for
the coastal area of northern
California /SF Bay Region, including Marin County)
(*
= Phenology relates to recurring, seasonal events on land and in the heavens,
many of which are often predictable based on weather, climate, temperature,
latitude, and time, among other factors.)
(Sky
Watch information for each month (BELOW) is courtesy of www.almanac.com and skyandtelescope.com.
Moon and planet times are based on Pacific Standard Time.)
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude: 38:03:38
N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
7:26 AM |
5:02 PM |
|
Moon |
10:21 AM |
10:14 PM |
|
Mercury |
8:45 AM |
6:28 PM |
|
Venus |
10:07 AM |
8:48 PM |
|
Mars |
7:01 AM |
4:23 PM |
|
Jupiter |
8:35 AM |
6:23 PM |
|
Saturn |
10:36 PM |
11:16 AM |
|
Uranus |
10:58 AM |
10:31 PM |
|
Neptune |
9:47 AM |
8:19 PM |
|
Pluto |
6:25 AM |
4:33 PM |
2) Planet Highlights:
The
year begins with a final glimpse of Jupiter, hovering at 40 minutes, after
sunset in the southwest, to the right of Mercury and just 8 degrees high. Also
on the 1st, Venus blazes much higher up, with the crescent Moon higher still.
Each successive evening until the 8th, Mercury ascends higher while Jupiter
sinks from view. Saturn, in Leo, rises at around 9:30 P.M. at midmonth. Venus
stands just to the right of Uranus on the 22nd and 23rd, above the Moon on the
29th, and below the Moon on the 30th. Mercury might be glimpsed very low in the
east 40 minutes before sunrise from the 29th to the 31st. Earth reaches
perihelion, its annual position closest to the Sun, on the 4th.
Full Moon: JAN 10 7:27 pm
Last Quarter: JAN 17: 6:47
pm
New Moon: JAN 25:
11:56 pm
First Quarter: JAN 4: 3:56
am
Eclipses
in 2009
During the year 2009, two solar and two lunar eclipses
occur as follows:
2009 Jan 26:
Annular Solar Eclipse
2009 Feb 9: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
2009 July 7: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
2009 July 22: Total Solar Eclipse
2009 Aug 6: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
2009 Dec 31: Partial Lunar Eclipse
See
the following Web site for details.
about each eclipse in 2009:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2009.html
|
Meteor Showers in 2009 |
|||
|
Shower |
Constellation and direction |
Morning of maximum |
Hourly rate of
meterors |
|
Quadrantid |
Draco (NE) |
Jan. 3 |
100 |
|
Lyrid |
Lyra (E) |
Apr. 22 |
10-20 |
|
Eta Aquarid* |
Aquarius (E) |
May 6 |
20-40 |
|
Delta Aquarid* |
Aquarius (S) |
July 28 |
20 |
|
Perseid* |
Perseus (NE) |
Aug. 12 |
60 |
|
Orionid |
Orion (SE) |
Oct. 21 |
10-15 |
|
Leonid |
Leo (E) |
Nov. 17 |
10 |
|
Geminid |
Gemini (S) |
Dec. 14 |
100 |
January
3: Quadrantid Meteor Shower
In
2009 this short, sharp shower peaks around 5 a.m. Pacific time, meaning viewers
in western North America will have the advatage over those farther east. The
Moon won't be a factor, so expect as many as 100 meteors per hour streaming
from its radiant in northern Boštes.
Are Herring Here Yet?
Watch for frenetic
collections of gulls, scoters, cormorants, and sea lions within shallow spots
of the Bay. Their presence is an indication that Pacific Herring have made
their annual arrival. As early as November, yet sometimes waiting until this
time of year, adult males and females seek spawning locations in shallow
intertidal and subtidal waters. A single female may lay as many as 20,000 eggs in one spawn
following ventral contact with submerged substrates such as eel grass. Why
spawning begins is not understood, but some researchers believe the male
initiates the process by release of milt (the seminal fluid of herring) that
contains a pheremone that stimulates a female to begin egg laying. Egg laying
appears to be collective so that an entire school may spawn in the period of a
few hours, producing an egg density of up to 6,000,000 eggs per square meter.
Pop Quiz:
Which bird species is
probably the earliest breeder in Marin County?
Answer: Early nesting
AnnaÕs hummingbirds may lay eggs this month or, in some cases, last month
(December, 2007). More information
about hummingbirds in California appears in the next account.
AnnaÕs
Hummingbirds, year-round residents in
northern California (and throughout much of the state), may already be laying
eggs Ñ perhaps initiating courtship and/or nesting as early as December (!).
Some early-nesting females will play hostess to two broods during the breeding
season, with second clutches hatching as late as mid-August. Peak breeding and
greatest nest abundance occurs in May. Amazing but true, this yearÕs initial
breeding cycle began in early November in Marin County where I live. ThatÕs when I began seeing courtship dances
by male AnnaÕs on my land. Whether
the females were receptive then is another question that remains unproven.
Research
studies have indicated this hummer species memorizes and learns a song in its
first year of life, similar to the behavior of most songbirds. AllenÕs
Hummingbirds, which breeds from s.
California to s. Oregon, begin to migrate through the Bay Area in the final
week of January after spending the winter in Baja California and Chihuahua in
Mexico. Their preferred habitat is canyon woodlands, brush and highland
meadows. This species breeds in the Bay Area, but by the end of July many have
dispersed and/or left the Bay Area, and in mid- to late-August most of the
speciesÕ population has migrated south.
Rufous
Hummingbirds are seen only during
migration in California, except for the extreme northern part of the state
where their breeding area begins (and stretches north throughout much of
Oregon, all of Washington, and into parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, as
well as into British Columbia, Alberta and southeast Alaska). Other
hummingbirds occur in California, of course, but the aforementioned three
species are usually the most common ones to see in the Bay Area/Marin County. Calliope, and CostaÕs Hummingbird, and Black-Chinned Hummingbird are sometimes observed in the Bay Area, though the initial
two of these three species is considered a Òcasual visitorÓ to Marin County
(and Black-Chinned the most rare, yet still considered a Òcasual visitorÓ) Ñ
with all three occasional to common casual visitors in more eastward Bay Area
counties.
Swallows
During Winter In Northern California?
They
are never a common sight, but itÕs possible to see the following swallow
species in Marin County (and the Bay Area) during the winter in the following
order, from most common to rare: Tree, Barn, and Violet-green. Our other northern California summer
residents Ñ Northern Rough-Winged, Cliff, and Bank Ñ are considered rare to not
present in January, though they may return on migration by no later than the end
February during some to most years.
Purple
Martin are also typically absent from our area in January and February. As for swift species, White-Throated
are by far the most typical one to see, if any, from January-March. VauxÕs
return on migration in April, while the more uncommon to Òcasual visitorÓ swift
species Ñ Chimney and Black Ñ are usually spotted (if at all) from May through
mid-October in northern California.
Hibernating
Birds in Our Area?
Not
exactly. But our Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus
nuttallii californicus) (also called
the Dusky Common Poorwill as the nominate race among five subspecies in the
species) does exhibit winter torpor. According to Wikipedia, the Common
Poorwill is the only bird known to go into torpor for extended
periods (weeks to months). Such an extended period of torpor is close to a
state of hibernation,
a condition not known among other birds.
It was described definitively by Dr. Edmund Jaeger in 1948
based on a Poorwill he discovered hibernating in the Chuckwalla
Mountains of California
in 1946.
By
the way, donÕt let this birdÕs name fool you. ItÕs never ÒcommonÓ where we live
in northern California. In Marin County, one of the best spots to see Common
Poorwill is along open areas, hillsides and talus slopes on Mount
Tamalpais. More typical, I hear
this birdÕs vocalizations only and, if IÕm lucky, then find it.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
7:14 AM |
5:34 PM |
|
Moon |
10:07 AM |
NEXT DAY |
|
Mercury |
5:54 AM |
3:53 PM |
|
Venus |
9:09 AM |
9:21 PM |
|
Mars |
6:31 AM |
4:13 PM |
|
Jupiter |
6:58 AM |
4:57 PM |
|
Saturn |
8:29 PM |
9:13 AM 9:13 AM |
|
Uranus |
8:59 AM |
8:35 PM |
|
Neptune |
7:48 AM |
6:22 PM |
|
Pluto |
4:27 AM |
2:36 PM |
2) Planet Highlights:
Mercury
is observable but mediocre in the east, about 7 degrees high 40 minutes before
sunrise, from the 1st to the 17th. The gibbous Moon passes in front of the
Pleiades star cluster on the 3rd, a superb sight through binoculars. Saturn now
rises at around 8:00 P.M. and is well up by 10:00. Meanwhile, very low in the
predawn sky on the 22nd, 40 minutes before sunrise, the Moon forms a line with
Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars. this appears highest and is most easily seen from
southern states. Venus attains its greatest brilliancy at a truly dazzling
magnitude -4.8 and spectacularly meets the crescent Moon on the 27th.
Full moon is called the
Groundhog Day Moon, FEB 9 6:49 am
Last Quarter: FEB 16 1:39
pm
New Moon: FEB 24
5:36 pm
First Quarter: FEB 2 3:12
pm
February 7: Annualar Eclipse
of the Sun
This
eclipse will not be visible from North America. The first solar eclipse of 2008
occurs at the Moon's ascending node in Capricornus. An annular eclipse will be
visible from a wide track, that traverses Antarctica and southern regions of
the Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much larger path
of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes the southeastern third of
Australia, all of New Zealand and most of Antarctica
February 20-21: Total
Eclipse of the Moon
The entire eclipse can be
seen from eastern and central North America. The Moon enters Earth's umbral
shadow on February 20 at 8:43 P.M. EST, and the eclipse becomes total at 10:01
P.M. EST. Totality ends at 10:52 P.M. EST, and the umbral phase ends at 12:09
A.M. EST on February 21. The penumbral phase (only) will occur over western
North America, at the time of moonrise; it will be difficult to see changes in
the Moon's appearance.
Wildflowers
Rising To The Occasion
Watch
now for more than a dozen early wildflowers opening their blossoms in a variety
of habitats. Within coast live
oak/California bay forests, youÕre likely to see ground iris, Douglas iris,
milkmaids, hounds tongue, mission bells, and California buttercup.
An excellent Web site to track the bloom of
spring wildflowers is compiled and maintained by writer/photographer Carol
Leigh. To see reports of the
latest sightings or to announce your own discoveries, visit:
http://calphoto.com/wflower.htm
Loud
Waterfalls Announce The Season
Prime
time viewing of the Bay AreaÕs and northern CaliforniaÕs ample waterfalls are a
delight to the senses. What could be more invigorating and awe-inspiring than
to feel the powerful force of liquid Earth bombarding the placid landscape?
Looking up at the roaring display of frenetic molecules in motion within a
waterfall, itÕs easy to lose track of time. YouÕre simply Òthere,Ó and life is
good. Your hypnotized gaze is
proof that the best things in life are free. Some of the best locations for viewing waterfalls in our
area appear in a Web site: www.marintrails.com/falls.html
A
different angle is to think how loud, rushing water along your trail walk may
challenge your ability to successfully converse with a trailside partner. After a few switchbacks of dialogue
that include ÒwhatÓ and Òsorry,Ó you decide thereÕs a better solution than
yelling and screaming. You decide to surrender. A hike with the mute button
ÒonÓ is not all bad. You let the anarchic accompaniment of water be your
solace, a step-by-step meditation.
Loud
Waterfalls, Cacophonous Creeks, And Bird Song
As
an extension from the previous entry above, consider the following ecologic
mystery while youÕre walking beside a creek that emits an incessant refrain of
rushing water: Does the loud sound affect singing birds and their ability to
hear each other while establishing territories and attempting to attract mates
along bottomland areas? The answer is only partially understood. In early
winter, the question is invalid when no singing bird species in our area have
yet begun to use their voices to attract mates or defend territories.
But
conditions soon change when February arrives. In particular, nowÕs the time to
ponder whether Orange-Crowned Warbler males (that may begin arriving in late
February in our area) are negatively impacted by the cacophonous presence of
water? Does the noisy environs affect their ability to successfully complete
their appointed seasonÕs life cycle? And what about Oak Titmouse, BewickÕs
Wren, and HuttonÕs Vireo Ñ all of which are often singing in February and
beyond within or nearby in upland areas within earshot of noisy
bottomlands? Do all of these bird
species have to wait until March and April and beyond to attract a mate that
can finally better hear them? Or do they simply abandon a percussive bottomland
area for more quiet nesting areas elsewhere that offer similar habitat
conditions? The answer is a qualified Òyes.Ó At least one streamside study has
shown birds upland and more removed from loud streams have an easier time
hearing the companion birds with which they share the same habitat. The article suggests upland birds more
successfully find mates and complete their breeding cycle with newborns
fledgling from nests.
This
month and next, watch for red sea urchins (a four-inch echinoderm) during low
tides along rocky stretches of the northern California coast. Spawning occurs
now through March, and their populations appear to be flourishing due in part
to the increasing absence of predators (such as sea otters) in parts of the
ranges where both these critters live.
Early
returning birds that you may now begin seeing again include several swallow
species (beyond populations that did not leave for the winter) such as Tree
Swallow, followed by Violet-Green (mid-February), Cliff (mid-February), and Barn and Northern Rough-Winged
(late February). Purple Martin
will also arrive by April and nest in the area. Bank Swallow is rare to locally extinct in much of the Bay
Area.
One
of the most common birds you can see in the winter landscape now is the
diminutive and frenetic Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. Enjoy them while theyÕre here.
TheyÕll soon be gone. By the end of April, most have left for breeding grounds
in the foothills/Sierras and latitudes farther north, and all vacate the Bay
Area during the breeding season.
Meanwhile, populations
of the look-alike Golden-Crowned Kinglet are also present in the Bay Area
during this time, and some will remain to breed here (e.g., western Marin
County). One major telltale field mark clue is the absence of feather coloring
in the crown of most Ruby-Crowneds, while all Golden-Crowned, both male or
female, exhibit yellow in the crown (with the male adding a golden central
median stripe on the crown).
Their feeding behavior
is also often an easy way to tell them apart from a distance. One study suggests Ruby-Crowneds forage
within the upper thirds of trees more frequently and that individuals typically
hover while they feed in a treeÕs interior portions. On the other hand,
Golden-Crowned populations often use a gleaning behavior to find food resources
at the tips of branches (Kathleen E. Franzreb, Foraging Habits of
Ruby-Crowned and Golden-Crowned Kinglets in an Arizona Montane Forest,
Kathleen E. Franzreb.
139-145, 1984; A. Keast and S. Saunders, Ecomorphology of the North American
Ruby-crowned (Regulus calendula) and Golden-crowned (R. satrapa) Kinglets. Auk 108: 880Ð888, 1991)
Seeing
an owl during the day in open country? If so, you may be observing the
Short-Eared Owl, which wears a dark facial disk that emphasizes its yellow
eyes. Short-eard Owl is rarely seen in Marin County, but individuals are
sometimes spotted in isolated portions along Tomales Bay or in distant trails
and raised embankments accessible from the Las Gallinas Ponds in San Rafael.
Other
day-flying, or diurnal, owl species to look for include the Burrowing,
Long-Eared and Barn Owl. Which is
the most common owl species in our area? The answer is the Great Horned Owl, a
species that is more common in urban-suburban areas than people realize. Even
the slightest sliver of natural surroundings may attract this species that has
evidently adapted well to living within and near developed areas.
The
Burrowing Owl is rare and usually only seen in open areas during the
non-breeding season. Long-Eared
are also rare and perhaps best found in dense growths of vegetation such as
riparian corridors. Barn Owl nests
throughout the area, both in human structures or in trees such as oaks.
Winter-active
mammals you can spot at higher altitudes this time of year include pikas, deer
mice, pocket gophers and tree squirrels. Other active foraging mammals to
search for are meadow mice, mountain beaver (or aplodontia), shrew, and
porcupine.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
6:41 AM |
6:04 PM |
|
Moon |
8:43 AM |
11:28 PM |
|
Mercury |
5:51 AM |
4:10 PM |
|
Venus |
7:37 AM |
8:56 PM |
|
Mars |
5:50 AM |
4:12 PM |
|
Jupiter |
5:28 AM |
3:39 PM |
|
Saturn |
6:30 PM |
7:18 AM |
|
Uranus |
7:13 AM |
6:53 PM |
|
Neptune |
6:01 AM |
4:38 PM |
|
Pluto |
2:40 AM |
12:49 PM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is called the Sap
Moon, Crow Moon or Lenten Moon: MAR 10 7:37 pm
Last Quarter: MAR 18 10:49
am
New Moon: MAR 26 9:08
am
First Quarter: MAR 3 11:45
pm
You have to be in Alaska to see this solar eclipse. It begins at 4:38 p.m. Alaskan time
with a peak at 6:32 p.m. Alaskan time.
March
20: Spring begins at 4:44 a.m. PST
Baby
Time
Which
animals give birth this month? A large variety. Watch for baby Western Tree
Squirrels, Oppossum, and Raccoons.
We donÕt usually get lucky enough to see newborn mammals because the
mother or both parents typically hide their young from any potential
predators. But you can sometimes
see Western Tree Squirrel mothers transferring their babies from one tree
ÒnestÓ to another or spot a family of Raccoons at night in your backyard
(perhaps easier while using an infrared light bulb to cast a glow that the
raccoons ignore but is bright enough for your own viewing pleasure).
Western
Tree Squirrel: Newborns All Around
Even
urban areas with sparse tree growth may host Western Tree Squirrel populations.
NowÕs an ideal time to see males competing for the attention of females. Two to
five young are born this month where females have retreated to tree cavities.
By June, the newborns are active (though not yet full grown, so you can tell
them apart from adults).
During
most breeding seasons, you can expect this month to feature a variety of
migrating birds returning to coastal northern California in good numbers,
including the House Wren, Warbling Vireo, WilsonÕs Warbler, Pacific-Sloped
Flycatcher and Cliff Swallow.
Do
you wish to see rare, accidental or early bird migrants in northern California?
Call the ÒBird BoxÓ to find out at 415/681-7422. You may also record your own
bird sighting reports at the same phone number.
NowÕs
the time to watch for the appearance of various butterflies and moths. One of
the most appealing is the Silkmoth (Saturnia mendocino), which wears a striking black-rimmed eyespot on each
wing. Look for them most commonly in coastal and mountain chaparral.
Going
to the California mountains this time of year? Be on the lookout for several
species of birds: WilliamsonÕs Sapsucker (a woodpecker that feeds on the sap of
lodgepole pine during the summer but eats more insects in the winter),
Black-backed Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee (that eats larvae of the lodgepole
needleminer during the winter), Pine Grosbeak (less common in winter up high),
Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Red Crossbill (also less common). The latter two
species are year-round residents in Marin County, but they are never common to
see, and are often detected initially by a birderÕs ear tuned to the landscape.
Some
winter resident birds in the Bay Area and northern California begin to leave
now for breeding areas elsewhere, including species such as American Pipit and
Cedar Waxwing.
Which
true hibernating mammals are getting closer to Òwaking upÓ from their long winterÕs
sleep? In foothill and mountainous areas of northern California, yellowbelly
marmot, least chipmunk, California ground squirrel, and western jumping mice
all hibernate. Some of these species may spend seven to eight months in a
torpid state, though not all ground squirrel populations hibernate and many
individuals in our area remain above ground or are active by January.
Migrating
birds whose return to northern California typically occurs in higher numbers
now (and into the first two weeks of April) include MacGillivrayÕs Warbler,
Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Lazuli Bunting,
and SwainsonÕs Thrush. Excellent guides to birding in our area include
ÒBirderÕs Guide to Northern CaliforniaÓ (Lolo and Jim Westrich, Gulf Publishing
Co., 1991) and ÒBirding Northern Calfornia,Ó John Kemper, A Falcon Guide, Globe
Pequot Press, 2001). You may also
wish to find guided birding walks that are pre-scheduled on local Audubon
chapter web sites that are accessed through www.audubon.org
(Click
on the home pageÕs button titled Òstates and chaptersÓ to access any local
California Audubon chapter among the dozens listed.)
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
6:55 AM |
7:34 PM |
|
Moon |
11:02 AM |
1:43 AM |
|
Mercury |
7:04 AM |
7:41 PM |
|
Venus |
6:03 AM |
7:01 PM |
|
Mars |
5:52 AM |
5:11 PM |
|
Jupiter |
4:45 AM |
3:09 PM |
|
Saturn |
5:16 PM |
6:10 AM |
|
Uranus |
6:15 AM |
5:59 PM |
|
Neptune |
5:02 AM |
3:41 PM |
|
Pluto |
1:39 AM |
11:48 AM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this
monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is called the Grass Moon or Egg Moon: APR
9 7:55 am
Last Quarter: APR 17 6:38 am
New Moon: APR 24 8:24 pm
First Quarter: APR 2 7:34 am
April
22: Lyrid Meteor Shower
Although
this isn't one of the year's strongest showers, the Moon will be a thin predawn
crescent when the Lyrids peak. Count on seeing roughly a dozen or so meteors
per hour emanating from a radiant near the Hercules-Lyra border. These are
particles from Comet Thatcher.
Lizards
Arising: Western Whiptails
Throughout
the state this month, watch for the emergence of reptiles, including Western
Whiptails that become active after winter dormancy. At first sighting, donÕt
mistake the whiptail for a snake, despite their long, 13-inch body that
slithers more like a miniature alligator.
As
the only common whiptail in the state, you wonÕt find them easily along the
Coast and instead need to explore inland, arid habitats. Here, the juveniles
are the initial populations to become active, followed by adult males. The
latter compete for females by establishing mating dominance among males that
congregate together. Unlike many reptiles that become more difficult to spot as
temperatures rise throughout the spring, whipails remain active throughout much
of the day.
Does
a whiptail drop its tail as an escape strategy from a predator? Yes, but only
in rare cases, and only if it cannot evade the grasp of its pursuer. Growing
its tail again takes lots of energy and time, so a whiptail will typically
instead bolt from a predator in the blink of an eye to prevent capture.
Butterfly
Sightings?
If youÕve recently seen a
butterfly species and wish to know if other people have witnessed the same kind
or others, then visit a Web site link that is devoted to tracking the
appearance of butterfly species throughout North America:
http://www.naba.org/sightings/sightings.html
Mountain
Beavers: A Family Of One
Have you ever seen a
Mountain Beaver? Not many people
have been lucky enough to observe these solitary rodents that are in a
different family than the more common American Beaver that lives throughout
North America. To find a Mountain Beaver, you have to search in moist habitats
along the Pacific coast from northern California through Washington and into
southern British Columbia, Canada. Little is known about mountain beaver
behavior during the breeding season. Breeding activity occurs mainly from
January to March with gestation lasting about 30 days. Young are born blind and
hairless, weighing about 3/4 ounce (20 g). They develop incisors at about 30
days and are weaned at about 8 weeks. Young animals are often active in May.
Females apparently do not bear young until they are two years of age.
As
the only member of its family (Aplodontidae) and genus (Aplodontia) in North America, a Mountain Beaver leaves evidence of
its presence in the form of packed ground that forms a trail next to its burrow
within a forest canopy and/or thick understory. Mountain Beavers are active
year-round, but a rare sight, perhaps primarily because their habitat is
usually inaccessible and off-trail from where most hikers prefer to explore.
Look
under a flat board or log now for the Western Skink, a common, yet secretive
reptile that lives throughout northern California from sea level to 7,000 feet.
Males wear a distinctive blue belly and join females in a variety of habitats,
most commonly in open areas or places undergoing early regrowth of vegetation
after logging. Mating occurs in spring soon after emerging from winter slumber.
Pacific
Giant Salamanders (also called California Giant Salamanders) are entering their
peak breeding time in northern California. At lengths of five to six inches,
this salamander is the largest in our area. They are year-round residents of
north-central California (from southern Santa Cruz County to extreme southern
Mendocino and Lake counties) that live up to 6,500 feet, primarily in humid
coastal forests, and especially in Douglas-fir, redwood, red fir, and montane
and valley-foothill riparian habitats. Look for aquatic adults and larvae in
cool, rocky streams and occasionally in lakes and ponds.
Roadside
mammal sightings now may seem more common for a good reason: Mothers are giving birth to babies,
including those born to opossums. As the only pouched mammal (marsupial) in the
USA, opossums often give birth to 14 embryos that have large hands to quickly
crawl and attach to their motherÕs 13 teats. Of course, in a tongue-and-cheek kind of way, this means the
oversupply of babies for available teats makes opossums players of Òmusical
chairs,Ó a game they have been playing for millions of years prior to the first
appearance of evolved primates such as humans.
Probably
the most common reptile in California, the Western Fence Lizard is now more
easily seen. This abundant, plainly-marked species begins courtship as early as
March (and more commonly April), with copulations also occurring in May and
June. Egg-laying after copulation typically occurs in two to four weeks (May
through mid-July is the peak of egg-laying), and the incubation period is
around 60 days. Found throughout California except in deserts (where it is
confined to riparian areas), Western Fence Lizards live from sea level to
10,000 feet. Of course, like any
common animal, populations of Western Fence Lizard may be locally rare if
suitable habitat is removed as a consequence of development.
Although
you can now see two species of swifts (VauxÕs and White-throated) that nest in
northern California (including Marin County), the White-throated is more common
until it begins to disperse and migrate by the end of July and early August,
after which they become a more rare sight throughout autumn and into winter. According to studies, all species of
swifts obtain their food exclusively while aloft. Copulation also occurs in the air. Such aerial feats make
sense, as seeing a swift perched is an uncommon sight, given their
underdeveloped feet and leg muscles that are weak in comparison to those designed
for perching birds such as songbirds.
Detecting
obvious signs of global warmingÕs presence is indicated by changing hibernation
dynamics in some mammal species. Consider that yellowbelly marmots (close
relatives of woodchucks), which usually hibernate for eight months during the
long winter at high altitudes, are emerging from hibernation earlier (38 days
earlier over the past 23 years) and may risk starvation as they wait longer for
snow to melt before they can feed.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
6:13 AM |
8:02 PM |
|
Moon |
12:29 PM |
2:03 AM |
|
Mercury |
7:02 AM |
9:41 PM |
|
Venus |
4:29 AM |
4:48 PM |
|
Mars |
4:51 AM |
5:07 PM |
|
Jupiter |
3:01 AM |
1:34 PM |
|
Saturn |
3:11 PM |
4:09 AM |
|
Uranus |
4:21 AM |
4:09 PM |
|
Neptune |
3:06 AM |
1:46 PM |
|
Pluto |
11:36 PM |
9:50 AM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is called the Planting Moon or Milk
Moon, MAY
8 9:01 pm
Last Quarter: MAY 17 12:27 am
New Moon: MAY 24 5:12 am
First Quarter: MAY 1 1:44 pm
May
5: Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
This shower is spawned by none other than
Halley's Comet. It's typically a good one for Northern and Southern Hemisphere
observers, though the radiant, in the Water Jar of Aquarius, rises late for
northerners. This year strong light from a nearly full Moon will wash out most
of them, so don't expect to see more than 20 or so per hour.
Migrating
SwainsonÕs Thrushes
Northern
CaliforniaÕs greatest abundance of SwainsonÕs Thrush arrive this month on their
breeding grounds, joining AprilÕs initial vanguard that returns from
non-breeding areas in Mexico, Central America, and, even, perhaps, from as far
south as mid-South America. Northern CaliforniaÕs populations have been studied
less rigorously than eastern populations that complete a 3,000 mile from Panama
to Canada. In an amazing effort
spanning 34 years of tracking migrating thrushes in spring, W.W. CochranÕs
discoveries inspired Martin Wikelski, a biologist at Princeton University in
1999, to measure how much energy thrushes expended in migratory flight.
WikelskiÕs
results were counter-intuitive to what common sense would suggest: the thrushes
traveling north in spring spent less energy in flight than they did while
resting and foraging during daytime layover episodes. In total, Wikelski and
his collaborators found a typical thrush completed its long migration journey
over 42 nights while averaging 4.6 hours per night flight of approximately 158
miles. Losing 0.3 calories per
mile on average, each thrushÕs heart beat about 840 times per minute while
flying Ñ a hyper-aerobic workout that failed to be as caloric intensive as the
seemingly more loitering, casual effort required when merely perched or
foraging.
Watching
Radar To Follow Migrating Birds
Anyone
with an Internet connection to the World Wide Web can use radar images to see
whether migrant birds are aloft and how large their flocks are in abundance
while heading your way. Visit the fascinating and well-respected Clemson
University Radar Ornithology Laboratory Web site at http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/birdrad. These radar images are forecasts for
East Coast viewers wishing to track spring migrants, but, nonetheless, itÕs
probably also fascinating for West Coast Web surfers to interpret how an
eveningÕs weather pattern influences the movement of migrating birds.
An
equally interesting source of migration information available through radar
maps is operated by the College of DuPage in Illinois. The ideal time to look at its radar
maps is two to four hours after sunset at http://weather.cod.edu/analysis/analysis.radar.html.
At this time, youÕll be able to interpret the magnitude of migration and the
direction and speed traveled by birds en masse by the different concentrations
of colors appearing on each radar map.
Northern
Alligator Lizards are commonly seen now in a variety of forested habitats and
montane chaparral from northwestern California, in the Coast Ranges south to San
Luis Obispo Co. and in the Sierra Nevada Mountains south to the Kern River in
southern California. Although mating probably occurs as early as mid-April,
live alligator lizard young (in litters of 3-8) are typically born in August
and September. As long as temperatures remain above freezing into November,
these reptiles will roam free and usually disperse no more than five to seven
miles from an original birthing area.
The
federally endangered California Red-legged Frog breeds from March to July in
northern parts of California and from January to July (peak in February) in the
southern part of the state. It inhabits quiet pools of streams, marshes, and
occasionally ponds where emergent vegetation provides hiding places. Look for
this species west of the Sierra-Cascade crest and along the Coast Ranges the
entire length of the state usually below 4,000 feet.
Newborn
raccoons born this time of year may number 2-7 in a litter. Do they and their parents truly wash
their food? Sometimes, but dipping their meal is merely thought to be a tactic
that helps them tell edible objects from non-edible items. There is no evidence from field
observations to suggest raccoons attempt to clean off their prey by washing
them with water before feasting.
An excellent tactic to see raccoons closeup is to attract them to your
backyard with a bowl of dogfood or graham crackers while shining the glare of
an infrared bulb from above on the food attractant. Then, retreating to your
residence and watching from a distance of at least 50 feet, wait patiently to
see if raccoons arrive to take
your bait.
WhatÕs
one technique that may attract more birds to your yard? Try installing a backyard in-ground
pond or above-ground water source.
A perpetual spray or fountain that recycles water can attract birds
drawn in by the sound of running water, especially passerines such as American
Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, House Finch, American Goldfinch
and many others.
Western
Wood-Pewees, one of our latest returning neotropical migrants, are now settling
into breeding habitats such as woodlands, pine-oak forests, and river groves.
What
is the strange scent in the air along roadsides? Perhaps youÕre smelling night-active skunks whose home range
may extend beyond 10 acres, within which a portion is used more often,
including sheltering areas such as abandoned burrows of other animals. Skunks
sometimes also dig their own burrow or use protected cavities underneath
buildings. Some naturalists
suggest mothballs work to repel skunks from habitually entering a shelter
under, for example, a house or patio.
Changing
sweet mixtures regularly every 2-3 days in hummingbird feeders becomes
important as days grow warmer.
Washing the feeder in hot water is also an important preventive measure
to care for the health of hummers.
A four to five parts water to one part sugar combination usually works
best, though you may experiment (fun!) to judge which mixture is most often
visited by hummingbirds. Bee and
ant guards are a good idea to prevent potential problems. If youÕre hanging more than one feeder,
the best strategy (if possible) is to space them apart by at least 30-40
feet. This action may help prevent
the guarding of two feeders by an overaggressive male hummer that defends the
territory in between both feeders.
Sky
Watch:
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
5:49 AM |
8:28 PM |
|
Moon |
2:52 PM |
2:03 AM |
|
Mercury |
5:05 AM |
6:45 PM |
|
Venus |
3:40 AM |
4:35 PM |
|
Mars |
3:47 AM |
5:02 PM |
|
Jupiter |
1:07 AM |
11:46 AM |
|
Saturn |
1:09 PM |
2:06 AM |
|
Uranus |
2:22 AM |
2:12 PM |
|
Neptune |
1:05 AM |
11:45 AM |
|
Pluto |
9:32 PM |
7:45 AM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this
monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is called the Rose Moon, Flower Moon
or Strawberry Moon:
JUN 7 11:12 am
Last Quarter: JUN 15
3:16 pm
New Moon: JUN
22 12:36 pm
First Quarter: JUN 29
4:29 am
20th:
Summer begins at 10:46 p.m. PST
23rd:
St. JohnÕs Eve tonight used to be celebrated more so in the past in England
when bonfires would be set to glow throughout the long and late-striking
twilight hours and into the night.
Pop
bird quiz: How many species of warblers nest in northern California along and
near the coast (e.g., Marin County)? During most breeding seasons, at least
eight species breed annually in suitable habitat (Orange-Crowned, Yellow,
Yellow-Rumped, Black-throated-gray, Hermit, MacGillivrayÕs, Common
Yellowthroat, and WilsonÕs). Irregular to rare annual breeders in n. CA may
include Northern Parula, American Redstart (annual in far n.w. CA along the
coast) and Yellow-breasted Chat. Note that all eight of the initially mentioned
species above may be seen during the non-breeding season, with the Common
Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped considered resident in Marin County.
Note,
however, that some Yellow-Rumped populations may arrive from the north during
the non-breeding season to displace breeders of the same species that migrate
away from Marin CountyÕs higher altitudes that host small breeding populations.
In our area, Orange-crowned is uncommon, yet not rare to see during the
non-breeding season, while Hermit is often also seen, especially during the
CountyÕs annual Christmas Bird Count surveys conducted by volunteers. The least
common species to see during the non-breeding season (December through March)
from the list above (in descending order of abundance) are Yellow,
Black-throated gray, WilsonÕs, and MacGillivrayÕs).
Final
Avian Arrivals
In
northern California, itÕs a good bet that Western Wood Peewee and Common
Nighthawk are the latest arriving avian migrants among species that do not
overwinter in the state. According
to the Point Reyes Bird Observatory Biologist Dave ShufordÕs chart (Marin
County Breeding Bird Atlas, Dave Shuford, Bushtit Books, Bolinas, CA 1993) that
highlights the arrival of avian migrants in northern California (see www.warblerwatch.com
and click on the ÒBird Arrival TimesÓ button), Western Wood Peewee may arrive
in May and as late as early June during some years. Common Nighthawk is usually
a June arrival, probably because their primary food resource Ñ aerial insects
of various species Ñ do not bloom in abundance until this time.
Unlike
the Sierra mountains where many species of chipmunks may be seen, the Sonoma
Chipmunks is the only species of chipmunk youÕll see in coastal areas of
northern California, including the San Francisco Bay area. Breeding from
February through July, one litter is born per year consisting of three to seven
young. Gestation occurs for 30 days in a pregnant chipmunk and individuals
mature at around one year. Not
surprisingly, people often mistake the soft chirping of the Sonoma chipmunk for
a bird.
On
warm nights now and the rest of the summer, itÕs wonderful to linger outdoors
and gaze at the stars. ThereÕs only one problem. ItÕs increasingly more
difficult to see the stars through the glare discarded by people and their
surroundings. Do you care about the increasing problem of light pollution that
makes it more difficult to clearly spot celestial objects? If so, you might
consider joining the International Dark-Sky Association. Call 520/293-3198 for more information
or look at its Web site: http://www.darksky.org
Will
you still see young deer this late in the spring? Yes, it seems the normal
range of births for deer extends into late June and beyond. IÕve seen
white-spotted fawns well into July and, even, occasionally as late as August
and September in our area, the burgeoning population due in part to the
plentiful forage and ideal habitat that continues to expand as more suburban
landscapes and their associated gardens displace forests, forest borders, and
meadows.
On
trails near urban areas throughout the Bay Area, you can often find the scat or
tracks of gray foxes. (Many people may automatically assume these signs are
from domestic dogs. Telltale signs of gray fox include the presence of hair and
a sharp, tapered point at least one end of the scat.) More common than ever in
our region, these solitary mammals may be active both day and night. Unlike
other dog family members, the gray fox is able to climb trees where they may
hang out during the day.
Which
gull in California is the only species nesting along the coast (e.g., Marin
County)? The Western Gull, which nests from southern Baja to Washington.
Distinguishing this species from other gull species is not too difficult. Three
field marks often give away their identity: pink legs, large bill, extremely
dark gray backside/mantle. Note the lower portion of the bill has a small crook
or angle near its end, a field mark that is called the Ògonydeal angle.Ó
Do
you want to attract mammals into view in your backyard? One fun technique for doing so is to
place a Q-tip (that has been dipped into musk oil or other animal-attracting
oil potion) into the ground. Place
a small circle of sand under the Q-tip so that you can see the tracks of the
animals you attract. (You can order a large variety of animal attractant oil
and vocal call devices from M & M Fur Co., 1-800-658-5554.)
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
5:51 AM |
8:37 PM |
|
Moon |
3:58 PM |
1:28 AM |
|
Mercury |
4:51 AM |
7:36 PM |
|
Venus |
3:11 AM |
5:06 PM |
|
Mars |
2:51 AM |
4:53 PM |
|
Jupiter |
11:05 PM |
9:47 AM |
|
Saturn |
11:19 AM |
12:12 AM |
|
Uranus |
12:25 AM |
12:16 PM |
|
Neptune |
11:02 PM |
9:46 AM |
|
Pluto |
7:31 PM |
5:44 AM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this
monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is called the Thunder Moon or Hay
Moon: JUL 7 2:22 am
Last Quarter: JUL 15 2:54 am
New Moon: JUL 21
7:35 pm
First Quarter: JUL 28
3:00 pm
July
29: Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower
Skywatchers
in the Southern Hemisphere see the Aquarid showers best because their radiant
is below the celestial equator. Light from a last-quarter Moon will be a factor
and probably wash out many of the predicted 20 or so Delta Aquarids per hour.
Autumn
In July? Yes, If YouÕre A Shorebird
Visit
San Francisco Bay shorelines this month to note the arrival of Arctic and
Alaskan populations of Western and Least Sandpiper, northern CaliforniaÕs
initial returning migrants that will spend the non-breeding season here or at
points farther south. An interesting fact relates to how some tardy northward
migrating Western and Least Sandpiper populations in June may actually pass
early southward migrating male individuals belonging to the same species.
Imagine this phenomenon happening infrequently, but when it does, itÕs likely
to happen in Washington or British Columbia coastal areas Ñ and not as typical
in the San Francisco Bay Area where the initial returning shorebirds/peeps
usually return as early as the last week of June and in greater numbers during
the initial two weeks of July.
The
Dusky-Footed Wood Rat is a common small mammal that is often overlooked when
people walk in woodlands. Active only at night, its presence is easily noticed
by its often elaborate and conspicuous conical nest of twigs and branches that
can grow two to three feet tall (as more twigs accumulate each year). The wood
rat occupying a nest is solitary except for during the breeding season.
By
now, you may see first-year brush rabbits on the landscape. Born from January
through August in our area (with greater activity from March through June),
young rabbits remain in their nest for two weeks. Females produce 2-4 litters
per year, of 1-6 young (average 3-4).
Another
common northern California mammal, the California ground squirrel (or
BeecheyiÕs ground squirrel), is more difficult to spot now because the dry,
warm weather reduces vegetation as a food source and therefore induces
estivation (Òsummer slumberÓ) in some individuals during this time of the year.
From now through mid-winter, these 9-11 inch mammals may retire to a burrow
until more green growth appears with the first rains and in mid-winter. At
higher elevations, these squirrels hibernate from late October through May.
Do
some warblers actually begin dispersing from their breeding areas already? Yes,
and this movement includes populations of California-nesting Orange-Crowned
Warblers that first disperse to higher altitudes in the foothill and the Sierra
Madre Mountains (to the east and northeast of Marin County) where they feed and
molt for a period before eventually migrating south in late summer and early
autumn.
Tree
squirrels may be having their second ÒhatchÓ of babies by now. Using tree
cavities as birthing sites, the adults occasionally move the babies from one
locale to another in the canopy.
Be
on the lookout for south migrating shorebirds and sandpipers as they begin
their early treks back to wintering grounds from northern breeding areas. Likely first candidates to spot along
ocean beaches and in esteros include Western and Least Sandpipers, Greater
Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs (less common than Greater), Willet, Marbled
Godwit, Black Turnstone, and, by the end of September, Dunlin. Curiously, itÕs
actually possible to see both north and southbound migrating birds this month.
Go to Limantour Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore, for example, and it
would be plausible to see late-migrating northbound Least Sandpipers passing by
the first southbound migrating birds of the same species that have already bred
to the north.
The
hatching times of butterflies vary throughout the spring and summer. One
excellent online resource for the butterfly breeding biology in the McLaughlin
Reserve (in Napa and Lake Counties, northwest of Davis by two hours) is
accessed at http://nrs.ucop.edu/reserves/mclaughlin/species/butterflypheno.htm.
An excellent butterfly field guide that reveals hatching range times is
ÒButterflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Western
North America,Ó by Jeffrey Glassberg.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
6:13 AM |
8:19 PM |
|
Moon |
5:42 PM |
2:07 AM |
|
Mercury |
7:44 AM |
9:16 PM |
|
Venus |
3:15 AM |
5:48 PM |
|
Mars |
2:03 AM |
4:38 PM |
|
Jupiter |
8:56 PM |
7:31 AM |
|
Saturn |
9:31 AM |
10:13 PM |
|
Uranus |
10:18 PM |
10:12 AM |
|
Neptune |
8:58 PM |
7:40 AM |
|
Pluto |
5:27 PM |
3:39 AM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this
monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is called the
Red Moon or Green Corn Moon: AUG 5 5:56 pm
Last Quarter: AUG 13 11:56 pm
New Moon: AUG 20 3:02
am
First Quarter: AUG 27 4:42 am
August
12-13: Perseid Meteor Shower
The Perseid shower is a popular display because
it offers up to 60 an hour under a summer sky. Showtime usually begins as soon
as the radiant (near the Double Cluster in Perseus) clears the horizon, an hour
or so before midnight. But not long afterward you'll have competition from a
last-quarter Moon. The Perseids' parent comet is 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
August
1st: Total Eclipse of the Sun
In North America, totality
will be visible only from arctic Canada. The partial phase will be visible from
extreme northeastern areas of North America, where the Sun will rise partially
eclipsed.
August
16: Partial Eclipse of the Moon
This eclipse will not be
visible from North America.
How
many resident species of woodpeckers can you typically see in northern
California? Five commons ones (Acorn, NuttallÕs, Downy, Hairy, Northern
Flicker) are year-round residents, while the Pileated is a less common
resident. Red-breasted Sapsuckers arrive in greater numbers during the fall and
winter, but they are still never a common sight in Marin County and in most of
the Bay Area except for the northwestern portion of Sonoma County where they
nest.
One
of the best places to see Black-tailed Jackrabbits (hares) (Lepus
californicus) is along San Francisco
Bay area recreational lands where trails wind through grasses, forbs and
shrubs. April and May are the most common months for Bay Area hares to give
birth, with four litters per year consisting of three to four hares the typical
reproduction rate for one female. Hares are also common throughout the state,
except at the highest elevations.
Most
long-distance avian songbird migrants fly at night. Feeding during the day
replenishes their energy. Traveling for long distances over unsuitable habitats
and water is not uncommon. Perhaps the most Herculean southerly migration
flight is performed by the Blackpoll warbler whose eastern populations, in
part, are known to travel nonstop some 2,200 miles over the Atlantic ocean from
New England and eastern Canada to their non-breeding grounds in northern South
America. This trip may take the warblers 72-90 hours in flight time, during
which they burn .08 grams per hour.
If one portion of a BlackpollÕs autumn migration takes 36 hours before
they arrive to temporarily rest on the island of Bermuda, then researchers have
calculated it would log some 720,000 miles to the gallon if it burned gasoline
instead of its own fat (Timothy and Janet Williams, ÒAn Oceanic Mass Migration
of Land Birds.Ó Scientific American (239)
(1978): 166-76.)
Vacationers
in California occasionally ask me about places that are good for birding. One
excellent resource is the book ÒBirderÕs Guide to Northern California,Ó by LoLo
and Jim Westich (Gulf Publishing,
1991). It lists and describes hundreds of birding spots throughout seven
regions in northern California and also provides addresses for
obtaining
more than 25 regional and local bird check-lists.
Which
species of hummingbirds are you most likely to see in northern California along
the coast (e.g., Marin County)? Six species have been observed in Marin County
just north of San Francisco: AnnaÕs are year-round residents, while AllenÕs are
present as breeders from mid-March through mid-July. Rufous Hummingbirds may also be seen during spring and
autumn migration times, while less frequently observed are Black-chinned,
CostaÕs and Calliope Hummingbirds.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
6:40 AM |
7:39 PM |
|
Moon |
6:10 PM |
3:47 AM |
|
Mercury |
8:52 AM |
8:24 PM |
|
Venus |
4:00 AM |
6:09 PM |
|
Mars |
1:23 AM |
4:08 PM |
|
Jupiter |
6:44 PM |
5:09 AM |
|
Saturn |
7:47 AM |
8:19 PM |
|
Uranus |
8:14 PM |
8:05 AM |
|
Neptune |
6:54 PM |
5:34 AM |
|
Pluto |
3:24 PM |
1:35 AM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon Corn Moon or Full Barley Moon: SEP 4 9:03 am
Last Quarter: SEP 25 9:49 pm
New Moon: SEP 18 11:44 am
First Quarter: SEP 7 7:04 am
Autumn begins at 2:19 p.m.
PDT
.
. .And The First Hibernating Mammal Is:
You
were correct if you said Yellowbelly Marmot (Marmota flaviventris), an inhabitant of high altitudes that turn cool early
in southeastern, eastern, and northeastern California. Some individuals of this
species may begin hibernation in August, prior to which they begin estivation
as early as June (!). A mammal
that begins hibernation in September is the Western Jumping Mouse (Zapus
princeps), which has a breeding range
that extends from New Mexico north to Alaska and the Northwest Territories. The
northernmost populations probably enter hibernation prior to southern
individuals, with northern California populations possibly entering their
winter ÒsleepÓ phase in mid- to late-October.
Given
this mammalÕs breeding range does not include Marin County, itÕs likely that
our only hibernating mammals could be the Little Brown Bat (Myotis
lucifugus) and some localized
populations of California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi). Least Chipmunks (Eutamias minimus) in far eastern and northeastern California also
hibernate, as do some Whitetail Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus
leucurus) populations in northeastern
California.
Does
California host fireflies like much of the rest of the USA? Yes, but our
species do not have the ability to create bioluminescent light patterns.
Elsewhere in the USA (especially in the Midwest/East), watch for the pulsing
light show of fireflies in meadows, fields and forest borders. The aerial
flights of flashing light are made by male fireflies only. Females may respond
in kind from their perches on the ground. Males checkout the light pattern
emitted from females by flying closer, then mating if the flashing pattern is
acceptable. If you see a different pattern of flashing light from a firefly, it
may be another species. You can attempt to distinguish species from one another
by noticing the number, duration and time lapse between flashes.
How
many species of different bats can be found in California? Twenty-one,
according to a checklist compiled by Daniel F. Williams (Dept. of Biological
Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 95382; see http://arnica.csustan.edu/esrpp/calilist.htm).
Approximately 13 of these species can be
seen in the San Francisco Bay Area. At least 40 species of bats occur in N.
America, some of which are threatened or endangered.
Besides
monarchs, who are the other migrating butterflies? Two of them are the painted
lady and red admiral. High ridges are especially good vantage points to spot
monarchs moving south. Butterfly watchers in the East and Midwest will see
monarchs on their trips south to where they will remain throughout the winter in
the Transvolcanic Mountain range of central Mexico. Western populations of
migrating monarchs often congregate together in huge colonies along the central
California coast (e.g., Pacific Grove near Monterey, CA).
Now
is the time to notice ÒstagingÓ behavior of some birds. Swallows and
nighthawks, for example, congregate in large groups on telephone lines and in
trees before migrating south together en masse. Unlike most passerine birds,
many swallows and nighthawks migrate during the day Ñ as do Lesser, LawrenceÕs,
and American Goldfinch, in addition American Robin and Northern Flicker.
Thirteen
species of mammals living in California are introduced non-natives, including
the Virginia opossum, eastern gray tree squirrel, fox squirrel, wild burro,
wild horse, axis deer, fallow deer, nutria (probable), feral goat, and
Himalayan tahr (a kind of bovid).
Where
do hummingbirds go for the winter? Most species depart from the United States,
though some populations of the AnnaÕs hummingbirds appear to remain in
California throughout the winter. During many years, this species may begin
courtship in December (before Winter begins!) in some parts of its range.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds east of the Mississippi River begin migrating south
around now through October. Many spend the winter in southern Mexico, though a
few live on Florida Key islands and in Cuba (95 miles from Key West).
A
curious phenomenon in recent years is the increasing diversity of hummingbirds
appearing during the winter in the eastern USA. Rufous Hummingbirds appear to
be the most common Ònewly-discoveredÓ hummingbird species seen in the
southeast, while two Calliope Hummingbirds spent much of the 2001-2002 winter
at feeders near New York City. Some researchers and bird banders believe the
Rufous may either be more commonly noticed in the East because it has recently
changed its migration/dispersal behavior (due to global warming?) and/or it is
more accurately observed now because of recently-increased banding and
monitoring.
One
of the best West Coast places to spot vagrant songbirds is in western Marin Co.
in Point Reyes National Seashore. At the point near the lighthouse and amidst
nearby groves of Monterey Cypress trees, diverse species of wayward eastern
wood-warblers are best spotted in September and October. If you go, donÕt be
surprised to see American
Redstart,
Blackpolls, Blackburnian, Black-and-White, and Prairie Warblers. Note: American
Redstart and Black-and-White are not considered vagrant species in California
by some theorists because the state sometimes hosts nesting individuals
annually or irregularly. Other songbirds that may make cameo appearances here
include Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Baltimore Oriole.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
7:06 AM |
6:53 PM |
|
Moon |
5:29 PM |
4:36 AM |
|
Mercury |
5:46 AM |
6:13 PM |
|
Venus |
5:02 AM |
5:56 PM |
|
Mars |
12:46 AM |
3:22 PM |
|
Jupiter |
4:39 PM |
2:59 AM |
|
Saturn |
6:07 AM |
6:30 PM |
|
Uranus |
6:13 PM |
6:01 AM |
|
Neptune |
4:54 PM |
3:33 AM |
|
Pluto |
1:27 PM |
11:33 PM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this
monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon is
called the Harvest Moon: OCT 3 11:11 pm
Last Quarter: OCT 11
1:56 am
New Moon: OCT 17 10:32 pm
First Quarter: OCT 25 5:41 pm
October
8-9: Draconid Meteor Shower
In
late evening hours, look northwest to find meteors that could possibly peak at
6-10 per hour, depending on how dark your viewing location is in relation to
the glow of nearby urban areas and the clarity of the sky (in terms of its
moisture content percentage). Giacobini-Zinner is the name of the comet that
causes this meteor shower.
October
21-22: Orionid Meteor Shower
This is another modest shower due to Halley's
Comet. Moonlight won't be a problem in 2009, so watch for 10 to 15 hourly
meteors that stream from the showerÕs radiant, located above OrionÕs bright
reddish star Betelgeuse.
Waterfowl
Invasion
The
San Francisco Bay and northern California bodies of water host an amazingly
large population of ducks that spend the non-breeding season in our area.
Survey results indicate half the entire population of Northern Shoveler spend
the non-breeding season in northern California, as do an almost equally massive
percentage of both Lesser and Greater Scaup populations. By now, you may also
spot other returning winter resident waterfowl in open waters, including
Canvasback, Redhead (less common), American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal,
Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern
Pintail, and Ruddy Duck Ñ with the latter five species as residents in Marin
County that are joined by newly-arriving populations from the north.
When
should you stop feeding hummingbirds sugar water nectar? In northern
California/Bay Area, you can serve nectar year-round because the AnnaÕs
Hummingbird is a resident. In the Midwest and the East, the answer is less
clear. One group of birders believe feeders left stocked in the autumn may
imperil hummingbirds because this food source allows foraging to occur later
than would be accommodated with a normal bloom of wildflowers. Awakening to an
early freeze may be difficult for remaining hummingbirds to survive, argue
these experts. Others believe it is okay for nectar feeders to remain well into
autumn. Hummingbirds are uninfluenced by food source availability and migrate
when prompted by an Òinner clock,Ó according to these people. This viewpoint is
in concert with researchers who have studied migration. These experts point out
that many species of migrating birds are undistracted by food sources that
would normally attract their interest.
ItÕs
well known that the arctic tern makes the longest migration (22,000-25,000
miles roundtrip) of any bird along with the Bristled Curlew that migrates in
autumn from the Arctic to the South Pacific. In northern California, you wonÕt
often see them along the coast, while your chances of observation during their
migration improve if you take a pelagic boat trip onto the open ocean.
Less
publicized is how far our familiar barn swallow travels. Look for them now
moving south in groups during the day as they proceed on the southern portion
of their roundtrip migration that may amount to as high as 7,000 miles. Some researchers speculate that Arctic
Tern populations never see darkness, given their range encompasses living in
northern and southern latitudes where 20 or more hours of daylight are normal
during summer before the birds again migrate toward an opposite pole as days
become shorter in one of the two hemispheres they inhabit.
Although
hawks and eagles begin migration through Mid-Atlantic states before this week,
now is an ideal period to see them if you visit a prominent ridge or mountain
top to view. Two of the best vistas on separate coasts are both called Hawk
Hill. At the West CoastÕs Hawk Hill (operated by the Golden Gate Raptor
Observatory; for directions,
see
www.ggro.org)
is near Sausalito, California just north of San Francisco overlooking San
Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean), as many as 19 species of raptors are seen
each autumn. Hawk Hill Mountain in central Pennsylvania is another popular
vista to observe more than a dozen migrating raptors, the most common raptorial
passersby being American kestrels, red-tailed, sharp-shinned and CooperÕs
hawks.
Typical
winter resident woodland birds you can now (or soon) see in the Bay Area
include Golden-crowned Sparrow, Varied Thrush and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The
Golden-crowns are interesting simply because many sing throughout much of the
winter even though they do not breed here. More typically, winter residents
merely emit simpler call notes, and only begin singing when on breeding
grounds. (i.e., The answer as to why this species sings in the winter is not
totally clear, but one reason may allude to first-year Golden-crowns practicing
their songs before they become truly defined and articulate (crystallization) singers
at the age of 11 to 12 months.). At least one subspecies of the White-Crowned
Sparrow also visits the Bay Area before migrating north in the spring.
Often
unidentifiable and puzzling to listeners, the muffled call of the Pacific tree
frog (Pseudacris regilla) is more
common to hear than many people might believe. Hike through a variety of
northern California upland habitats and the quick, low, gruff note of this frog
is often present beyond the breeding season. After leaving their watery
breeding sites, these frogs seek cover in moist niches in buildings, wells,
rotting logs or burrows. Breeding occurs between January and July throughout
much of California. In even small bodies of water that are only temporary during
these times, look for egg clusters that are deposited on submerged or emergent
vegetation.
More
common in urban and suburban areas than ever, be on the lookout for coyotes in
the Bay Area. They are now a permanent resident throughout California, living
in almost all habitats and successional stages. Coyotes frequent open brush,
scrub, shrub,
and
herbaceous habitats, and may be associated opportunistically with croplands.
TheyÕre also found in younger stands of deciduous and conifer forest and
woodland with low to intermediate canopy, and shrub and grass understory.
Complaints from people regarding the increased presence of the adaptable coyote
are plausible. Then again, many of the complainers have invaded previously
natural habitat that was the domain of wild animals for eons before people
arrived.
The
intensity of the treeÕs fall colors are in part affected by the amount of
moisture that fell during the past summer. A dry summer with below normal
rainfall tends to mute the golden and red colors so that the leaves on many
trees are more uniformly brown. In the West, few deciduous trees exhibit a
stunning array of fall colors, though the Big-leaf Maple and the Quaking Aspen
wear stunning golden sheens. Elsewhere, my own experience while living in the
mid-Atlantic suggests the Black Gum (Nyssa silvatica) is the prettiest in displaying bright rainbow colors,
as are Sugar Maples that grow in more northerly and higher elevations locales.
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
7:06 AM |
6:53 PM |
|
Moon |
5:29 PM |
4:36 AM |
|
Mercury |
5:46 AM |
6:13 PM |
|
Venus |
5:02 AM |
5:56 PM |
|
Mars |
12:46 AM |
3:22 PM |
|
Jupiter |
4:39 PM |
2:59 AM |
|
Saturn |
6:07 AM |
6:30 PM |
|
Uranus |
6:13 PM |
6:01 AM |
|
Neptune |
4:54 PM |
3:33 AM |
|
Pluto |
1:27 PM |
11:33 PM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this
monthÕs Planet Highlights.
Full Moon moon is called the Frosty or Beaver
Moon (perhaps to account for beavers that are preparing their lodges for the
oncoming of winterÕs inclement weather):
NOV 2 11:15 am
Last Quarter: NOV 9 7:57 am
New Moon: NOV 16 11:44 am
First Quarter: NOV 24 1:38 pm
November
17-18: Leonid Meteor Shower
Typically the Leonid shower is a weak display,
with fewer than a dozen meteors per hour radiating from LeoÕs Sickle. But the
parent comet, 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, tends to create narrow concentrated streams
that can produce brief but prodigious displays. That was the case durin the
late 1990s, and we might be in for a reprise this year. A predicted pulse of
activity on November 17th Ñ with hundreds of meteors per hour Ñ will involve
contributions from the comet's spewings in 1102, 1466, and 1533. But the
outburst will last only a few hours at most, and the timing is more favorable
for eastern Asia than the Americas.
Wild
Turkeys: Band On The Run
If
youÕre like most drivers in northern California, youÕve been forced to hit the
brake to avoid bands of Wild Turkeys crossing the street. Why are they so
common? Like many non-natives in northern California, Wild Turkey populations
have an easy time in suburban and semi-rural areas where successful predation
by Gray Fox, Bobcat, and Mountain Lion remains below this gallinaceous birdÕs
prodigious breeding rate that usually consists of 10-12 eggs per brood (and
multiple broods for some females each breeding season).
In
addition, Wild Turkey benefit from joining together in bands of six or more
this time of year so that at least one individual is likely to sense any imminent
predation attempt and, subsequently, alert other turkeys in a group that
quickly flees from harmÕs way. Plentiful harvests of acorns are another major
factor in supporting large Wild Turkey populations, with native oak species
(including Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia) providing ample supplies of these birdsÕ favorite
food. In years when the crop of
acorns is low from Coast Live Oak, other native oak species (Black Oak, Quercus
kelloggii and Blue Oak, Quercus
douglasi) may make up the difference
by yielding high acorn numbers. A
final reason relates to how mild winter temperatures in our area limit
mortality of populations whose odds of perishing increase in more frigid
locales within this birdÕs range that includes portions of New England and the
upper Midwest.
What
are western gray tree squirrels doing now? Many are preparing for winter when
theyÕll make brood nests in tree and snag cavities, often enlarging an
abandoned woodpecker cavity. They are also known to construct nests on branches
of oak, fir, or pine trees. If you see a nest, look for it to contain shredded
bark, grass, moss, and lichen.
Seeing
an abundance of aquatic insects might seem odd at this time of year when the
days are getting progressively colder, correct? Not entirely. Many kinds of
aquatic insects are actually abundant in many freshwater streams throughout the
late autumn and into winter, with some (such as stoneflies) even changing into
terrestrial adults and flying into autumn and winterÕs landscape. Finding
aquatic insects may be easier than you think. Pick up small rocks within
shallow creeks and look on their backsides. You may see the diverse homes of
caddisfly larva, with a variety materials used by each species in a shelter
bound together from a caddisflyÕs own secretions.
Are
you still hearing crickets? Ñ even though the first frost may have invaded your
area. Crickets survive well into autumn because their body fluids contain an
Òanti-freezeÓ agent called glycogen. Its composition as an animal starch
includes glucose molecules that retard the inevitable freezing of a cricketÕs
body fluids until more severe and consecutive nights of frigid weather arrive.
Where
do snakes hang out now and during the winter? Many retreat to underground dens
where they coil en masse together to remain warm. In northern areas,
rattlesnakes are particularly known for congregating into large groups (of up
to 250 or more). Most live in dens on slopes protected from northern winds that
have orientations toward the low winter sun in the south. Sometimes you can see
rattlesnakes lie near their den entrances on the last warm days of autumn or on
the initial warm days of spring.
Coax
deer into view throughout the upcoming winter by placing a salt lick block at
the edge of woods. However, you may wish to deter deer from eating your
propertyÕs plants with a variety of strategies that are too numerous to mention
here (See literature distributed free by Sloat Garden Store in the Bay Area.)
To limit deer accidents with windows/patio doors, prudent property owners place
decals at a deerÕs eye level so it will recognize an approaching barrier.
Some
brave warblers survive hang out throughout the winter in regions you might not
expect. Unlike warblers that have vacated North America for points farther
south, Yellow-Rumped Warbler (six subspecies constitute the entire species, including
four AububonÕs and two Myrtle*) are able to survive inclement winter weather
while living in mid-Atlantic states because they are able to digest wax myrtle,
juniper and, even, poison ivy berries. These same areas may also host small
populations of Pine and Palm warblers throughout the winter in the
mid-Atlantic, in addition to occasional yellow-breasted chats and common
yellowthroat warblers.
On
the West Coast during winter, one kind of both Audubon and Myrtle Yellow-Rumped
Warbler subspecies may be seen in northern California. In total, we see two of the six
subspecies for the Yellow-Rumped Warbler species.
(*
= In total, four subspecies have been identified in the AudubonÕs group and two
subspecies in the Myrtle group, according to the Field Guide to Warblers (by
Jon Dunn and Kimball Garrett).
1) Moon & Planet Rise & Set Times
For The 1st of This Month (at Latitude:
38:03:38 N, Longitude: 122:32:27 W, which is Novato, CA, 20 miles north of San
Francisco, CA in Marin County):
|
SPHERE |
RISES |
SETS |
|
Sun |
7:08 AM |
4:51 PM |
|
Moon |
4:14 PM |
6:38 AM |
|
Mercury |
8:25 AM |
5:38 PM |
|
Venus |
6:19 AM |
4:18 PM |
|
Mars |
9:47 PM |
11:52 AM |
|
Jupiter |
11:49 AM |
10:14 PM |
|
Saturn |
1:38 AM |
1:47 PM |
|
Uranus |
1:10 PM |
12:55 AM |
|
Neptune |
11:54 AM |
10:29 PM |
|
Pluto |
8:33 AM |
6:38 PM |
2)
Planet Highlights:
Check back soon for this monthÕs Planet
Highlights.
Full Moon: DEC 1 11:32 pm and DEC 31
11:14 am
Last Quarter: DEC 8 4:15 pm
New Moon: DEC 27 4:22 am
First Quarter: DEC 24 9:36 am
21st:
Winter begins with the solstice at 9:47 a.m. PST.
December
13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower
With
an average of 100 meteors per hour radiating from near the bright star Castor,
this end-of-the-calendar shower is usually one of the yearÕs best. For this
year's performance, the Moon will be new, so its light won't wash out the faint
ones. Better still, you don't have to stay up until the wee hours to see them Ñ
at mid-northern latitudes, the radiant is well up in the sky by 9 p.m. Geminid
meteors come from 3200 Phaethon,
an asteroid discovered in 1983.
Pacific
slender salamanders are active underground from April or
May
until November or December. After the first winter rains, when moisture and
temperature conditions are favorable, they increase surface activities.
Normally, they are active at night, and return to cover during daylight. If exposed to periods of extended
rainfall, they may remain on the surface during the day to feed. Surface
activity is limited by extremes of temperature and unfavorable moisture
conditions.
In
some potentially inclement northern California locations (especially inland),
nowÕs the time to make sure you have a waterproof, shock-proof heater to place
in a backyard water pan or birdbath so that when overnight temperatures dip
below freezing the birds still have a water source for drinking and bathing.
Look for them at Wild Bird Center outlets (a national chain of stores).
On
warm days, look for the common and widespread Western Terrestrial Garter Snake.
Sometimes youÕll see them basking in the sun at the entrances of hibernacula
where snakes gather together during the winter to preserve and conserve their
body temperatures as temperatures plummet. Likely places to see them extend from the Oregon border
south throughout northern California and south to southern Santa Barbara Co.,
in addition to various locales in the Sierra Nevada mountains south to southern
Tulare County. Courtship begins in spring soon after their emergence. Seven to
30 young are born in July and August.
Which
thrush family members are you likely to see during the winter in northern
California? In the Bay Area, for example, look for Hermit Thrush, Varied
Thrush, American Robin, and Western Bluebird. The initial two on the list are
especially breathtaking to view, as their abrupt entrance onto the landscape is
punctuated with their subtle hues of rust and orange. The eerie, shrill,
one-note song of the Varied Thrush adds additional intrigue to the damp forests
they inhabit while only temporarily visiting our area during the winter.
Strangely,
though the Hermit Thrush is seen throughout the year in Marin County, itÕs
probable that the individuals we see during the non-breeding season arrived
here from where they breed farther to the north as far as Alaska. During the summer (after migration),
Hermit Thrush in Marin County are uncommon and found only at higher altitudes
where they breed sporadically throughout the county.
From
now through late winter, look for seven species of salamanders that live in the
San Francisco Bay area. Perhaps the most common to see is the California
slender salamander, which looks like a large worm with tiny legs. Look for them
in damp places, especially under logs and in leaf litter. The six other species
to find are the arboreal, yellow-eyed, Pacific giant salamander and three
newts: California, rough-skinned and red-bellied. The California newt is the
most common one to see nearby and within Marin County riparian/creekside areas
(while rough-skinned is the next most common species that I see; red-bellied is
much less common and is restricted to portions of the coastal areas of Marin
County.)
Simplifying
the best and most efficient ways to feed backyard birds throughout the winter
is not easy. However, if you were forced to choose two of the best foods to
feed birds, the best choices are black sunflower seeds and niger thistle. Both
have been proven over the years to attract a more diverse group of winter avian
visitors than other food options, such as millet, cracked corn and striped
sunflower seeds. Suet (either chicken or beef) feeders are also usually
successful in attracting chickadees, nuthatches and various woodpeckers.
Non-seasonal
movements of birds, or Òirruptions,Ó may begin occurring around now through the
rest of winter, depending on the supply of food in a birdÕs normal range.
Without adequate mast crops of spruce and pine cones, some finch family members
(Red and White-winged Crossbills, Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine
Siskins, Common Redpolls, Hoary Redpolls) may appear farther south in the East,
Midwest and Mid-Atlantic than in years when normal tree seed harvests are
present. ÒShort-stoppingÓ is another term applied to these bird species that
roam farther south during some winter seasons in search of resources, Ò(short)
stoppingÓ when they find food, often at backyard feeders that remain a
loitering spot for extended periods.
Detecting
these ÒirruptiveÓ movements to the south is sometimes easier if your feeders
are filled with niger thistle seed, a favorite substitute feed source for many
of these wayward winter species. As a word, Òirruptive,Ó is appropriate because
it means Òbursting inÓ or Òsurprise,Ó in the way these irruptive species catch
us off guard when they make their cameo appearances. In Marin County where I
live, irruptions are not necessarily the appropriate term to apply to the red
crossbill and pine siskins appearing on the landscape, given these birds nest
in the state. Detecting them remains rare to occasional only because they are
nomadic in their behavior while searching vast areas for abundant food
resources.
Offering
niger thistle as a backyard feeder food in the Bay Area is an excellent way to
see pine siskin during the winter. IÕve never seen Red Crossbill at my feeders
nor heard of other folks attracting them to California feeders.
Courting
Great-Horned owls soon begin laying their eggs, with babies hatching by January
(or February) throughout much of this birdÕs vast North American range. Now is
a good time to attract them closer to within listening range of where you stand
after performing a mimicking owl vocalization (or using a recording of a
Northern Pygmy or Western Screech Owl, for example, to attract this species
and/or other curious owl species, including the Great-Horned).
