Mission
Statement
Committee
Meetings
Conservation
Award
Bird
Research projects
Coyote
Hills
Salton Sea
Tree
Trimming
Wind
Turbines
Environmental
Volunteer Opportunities
Urban
Sanctuaries Campaign
Least Tern Project info
2011
Season
|
|
2009
Least Tern & Snowy Plover Project
|
|
|
| July
28 - The
season that was |
| |
| Season
2009 |
I
think we’re done for the season.
By all accounts and observations, our breeding colony has
completed their task. With just over 400 nests this season,
and an undetermined big number of new fledglings, you are
all to be congratulated on your supporting role. We are still
seeing up to 16 adult/fledglings a day near the Santa Ana
River end of the beach, but at this time of the season we
can’t be sure they grew up at this location. We have
recently seen other groups of birds working their way south
at other feeding, not breeding, areas such as San Juan Creek
and San Mateo Lagoon. I assume some of the birds we count
could be those moving through. |
| |
| This
season wasn’t without its threats from crows, ravens,
red-tailed hawk, a pair of feeding kestrels, great blue heron,
great egret, black-crowned night heron, an owl, and an invasive
colony of ground squirrels. I also saw prints from mice, rats,
dogs, young kids, and lifeguards. Who knows what impacts were
incurred by this unseen group. Our group did make contacts
with many dog owners (maybe repeatedly), OC dozer operators,
water quality samplers, motored paragliders, and innumerable
surfers and beach goers. |
| |
| In
fact, our first Western snowy plovers were observed by Mike
and Barb Sentovich this last week. So, as our tern season
draws to the end, another rare species moves in for the “winter.”
Throughout the year, any and all of your observations are
of value to us. The data sheets stay in the backpack in Magnolia
kiosk.s |
| |
| Lots
of pictures were taken and more than a few quotable quotes
were recorded. We’d like to share all of the recap experiences
with you at a year end BBQ. Can we plan on all getting together
to share our observations and pass out the Birder of the Year
award on Wednesday August 26th, 0530 at the
Huntington State Beach Lifeguard HQ? Great, and see you then. |
| |
Dave
Pryor
Environnmental Scientist
949-497-1421 |
| |
| PS:
Please forward any photos you have taken around the preserve
to me and I will incorporated them in a slide show for the
BBQ. Photos of terns, plovers, other birds, dogs, people,
predators and problems are always good to share. If you have
already sent some photos to me, no need to resend-I still
have them. |
Thank
you!
Cheryl |
|
PS:
Please forward any photos you have taken around the preserve
to me and I will incorporated them in a slide show for the
BBQ. Photos of terns, plovers, other birds, dogs, people,
predators and problems are always good to share. If you have
already sent some photos to me, no need to resend-I still
have them.
Thank you!
Cheryl
|
|
