Coot News

More Killing

In years past, people would come to Chula Vista Bayside Park and enjoy feeding the numerous squirrels that had become tame. After last month's information about Port of San Diego (UPD) land management policies, I was asked about the fact that the squirrels had not been seen for a few years. Five of these bromadiolone bait boxes were located in the park at the north end of the RV Resort. They appeared to be abandoned.

The California ground squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi is easily identified as it lives underground, and stays within 75 yards of its burrow. They are classified as nongame mammals by the California Fish and Game Code and can be controlled by any land manager using any legal method: California Ground Squirrel Management Guidelines

You should avoid feeding squirrels raw peanuts. For this and other squirrel information: Jon's World o' Squirrels is a useful link. Twiggy the water skiing squirrel is well known at boat shows.

Tree squirrels are similar to ground squirrels, but require a California Fish & Game hunting license to take them.

One of the boxes had a legible label, and I contacted the company and asked about the intent and purpose of the bait boxes. They were unaware of these boxes and promised to come immediately. The next day three of the five boxes were gone.

They were unable to provide any useful information.

One of the remaining boxs had no label, and the other had an illegible label. They may not be the property of American Pest Control. These two boxes seemed to be retained by steel cable lanyards.

The bait used is Bromadiolone an anticoagulant that is very effective for killing all domestic and wildlife species.

Since the squirrels seldom range far from their burrows in the riprap, and the bait boxes are placed as far away as possible, the intent may not be to kill all the squirrels.

Signs of gophers are common around the parks. If the bait stations were placed for control of gophers, it would seem more effective to place the bait in the burrows. The same would apply for killing the squirrels in their burrows. This is what may have been done some time ago, since it would be unlikely for anyone to see the bait.

Several bait boxes seem to be deployed all the time regardless of any immediate need. A key is required to open the boxes, preventing poisoning of larger domestic animals like cats and dogs.

Just as a reminder, the Port of San Diego Information Center informed me that they have no staff member with credentials that would qualify as a field biologist or anything similar. As noted last month, they don't respond to either verbal or written requests for information. Your guess is as good as mine on their intentions.

The Sparrows

This female House sparrow, Passer domesticus, recognizes me and waits for me at the marina gate in the mornings.

Surf Scoter

Surf scoters Melanitta perspicillata are common in the bay this time of year. This is an adult male. This species is not considered threatened, but certainly is declining in population. Forty percent of the birds killed in the oil spill in San Francisco last November were Surf scoters.

Surf scoters are described by eNature as diving in the surf for mullusks, but I only see them in the bay here.

They can't be too smart. They paddle around soaking their tails under water.

Pelican

Brown pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, are common offshore where this picture was taken on February 9, and in the bay. This bird is in breeding plumage.

Pelicans are a nuisance while you are fishing, and may try to eat anything you put in the water. I always carry a pair of short handled bolt cutters to cut fish hooks.

Brown pelicans are described by USGS in this link.

Eggs

The first mallard eggs were seen on the docks and under the shrubbery on February 13. Dozens of eggs are abandoned in plain sight around the docks every year.

Birds tend to begin ovulation in the spring when the days are longer and the nights are shorter. About fourteen hours a day of light is optimum for most birds. The parks are all well illuminated at night with mercury vapor lights, so the ducks probably start laying earlier and stop later in the season than normal. This would allow a female mallard to produce more than one brood of chicks every summer.

Weather

An unusually severe winter storm brought snow and ice to the mountains and foothills on February 14. There was frost on the docks the next morning.