[EBB Sightings] Alcatraz Island Redux

Dear Birders:

I was one of the lucky ten who accompanied Bob Lewis Thursday on the
GGAS Field trip to Alcatraz where we met the knowledgeable (and
affable) Chris Hellwig, the NPS naturalist.

Bob reported 15 species, but, of course, with nesting sea birds we're
talking about thousands of individuals.  This familiar minute island in
the middle of the Bay is as fine a rookery as many offshore islands or
favorably-situated sea bluffs.  

And on Alcatraz Island you have the pleasure of seeing historic gardens
that are being carefully restored by the Garden Conservancy  Even a
Western Gull couldn't resist nesting in a bed of white Calla Lilies.

Most of the Western Gulls have congregated in an uneasy and raucous
colony on the old Parade Ground where broken concrete has provided both
sites and nesting material.  On the north-facing ledges above the
water, Brandt's Cormorants have set up housekeeping.  Shrubs and
thickets provide nesting sites for Black-crowned Night-Herons and Snowy
Egrets (one of whom stepped aside to reveal three sky-blue eggs).

Pigeon Guillemots nest in rock crannies or even abandoned pipes when
not flying about beating the air with their short wings or paddling in
water propelled by their orange legs and feet. This little auk
possesses an impressive repertory of sounds described as everything
from  "hunch-whistles, to trills and to what is simply called 'The
Scream.'"
 
Looking back on the morning, I can't help but wonder at the alchemy
which has colored the inside of the Guillemot's mouth brilliant red,
the cormorants throat-pouch cobalt blue, and draped the slender egret
with graceful plumes.

At noon we walked back through the cell block to claim our refund for
not having taken the audio tour, feeling oppressed by this monument to
lives gone awry, while we had spent the morning among unconfined birds
under an open sky.

Phila Rogers


Note:  If you'd like to read more about the birds of Alcatraz Island,
check out the Mount Diablo Audubon Society website and click on Bird
Prose (by Phila Rogers). Sometimes it takes awhile to get posted (and
written!) 


       
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