Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Volume 9 Issue 6

Spring Lurgy

Beaky is often lethargic and depressed this time of year.

He paddles around the marina alone, and is not very hungry.

On May 9 he makes his first failed attempt at migration. No further attempts were seen. All the other birds have gone home to breed.

The Faucet

Most birds need fresh water to survive here. The parking lots, streets, and storm drains are flooded with irrigation water almost every day, but some patience is required to find a dripping faucet in the marina. The handle was removed from this faucet. (see the picture at the top of this page)

The device fastened to the faucet is a Vacuum Breaker which is a type of Backflow Preventer. This device stops contaminated water in the hose from being sucked back into the water mains in case of a pressure drop in the mains. A pressure drop might be caused by maintenance on the pipes, an accidental break, or too many faucets opened at once.

Later, a pair of pliers and hose appeared. Who would have thought of such a thing? It's just inconceivable.

There is no way to meter the water used by marina tenants.

According to "Care of Palm Trees" these trees require little water after being established, and are considered drought tolerant.

The Park

This chemical fertilizer was applied to Chula Vista Bayside Park, and probably other Port of San Diego parks, on May 6. If you have any concern about the toxicity of this material, the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is linked below:

Super Turf 25-5-5 Material Safety Data Sheet

The Ducks

In a nearly miraculous achievement, these ducklings were hatched on May 6. Their being out of the bay makes their chances of survival slightly better than their odds of winning the California Lottery.

The Pullets

By the end of May, one brood of baby ducks has nearly grown out into adults.

In spite of last spring's extermination of hens and chicks, there seems to be a chance of the mallards returning to their original population. Prior to September of 2008, the mallard population had been counted monthly at a stable fifty individuals.

The Blackbird(s)

The (now) crippled male blackbird that comes to eat a worm or two every day, was surprised by another male (right).

He used the blackbird (beak up) dominance display (shown below), but it did not deter the new intruder.

The Towel

Many years ago, when blackbirds would steal his food, Beaky was trained to look under towels for hidden goodies. He had no problem immediately remembering this. Also, he remembered what watermelon was, even though it had not been available since last summer. His mind is especially sharp concerning his food.

Needlefish

Needlefish are often called an "exotic" fish here, but are not especially rare. These were juveniles about two inches long. Six were seen in the marina at the end of May. They would eat cracker crumbs, but are very shy when approached. They stay near the surface of the water to feed, making it possible to photograph them.

Stupid Sign of the Month

What are these things for, then?

June Movies

Here is a movie showing how Beaky prepares his food for eating. Click on this link to see food_preparation.wmv, (10 seconds long, 3.2 Megabytes)

He shakes the piece of lettuce violently, perhaps to remove a smaller piece, or to shake the salt water off.

Live worms are prepared differently, by nibbling along the length of the worm. This is done, presumably, to kill the worm so it can't bite.

Here is a movie showing Beaky preparing to eat a worm when something unexpected happens. Click on this link to see fishy.wmv, (3 seconds long, 1.7 Megabytes)

When Beaky shakes his worm in the water, he is (like anyone else) fishing.

The fish grows rapidly from daily feeding, and it at least twice as big as this by the end of the month.

Links of the Month

(I don't make this stuff up department)

Chula Vista Bayfront Development Plan Proceeds as it continues to threaten demolition of the 900 boat slips here. This brings bribes and campaign contributions for the mayor in exchange for illegal construction permits, contracts, and tax breaks for the developers. . .

EVICTIONS "Many tenants simply move out and do not fight the case thinking this will solve the problem.Tenants should defend their cases in court to try and prevent an eviction judgment (which would severely hurt their credit).The reality is that the laws and procedures of Landlord Tenant cases are very technical and move quickly. Because of this, there are so many "legal" traps to fall into."

California Tenant Law The Renter's Rights On-Line Legal Help Clinic. "Landlords often bully and lie to you to prevent you from using your rights"

East County Magazine NEARLY 100 BIRDS, DOZENS OF MICE DIE AFTER EATING BIRD SEED SOLD AT LOCAL WAL-MART

Wal-mart still sells this brand of wild bird seed here in San Diego county. If you have used Morning Song wild bird seed products or other bird feed manufactured by Scott and have observed deaths of birds or animals, please send email to editor@eastcountymagazine.org, notify john.steven@epa.gov and call the Environmental Protection Agency at 213-244-1804.

Understanding Landlords "How can they act this way, you wonder, and start to ask if you're the one who's crazy. You're not. You're just in the Tenant Zone. Here's a guide."

Coots get room, boards at waste-water facility Hawaii Star Bulletin OCEAN WATCH

Stay There Point Reyes bird festival

Why fish 'n' chips will be considered a rarity - and a luxury Ten or twenty years from now, if you believe the scientists, wild fish will be something that only the very rich will be able to eat.

Do birds sleep in flight? Max-Planck-Institute for Ornithology examines the evidence for sleep in flying birds. (Coots migrate at night.)

Mechanism of egg recognition in defenses against conspecific brood parasitism: American coots ( Fulica americana ) know their own eggs Hosts of avian brood parasites use a variety of defenses based on egg recognition to reduce the costs of parasitism

News Media helicopters force Gulf birds to abandon nests Birds in the Gulf of Mexico have a new enemy: some members of the press.

Stamps showing American Coot Fulica americana Bird stamps for stamp collectors

Bodyboards as artificial nesting islands for Hawaiian Coot at the County of Maui Kaunakakai Wastewater Reclamation Facility, Molokaÿi, Hawaiÿi Journal of the Hawaii Audubon Society

For coots, hatching order is crucial ID Science News

Bill McKibben Charlie Rose interviews Bill McKibben on his new book called "Eaarth"

Crow Nesting Season twitpic

Jacques Cousteau's Grandson Takes 'Nightmare' Dive Into Oil Spill. "The entire water column is thick with this oil and chemical dispersant mix and it's absolutely disgusting," said Champion, "I think that this has got to be one of the most horrible things I've ever seen underwater."

"San Francisco's famous parrots face rough times" A nonprofit corporation that can't make money

Coastal Birds Carry Toxic Ocean Metals Inland Science News

Wetland aliens cause bird extinction BirdLife International has announced, in the 2010 IUCN Red List update for birds, the extinction of Alaotra Grebe Tachybaptus rufolavatus.

PHOTO IN THE NEWS: "Extinct" Bird Seen, Eaten National Geographic

Pied Crows for Sale Thousands of dollars for crows while your government spends your tax dollars to exterminate them?

Free Voodoo Doll Spells Voodoo Doll Magick

Booze Bros. The renter's ultimate resource

Big Picture:

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There have been very few of the barn swallows returning this spring. Several were seen flying on May 19, but they were new juveniles just fledged out of the nest. Other locations around Chula Vista reported seeing no returning swallows at all. This may be the last summer we shall see these little birds looping in the air catching insects.

These babies seem to have little fear of people, and you can approach them easily. However, their parents are nearby and will fly directly at your face, attempting to drive you away from their children.

The adults were still feeding these chicks out of the nest. Some are seen being fed in midair.

OutTakes

(Use your mouse cursor to read the titles)

Quote

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, 
while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more 
distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been 
by any epaulet I could have worn."
   
    Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

Index: