[EBB Sightings] Avian Interactions at Huckleberry Preserve

My bird friends along this intimate East Bay trail are feeling the tug of spring, and are not quiet about it! Although our recent welcome rains have soaked the ground and freshend the moss and even provided the promise of another last gasp of fungal activity, the birds are primed and ready to take over the natural history stage.

One of my favorite treats of walking that loop is peering over at Round Top and viewing the majestic, resident golden eagles. But for the past several months, I have caught nary a glimpse. Now whether that has been due to the late afternoon timing of my hikes, or the bullying presence of the big winter flocks of ravens, I couldn't tell you. So it was with a glad heart that I peered at those tall com towers that dominate the skyline and saw the bulky form of the big female eagle. 

Ah, must be breeding season! Or maybe the mid-day timing of my walk...at any rate, and atypically, she remained perched on the rightmost tower for the entire two hours that it took me to slowly cruise the loop. As I walked along the upper trail, I was surprised to have a flock of agitated Stellars jay follow me along, jeering. Geez guys, it hasn't been that long! Why are you reacting to me when we normally ignore each other? The cold day made me eager for a bit of sun warmth, so I walked out onto the spur that overlooks the canyon. And there I glimpsed the possible cause of my small corvid agitation.

Circling over the head of the stoic eagle was a large flock of ravens, dipping and soaring and lighting briefly on the adjacent com tower, then nervously flushing. One bold bird landed along the struts directly below the eagle and her formidable talons, but that bird's uncomfortable postion was telegraphed by the position of his head and neck, even from my distant vantage point...he was keeping a wary and close eye on his formidable rival, with head and beak twisted and pointed upwards. When he got spooked, the rest of the ravens on the rightmost tower flew up, too. 

But ravens, singly and in pairs, doing triumphant loop de loops at their own bravery, continued to fly closely around the eagle, no doubt hoping to flush her from her prime perch. But what a difference a season makes. This gal was going nowhere, and she regally ignored the antics of her ever more frantic black-garbed mob. No doubt it was the agitation of this last of the winter season raven gang that was stirring up my stellers.

Come spring (and spring comes early for these lords of the realm) this hilltop belongs to the goldens, and neither hell nor corvids can budge them. You go, girl, and give those clever and acrobatic bad boyz and grrls what for.

Debbie Viess