PRBO Science

Perched on a bluff at the edge of the continent, almost a stone's throw from the sea, sits the Point Reyes Bird Observatory's Palomarin field station. For over 40 years scientists have captured and banded birds here making this the oldest continuously operating banding station in western North America. This active research station also plays host to visitors interested in learning about the work they do. On a slightly cool and hazy day Patrick and I made the drive from Napa to visit this venerable institution. We could not have picked a better time to visit. When we arrived we were greeted by Francesca an intern at PRBO and she showed us some of the equipment they use to do their work. PRBO offers these open times to the public on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday mornings and we were lucky to be the only public there for the period of our stay. Patrick had a lot of good questions and she fielded them all. As we talked her radio crackled and her partner Dan Lipp let her know he was bringing in a bird. Soon Dan came in with a Western Scrub Jay and we watched as they went through the processing of the bird. This involves lots of measuring and weighing to try and determine sex and age and since this bird had been caught before an older band that had become too tight had to be replaced as well. We had a truly delightful time with Dan and Francesca. They allowed us to accompany them as they visited all the nets and to watch closely as they banded and measured the birds that were caught. The highlight of the day had to be when Patrick was able to hold two different Allen's Hummingbirds in the palm of his hand as they were being released. If you would like to visit the Palomarin Field Station or even join PRBO as we have, you can get more information by clicking on the link to the right. 

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Home from Birding

Taking advantage of a beautiful winter afternoon I dragged Patrick out of the house with me and we headed for the Huichica Creek marsh at the Napa River Marshlands. The sun was out and the wind was up a bit but it was really good to be out of the house and getting our feet muddy. There is a developed pond area near the parking lot that is heavily choked with cattails but has some open areas as well. We walked along the edge of this hoping to see the American Bittern that I had seen there previously. We continued out into the open fields beyond seeing where it would take us and eventually found ourselves cut-off by the marsh. Pat spotted a Short-eared Owl on the ground just before he took off and we saw several others. At one point we investigated a bush that had clearly been used by these owls for roosting finding guano, feathers, and even some owl pellets. We walked around the entire developed pond on the way back in and found some really good exposed parts where some patience will probably bring Soras and Virginia Rails into view.  For this day we heard them calling in there but did not actually see any. When we left to make our way back home we went west on Las Amigas to Duhig and along Duhig we were astounded to find a Ferruginous Hawk. To my recollection I have only seen this bird one other time and it was in Mike Morris's backyard in Blue Lake, CA many years ago. To my regret I did not have a camera with me but both Pat and I had good looks and a chance to comment on the various field marks and convince ourselves.  I posted this sighting on the Northbay birdlist and was quickly questioned about it's veracity. Being somewhat miffed about that I went back at about the same time the next day in hopes of finding it again and getting a few photos. Don't think I was wrong.

Timberhill Park - Napa CA

One afternoon this week I searched out a local city-administered piece of open space called Timberhill Park. It is located in the hills of west Napa and is a surprisingly beautiful, if small, slice of what this valley once was. At one time this would have been a part on someone's ranch. There are still grazing cattle in the area and evidence that what are now just tracks and trails for walking were once used by vehicles.  It doesn't take long to walk the loop around the hilltop summit of the park, at a brisk pace it can be done in as little as a half-hour. But the view from the top of the knoll is quite nice. As I looked out over the valley I found myself doing what I always seem to do in these situations, wondering what it must have looked like before we put the stamp of human occupation on it. Long before the arrival of European and American settlers, the Native Americans used this land to their advantage but they did so in a far less invasive manner than first the Spanish then Mexican and finally Americans who settled here. I like to think of what it might have looked like pre-Clovis or pre-Solutrian if you subscribe to that theory. Imagine the view and what you would have seen if you were the first human to set eyes on this landscape.

As I completed my loop around the park I had noted only a few birds including Black and Say's Phoebe, a Savanna Sparrow, many Lesser Goldfinches, and a few Vultures. I had heard that you could see Varied Thrushes here and I had yet to see one in Napa County. The last part of the loop brings you back down into the gully that is the headwaters of Redwood Creek, a lovely woodland laced with the strong scent of the California Laurel. This is where I would find my Varied Thrush if there was one about, and low and behold there was. Moving through the trees ninja style, making no sound at all. Just a quick pose out of cover to say he was here and then gone. A nice bird that reminds me of wet winter days on the campus of HSU where I could always find one on the edge of the forest that was our neighbor.