The Living Landscape: Bountiful birds in late winter
- Kathleen Scavone
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Some birdwatchers jokingly say there are only three types of birds.
There are tweety- birds, including birds like robins and finches; hawk-type birds such as eagles and hawks; and, finally, duck-type birds – birds that spend much of their lives floating on ponds and lakes.
It's fascinating to watch birds, no matter their species. According to reports such as National Geographic and Bay Nature magazines some bird species are arriving both earlier and later than in the past.
It is a total juggling act for today's birds, it would appear, to time their sojourns to meet the requirements of their breeding cycles, including nesting, egg-laying, the fledging process and all the while keeping healthy enough to complete this intricate itinerary.
On a recent day spent at Clear Lake State Park I ran into some fellow bird-watchers who were generously sharing their scope with park visitors.
I am happy to say that I watched at least a dozen varieties of birds near or on the lake, including a kingfisher, Clark's grebes, great blue heron, blue jay, acorn woodpecker, cormorants, egret and American Pelicans.
I also watched a young bald eagle, perched high in a cottonwood tree, who did not yet sport the characteristic white head of the stately adult bird.
I was fortunate enough to watch a pair of common goldeneyes who were serenely floating on the lake, diving periodically for their lunch of fish and aquatic invertebrates.
I also enjoyed sighting bufflehead who were also foraging for their lunch by diving for aquatic insects and crustaceans, which they often consume while under water.
There may be fewer avian species passing through the area this winter, but Lake County is still a premier bird watching spot since it is blessedly located on the path of the Pacific Flyway.
The Pacific Flyway is the route taken by migratory birds as they make their way in the fall and spring seasons.
During the fall and winter birds may hark from distant lands like Alaska to rest and refuel, looking for warm homes and food on which to feast
Climate change is having an impact on the lives of many bird species, but that is not the only thing that may threaten bird species.
In 2018 the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was celebrated, marking an important law aiding bird protection for more than 1,000 species of birds.
Today that 100-year-old protection is in danger of being stripped away in a push to take away the large fines that are in place in the event of bird-kills due to oil slicks, wind power turbines, and other human-made disasters and industrial threats.
For ornithologists and laypeople alike it is complicated and sometimes perplexing to keep abreast of all of the changes migratory birds are undergoing in these times of climate disruption.
One thing is certain: We are all hoping for the very best for birds and beasts alike.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, freelance writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.”