Survival struggles
Fri, 21 Apr 2000 09:58:58 -0700
From: Bruce Mast
On my morning walk today, I passed a holly bush in a neighboring front yard in which a Western Scrub-Jay was being mobbed by 3 or 4 California Towhees and a pair of Northern Mockingbirds. A mockingbird fledgling was down on the ground. The commotion lasted a good 5 minutes before the jay gave up and left. It sounded pretty violent. I was later able to confirm the presence of the towhee nest, although I didn't spot the mockingbird nest. I couldn't tell if the jay managed to get any breakfast before it was driven off.
Bruce Mast
Albany, CA
Mitchell Canyon parking lot closed Saturday
Fri, 21 Apr 2000 09:53:00 -0700
From: Scott Hein
Just a heads-up to anyone contemplating a birding trip to the Mitchell Canyon section of Mount Diablo State Park on Saturday (22 April). The day-use parking lot will be closed for Earth-Day-related volunteer work activities (trail maintenance, removal of invasive exotic plants, etc.). In addition, there is no longer any parking allowed along either side of Mitchell Canyon Road outside the park. If you really feel like you need a Mitchell Canyon "fix" on Saturday, an alternative would be to park at the Regency Gate entrance (Donner Canyon) and hike over to Mitchell Canyon (about a mile or so). However, it has been my experience over the past couple of years that this event draws a fairly large crowd of volunteers and activity, so it would probably be best to avoid trying to bird Mitchell Canyon altogether on that one day. If anyone needs directions to the Regency Gate entrance let me know...
Scott
Scott J. Hein
Concord, CA
Summer Job Opening
Fri, 21 Apr 2000 17:22:08 PDT
From: Mark Rauzon
FIELD TECHNICIAN TO WORK ON COMMON RAVENS AND GREAT EGRETS:
One field technician is needed to assist on a study of Common Ravens in the San Francisco Bay area from early May to late July/early August. The study is a collaborative project between Point Reyes Bird Observatory and Audubon Canyon Ranch. The position will focus on radio-telemetry and behavioral observations of ravens. The technician will work as part of a raven project team and will also participate in extensive behavioral monitoring of raven/egret interactions at waterbird nesting colonies. Qualified applicants must be in excellent physical condition, have experience in field ornithology, be willing to occasionally work long, early, or late hours, and have the patience to spend long periods of time watching for rare behaviors or waiting for ravens to approach traps or bait stations. Applicants must also be willing to use their own vehicle to help with tracking radio-tagged birds; compensation for mileage costs will be provided. The ability to work independently and on a team is essential. Experience in radio-telemetry or behavioral studies of birds is highly desirable. Salary is $1,000/month, and shared housing at Audubon Canyon Ranch will be provided. In your letter of application, please describe type and extent of experience relevant to the position, educational background, and the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of 2 references. Send applications as soon as possible to Jennifer Roth at Point Reyes Bird Observatory, 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA 94970, or to jroth@prbo.org
Carnegie SVRA, San Joaquin/Alameda County
Sat, 22 Apr 2000 21:21:24 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
Greetings Birders:
Birded this morning the Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area located on the San Joaquin / Alameda County line.
Entrance fee is $4 on non-event days. If you say you are just birding, you can get in for free.
I had birded the area on April 9th when I didn't find a single hummer. The fiddleneck was then in full bloom, but now has passed.
The park is in both San Joaquin and Alameda Counties, but all the birds mentioned in this report are in San Joaquin County.
I parked just east of the entrance and walked across the creek-bed to the south and hiked eastward along the the southern perimeter. Here I discovered a singing Cassin's Vireo, a Bullock's Oriole, and a calling Ash-throated Flycatcher.
Further east from here, there is a group of 6 pepper trees and a couple of picnic tables. Here there was one calling male Phainopepla. Sharing the trail with a minimum number of motorcyclists, from this point I hiked southward into the canyon. There is no sign, but I imagine this is Kiln Canyon. The best bird activity was along this trail between the metal covert and the archeological exhibit. I counted at least a dozen Selasphorus hummingbirds. All were Rufous except for one Allen's. A male Costa's Hummingbird landed and perched on an elderberry snag only ten feet from the trail. There were also three Calliope Hummingbirds in addition to several Rufous-crowned Sparrows and one singing California Thrasher.
To reach the area:
From Tracy, head west from Hwy 580 on Corral Hollow Rd to the park.From Livermore, head south from Hwy 580 on Greenville Rd and turn left on Tesla Rd. Tesla Rd becomes Corral Hollow Rd at the county line. Continue to the park entrance. The intersection of Greenville Rd and Tesla Rd is a couple miles east of the intersection of Tesla Rd and Mines Rd, an intersection with which many of you may likely be familiar.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA