Snowy Egret at CSU Stanislaus
This particular snowy egret (Egretta thula) seems to have taken up permanent residence at CSU Stanislaus, dividing his (or her) time between two ponds : Willow Lake, near the science buildings, and Warrior Lake, near the Faculty Development Center. Both of these ponds have a portion of their shores planted with reedy grasses or cattails, which provide some measure of "natural-feeling" habitat for egrets (and herons too). The ponds both contain at least two or three types of fish (I haven't done a full survey of all the fish species present!), introduced red-eared slider turtles, and crayfish, among other aquatic creatures, I'm sure.
 |
Snowy egret (Egretta thula), showing slender black bill and yellow lores (area between the bill and eyes on each
side of the head) characteristic of this species. The lores will briefly turn red at the height of the breeding season. |
The diet of snowy egrets consists primarily of fish and small aquatic animals, such as frogs, crustaceans and insects, which they spear with their bills. Snowy egrets are commonly associated with shallow coastal wetlands, though they are quite at home here in the Central Valley year-round. Like other herons and egrets (family Ardeidae), these birds nest colonially, though I've only ever seen one snowy egret at a time on campus.
 |
Showing the once-coveted breeding plumes, as well as characteristic yellow feet.
The similar but considerably larger great egret (Ardea alba) has a yellow bill and black feet.
Always look for the snowy's yellow shoes! |
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the soft, billowy plumes of feathers which egrets grow during the breeding season became all the rage for decorating ladies' hats, and the value of these feathers temporarily surpassed that of gold. Consequently, plume-hunters sought the birds, killing them for their feathers, and the population of snowy egrets declined drastically. Only through the work of conservationists has the species recovered. These early efforts to save the snowy egret paved the way for the conservation movement as we know it today.
 |
Another look at the lovely breeding plumage (though this photo was taken in September, toward
the end of the breeding season). |
About Me
Named after the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I am a naturalist and avid birder based in Central California. Above all, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, our amazingly good Creator God whose magnificent creation is an unending source of awe and inspiration for me. I hope to inspire others to appreciate, respect and protect this beautiful earth we share, and invite you to come along with me as I explore the nature of California and beyond!
- Siera Nystrom -
You Might Also Like:
On a recent birding trip to Merced National Wildlife Refuge, I tallied up a list of sixteen different species of ducks. Only a few more species, around twenty in total, are expected in the Central Valley of California's freshwater marshes during the winter, so I consider that to be an excellent day for ducks! North American ducks are broadly separated into two categories, largely based on their methods of foraging for food. Dabbling ducks , also known as "puddle ducks," tend to frequent shallow water, where they are commonly seen tipping bottoms-up to feed on plant matter and invertebrates in the water and on the muddy bottom. They are most at home in water, but walk easily on land as well, as their legs are positioned near the center of their bodies. The wings of dabbling ducks are relatively large, which allows them to take off from the surface of the water, straight up into their air. Dabbling ducks almost all nest on the ground, near water....
In 1844, early California explorer John C. Fremont gave a somewhat scathing review of Joshua trees when he wrote, "...their stiff and ungraceful form makes them to the traveler the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom." Rather unkind, don't you think? But when Joshua trees were formally described by scientist William Trelease in the 1890's, he noted that Joshua Trees are "the most attractive of all the Yuccas." I am inclined to agree with this sentiment, and must disagree most heartily with Lieutenant Fremont! I, for one, adore Joshua Trees, with their whimsical shapes and great ecological significance! If you struggle with plant identification, the iconic Joshua tree, hallmark of the Mojave Desert, is a good place to start. With densely spiked tufts protruding from the ends of gangly arms stretched towards the heavens, this looks like a plant straight from a Dr. Seuss book....
The other day, while exploring one of the remaining patches of wetlands around my county, I came across a furry little critter that was a complete surprise for me: an American Mink! Contentedly going about his (or her) business at the edge of the wetland, staying under the dense cover of an old clump of willows, the mink slipped out of sight before I was able to get a photograph. But this mink sighting got me thinking about other mammals I've encountered here in California's Central Valley, and as it turns out... there have been quite a few! California Ground Squirrel: A common sight in the Valley, and an important part of the ecosystem! Though the Central Valley is no longer the land of wild abundance it once was (at least not in terms of wildlife), more species of mammals than one might imagine still manage to make their living on the fringes of urban and agricultural land up and down the valley. National Wildlife Refuges provide much-needed havens for a ...
Several times this year I have been lucky enough to see North American River Otters ( Lontra canadensis ) in both the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Rivers. They have been too leery of me to allow for any great National Geographic quality photos (let's be honest, that's not entirely the otters' fault!) but I have gotten a few shots in which they are at least recognizable as river otters, not just obscure brown blobs on the riverbank! River Otter along the banks of the Tuolumne River. The presence of otters in our rivers is a wonderful thing. As a top predator species in the ecosystem, river otters are often heralded as indicators of the health of the entire watershed. Like their seafaring counterpart, California's Southern Sea Otter ( Enhydra lutris nereis ), the North American River Otter was once hunted extensively for its thick pelt. Where otters once thrived, over hunting, followed closely by habitat loss and degradation, has taken...
Though I often extol the virtues and merits of winter in the Central Valley , especially when it comes to birding, the whole truth is that we experience "bad" weather also, just like anywhere else. But even when the winter weather rolls in, the birds are still out there! And sometimes, despite our best planning efforts, a birding day happens to coincide with crummy weather. In that case, what's a birder to do? Usually, we go birding anyway! Birders far more intrepid than I regularly brave the ice and snow of northern winters to see their favorite birds, so perhaps you should look to them for real tips on winter birding! For those of us in the valleys of California, the worst weather we see - wind and rain - is really comparatively mild. Birding on an extremely windy day! I don't know of anyone who actually likes birding in the rain. But I would argue that birding in the wind is just as aggravating as trying to bird in the rai...
Sitting at the dining table of my grandmother's house in the Sierra Nevada a few days after Christmas, my attention was divided between flipping through Kaufman's Field Guide to Birds of North America and watching Anna's Hummingbirds and Acorn Woodpeckers visiting the feeders on the deck. Pondering what the new year would bring in terms of birding, I began mulling over where I could go in the United States to see the most new species of birds to add to my life list. That is, what region has the highest number of species that are different from what we have in California? As one who likes lists, I started jotting down regions and species, noticing a few areas that began to emerge as likely candidates: For spring migrants like warblers, the northern Midwest and eastern U.S. is promising; Florida has a number of neat things (like flamingos!) I will never see in California; southern Texas is a hotbed of unique species, with its tropical Green Jays and Plain Chachalacas. ...
Comments
Post a Comment