Hi Folks,
I think this year’s ending draught winter and spring were just longer than the
past, especially the almost decade long drought years. All the birds, bees, and
etc don’t have wall calendars and online calendars. They go by only the feel of
the weather and climate. They probably postponed some usual \Spring Scheduling
Stuff for the same reasons we had to postpone Our Annual CINC Sunset
BBQ/Picknic. See You There or Be Square!
Paul Petrich Jr
ppetrich39@xxxxxx
“In the end it is not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your
years.”…Anonymous
On Jul 22, 2019, at 11:54 AM, Tara Brown (Redacted sender "tara_brown_sb" for
DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My theory (and Lonni, NPS restoration Ranger): it was a late spring, and
many of the normal nesting sights were overgrown with dense grasses and
weeds. The gulls like to lay their eggs directly on the earth or with just a
little nesting material.
Overall there were fewer gulls nesting on Anacapa this year.
By the way, Lonni and the Conservation Corps are fixing the concrete
catchment — to gather water for the native plants. The rain and dew water
will already have fertilizer in it for the natives!
Best wishes,
Tara Brown
On Jul 22, 2019, at 10:12 AM, Jami LoVullo <legalredfox@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:legalredfox@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hi Catherine,
Any ideas why this has been a tough season for gulls? Just curious.
On Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 9:39 AM Catherine French
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Great weather for two hikes on Anacapa. Morning boat had 34 day hikers and
afternoon boat had 50 plus 9 campers.
Most gull chicks are about 8-12 weeks old, so the gull parents have calmed
down a lot. They have been unusually stressed this nesting season. Lots of
deceased chicks and adults. They have been very aggressive this year. As the
second boat arrival was entering the cove, people watched an adult gull
attacking a fledging in the water. It was gruesome.
Lots of fledgings and soon to be, with many trying out their flight
feathers. People from Europe, China, Japan, and all over the U S. Water
temperature at AI Cove is 62. People from both boats snorkeled a enjoyed the
pristine water.
Everyone that went on my hikes were very interested in learning about
Western gulls. It was a fun day, with
bottlenose and common dolphins on the way back. And thousands of birds
feeding on bait fish.
Calm Seas,
Catherine French
Writer, mentor, naturalist
805.570.0432
We are given only so many days, make each one count.
Sent from my iPad Air
