A Different Wetlands

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

A sea otter relaxes in the sun.

A sea otter relaxes in the sun.

The day after my 1,000,004th birthday, my friend Lee Smith and I went to Moss Lading to take a boat tour of the Elkhorn Slough (“slough” is pronounced “slew”), a National Estuarine Research Reserve managed by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Like Baylands Park, Elkhorn Slough is a restored wetlands area. The 105 acres of wetlands adjoining Baylands Park are a largely dry marsh. Elkhorn Slough is much bigger and wetter: at 1,400 acres, it’s the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California outside of San Francisco Bay.

Mammals we’re most likely to see at Baylands are ground squirrels, rabbits and gophers. In Elkhorn Slough, it’s sea otters, sea lions and bay seals. I’m sure there are many small mammals along the shore, but they’re hard to spot from a boat.

After buying tickets from the captain of the Elkhorn Slough Safari, we boarded a 27-foot pontoon boat — a box riding on a pair of floats — along with about 25 other sightseers. Our guide and captain was Yohn Gideon, a local naturalist and birder.

(more…)

A Cloud of Pelicans

Friday, September 12th, 2008

This giant group of Pelicans soared over Baylands Friday morning.

This giant group of Pelicans soared over Baylands Friday morning.

For a few weeks we’ve seen small groups of American White Pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos thermaling over Baylands, flying from the north and slowly drifting south.

These are very large white birds with black wing tips and big orange bills. With wingspans up to 9 feet, adults weigh about 15 lbs.

Floating on the water, white pelicans fish in groups. They use their feet and wings to herd fish. Instead of diving they simply dip their heads below the surface to catch their meal, scooping the fish up in their elastic pouches. Most feeding takes place during the early morning and early evening hours.

(more…)

Lots of Gliders

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Our red-tailed hawk keeps track of us from his perch in the Giant Yuke.

Our red-tailed hawk keeps track of us from his perch in the Giant Yuke.

Gliders dominated Monday at Baylands.

Sure, there were scads of Wild Wings, a sprinkling of EDF jets, some helicopters and other aircraft, but I was struck by the prevalence of big motorized gliders.

Peter Rasmussen brought two of his vintage built-up gliders, complementing a big old red V-tail glider which Andrew Eichenbaum was flying.

It’s been around awhile: Andrew bought it from Bob McGowan, who was not the original owner. Bob added the V-tail.

(more…)

Geese Confirm Spring Is Here

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

Standing Guard

Woe be to the flyer who loses his plane in the Great Swamp. These feathered dragons will protect their young quite fiercely.

Interesting Geese Facts

  • They mate for life.
  • Lifespan in the wild is 10–24 years.
  • On land they eat grass, grain and other vegetation.
  • In water they eat silt and water plants.
  • They often hiss when protecting their young.
  • Groups of adults sometimes raise goslings communally.

Geese with Goslings

Canada Geese were over-hunted in the early 20th Century but since then improved game laws and habitat protection have restored their numbers in most of their native range.

As we know well from the abundant goose droppings on the Great Meadow.


Nice Weather for…

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

Wet Weather Pals

Ducks!