 feet above the ground. Add flashing to prevent predators. You can tell that owls have occupied the boxes if you find undigested matter from their prey. Listen for screeching and clicking sounds at night—another sign that owls have taken up residence.
Sadly, young barn owls have a high rate of mortality. Sixty percent die within the first year, and only two percent survive to 10 years. In captivity, they live more than 15 years. Cars and great-horned owls kill both flying and roosting barn owls. Even more reason to build and install owl houses.
There are 25 species of bats in California. These creatures mainly eat insects, including mosquitos, scorpions and centipedes. Bat houses or roost boxes will attract them.
Bat colonies range from a dozen to thousands, with several species sharing the same roost. They are the only mammal capable of flying. Most bat species will feed on crop pests, making them extremely beneficial to farmers. They rely on echolocation and sight to navigate and hunt for food.
Bats live 10 to 15 years and only have one offspring per year. The pallid bat is California's largest bat. Its large ears are so sensitive they can hear insects several feet away. They feed on the ground and catch their prey in the air. Bats can consume their body weight in insects in one night, and they seldom eat beneficial insects.
Due to the loss of natural roosting sites, bats have declined substantially in both species and number. Bat houses can replace the lost roost sites if sited and mounted properly. To keep bats out of reach of predators, mount houses at least 10 feet off the ground and the same distance away from objects that might block the entrance.
Standard bat houses are usually made of plywood and can accommodate about 300 residents. An open bottom serves as both entrance and exit. Do not paint or stain the inside of a bat house. Bat mothers with young prefer houses that receive morning sun and afternoon shade, or no sun.
It can take up to four years for bat houses to be occupied and up to 10 years to build a colony of several hundred.
For many years, humans have been destroying the habitat of these beneficial creatures. Consider taking the time to install houses for some of nature's pest squad so we can help restore our environment one garden or one vineyard at a time.
Workshop: Napa County Master Gardeners will hold a workshop on “Rose Care” on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to noon, at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Join the discussion about spring and early summer rose care, issues and solutions. Learn about integrated pest management for common pests and diseases and how to keep your roses healthy during our current drought. On-line registration (credit card only); Mail-in/Walk-in registration (cash or check only).
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Contra Costa Master Gardeners Help Desk
Client's Question and Concerns:
I'm trying to control gophers and squirrels on my property. I am worried that owls might harm my cat. Could you please let me know if this is cause for worry? If not, could you please send me some information.
CCMG Help Desk Response:
photo: Peter Trimming, UK
Rodents, especially voles, rats and gophers, are barn owls' favorite foods. They do a pretty good job of reducing the population of these unwanted pests. Barn owls are cavity nesters and will nest in artificial boxes. They are fairly tolerant of human activity and will nest quite close to houses, making them ideal predators for the rodents that plague our gardens. Barn owls are mostly white or light tan; their call is a loud screech.
Great horned owls do not use nest boxes, preferring large open nests. They, too, eat rodents, but will also take larger animals such as skunks. Great horned owls are larger than barn owls and are brown; their call is the stereotypicalHoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo. Here is a link to the Hungry Owl Project in Marin County where you will find lots of information about owls: http://www.hungryowl.org/
(Bubo-virginianus)
photo: owlpages.com
To protect your cat, it's really best to keep it indoors, especially at night. There are lots of dangers outside besides great horned owls. Here's a link to American Bird Conservancy's Cats Indoors program that will give you lots of information about how to make an outdoor cat a happy indoor cat: http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/index.html
Gophers are a common problem for many of us in Contra Costa. These burrowing animals eat plants, sometimes causing a great deal of damage. Here's a link to information about controlling gophers: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html
Not knowing if your squirrel problems are from tree or ground squirrels, I'm including links for information about controlling both species:
tree squirrels: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74122.html and
ground squirrels: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7438.html
Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have further questions.
Contra Costa Master Gardeners Help Desk
Note: The Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, and on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/