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Field Lab 7 Entry – Palomarin Field Station (Point Blue)

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Palomarin Field Station (Point Blue): https://ebird.org/checklist/S152509468

Date: October 11, 2023

Location: Palomarin Field Station (Point Blue)

Site Description: Palomarin Field Station is located at the southern end of Point Reyes National Seashore in Bolinas, California. It is a location for long-term studies on birds and their habitats. The topography of the area is rolling hills with coastal bluffs. The habitat includes a coastal scrub and mixed conifer forest. Some of the key bird species include: Red-tailed hawk, Osprey, Peregrine falcon, Norther flicker, Golden eagle, etc. There were a few trails/paths where they had the nets attached.

Species account: Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

The Hermit Thrush is a small, migratory songbird that is about 6.5-7 inches in length and has a wingspan of about 10-11 inches. Its upper body is reddish-brown with dark spots, and a white underside, with soft, spots on its breast. Hermit Thrushes are known for their shy behavior and are often found foraging on the forest floors for insects, berries, and small invertebrates. It is heard more than seen. They breed in North America and winter in Central/South America. They are monogamous, and both parents help in building the nest and caring for the young.

The Hermit Thrush we observed was while it was being banded.

Narrative:  We left for Point Blue around 9:15 am in our big Red Van! The drive there was beautiful and was like a rollercoaster! The weather was nice overall, it was a bit breezy and I felt cold. It was really amazing to see the Hermit Thrush being banded and also was cool to hear about how the individuals working at the station got into bird banding. We started to head back around 12:40 pm. My highlight of the trip was the Bollywood music on the way back and seeing Professor Paul vibe to it!🤣

Photos:

Sources:

  1. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Hermit Thrush.” All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2023. Web. 17 Oct. 2023. <https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hermit_Thrush>.

Field Lab Entry 6 – Rodeo Lagoon

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Rodeo Lagoon: https://ebird.org/checklist/S151918900

Date: October 4, 2023 

Location(s): Rodeo Lagoon (37.8308° N, 122.5311° W)

Site Description:

Rodeo Lagoon is a coastal lagoon located within the Marin Headlands and is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The lagoon is surrounded by various habitats, including open grassland, coastal scrub, mixed conifer forest, tidal marshes, and coastal scrub. The general topography of the area around Rodeo Lagoon includes rolling hills. The lagoon is located in a shallow basin. Key bird species include: Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Western Gull, California Towhee, Canada Goose, Mallard, etc. 

Species account: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Great Blue Herons are solitary birds and are usually seen wading in shallow water, looking for prey. It is big in size, standing about 3.2 – 4.5 feet tall. They have long legs, a long S-shaped neck, and a wingspan that can go up to 6.6 feet. The plumage is gray-blue, a white head, a black stripe above the eye, and a sharp bill. They can be seen perched in trees or on other high places, looking for prey. They are known for their stoicism and patience. They can stand still for long periods of time, waiting for prey to pass by. They feed on a variety of aquatic creatures like fish, insects, and small mammals. They are important for the ecosystem since they help control the populations of prey species. Great Blue Herons are often found throughout North and Central America in a variety of wetland habitats like marshes, swamps, lakeshores, and coastal areas. Great Blue Herons are monogamous birds, they mate with one partner for the breeding season. They nest in colonies, and their mating behavior begins typically in the spring. 

I observed a Great Blue Heron while visiting Rodeo Lagoon in the Marin Headlands. The heron was spotted in the lagoon around the tidal marsh. It was sitting with a Great Egret and Mallards. It was standing patiently, observing its surroundings.

Narrative:

We got to the Koret parking lot around 8:08 am and got situated in our amazing black SUV which decided not to turn on. Professor Paul then had to go get a key to the minivan which we then switched into. We left for Rodeo Lagoon around 8:17 am and arrived there around 8:57 am. The weather was nice, warm, and bearable for most of the trip, but got very hot later in the day. The lagoon was a pretty blue color and was surrounded by a variety of habitats, grasslands, coastal scrub, etc. We first began our adventure by the trees and hills in this small little pathway behind this building, we heard all these small little birds chirping and got to see some other birds flying around, or perched on the lines. We then started walking around the trail of the lagoon, ended up on Rodeo beach, and then walked all the way around until we reached the small pathway behind this building that we started off at. While walking back to where we started we got to see some seals swimming. We then made it back to our car, and started heading back to USF around 12:15 pm. Overall, it was an amazing day to see amazing shore/sea birds and other species as well as the natural beauty of Rodeo Lagoon/Marin Headlands.

Photos:

 

Sources:

  1. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “All About Birds: Great Blue Heron.” The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, <https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron>. Accessed 10 October 2023.
  2. National Audubon Society. “Great Blue Heron.” National Audubon Society, <https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-blue-heron>. Accessed 10 October 2023.
  3. Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Guide to Birds of North America. 2nd ed. Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.

Field Lab 5 Entry – Hawk Hill

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Hawk Hill: https://ebird.org/checklist/S151365367

Date: September 27, 2023

Location(s): Hawk Hill (37.8255° N, 122.4994° W)

Site Description: 

Hawk Hill is located within the Marin Headlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, just north of San Francisco. It has a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge, and surrounding landscapes. The topography is characterized by rolling hills that are covered in coastal scrub vegetation and grasslands, with scattered cypress/pine trees. Habitats include chaparral, coastal grasslands, and coastal forest. Key bird species often seen at Hawk Hill include raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels, as well as songbirds like California Towhees and Anna’s Hummingbirds. 

Species account: Common Raven (Corvus corax)

The Common Raven is a large, all-black bird with a wingspan of about 3.5 feet and a length of 21-27 inches. They are known for their thick wedge-shaped tails and robust bills. Their plumage is a shiny, glossy black, and they have shaggy throat feathers. When they are in flight, their wedge-shaped tails and pointing wings are distinctive features. They are highly adaptable birds and are found in a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, coastal cliffs, and urban areas. They are omnivores and feed on insects, small mammals, fruits, plants, etc. They are very social and interactive birds. The Common Raven has a broad distribution across Europe, North America, North Africa, and Asia. Ravens are usually monogamous and form long-term bonds. During late winter or early spring which is their breeding season, their behavior becomes complex in order to attract and bond with potential mates. After they have found their mate, they build their nests together which shows how strong their bonds are among each other. At Hawk Hill, it was one of the first birds I saw very close up. It was perched on a fence, looking at the coastal view and chirping very loudly.

Narrative:

We left for Hawk Hill around 8:17 AM and reached around 8:42 AM. The weather was pretty clear with a slight breeze but became pretty sunny and hot after. As soon as we arrived at Hawk Hill, the panoramic views of the Marine Headlands and the Pacific Ocean surprised us, it was beautiful. Throughout our trip, the birdlife at Hawk Hill was so amazing to see. We were greeted by many Ravens and also got to see some raptors like the American Kestrel and Red-tailed hawks. I also got to see a small little lizard camouflaged in the dirt and plants! 

Allen from Golden Gate National Parks Conservatory, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory came to us to give us a talk about raptors and how to tell the difference between them by the wing shape. I still found it pretty difficult to tell the difference between all of the varieties of these raptors, hopefully by the end of this class I will be able to! Allen also handed us a brochure pamphlet with all the different raptors that are observed in the Marin Headlands. It was very cool to see the whole team of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservatory and how they were rotating, looking for raptors. I’ve never seen so many birders in my life, honestly considering becoming one after taking this class!😂 

Photos:

Sources:

  1. Sibley, D. A. (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf. 
  2. Common Raven – eBird. (n.d.). https://ebird.org/species/comrav
  3. Hawk Hill. Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. (2019a, May 15). https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/hawk-hill