Montaña de Oro - Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Update

Montaña de Oro State Park - Danger Sign Site - Update on Black Oystercatcher (Bloy) monitoring.  Thirty-one days have passed since I began monitoring the Bloy pair at Danger Sign.  The shale formation they are inhabiting is close to the bluff but not connected.  Most of the time, with the exception of very low tides, it is surrounded by water.  Numerous formations that jut into the sea protect the pair's rocky home from the pounding surf.

Beginning May 21, I have monitored the site eight times.  On June 10th, as I neared the site, I could hear alarm calls.  More than likely the pair were chasing off Oystercatcher intruders.  Within a couple of minutes the pair returned.  Neither of them settling onto the nest.  Perhaps there had been a successful hatching.  One of the pair flew off, soon to return with a white morsel clutched in its bright red bill.  A chick appeared for a few moments.  At the same time I thought I might have seen a smidgen of a second chick.  Yeah!!

Two days later I was back.  There were two chicks.  The parents were occupied in full-time provisioning. One was usually standing guard while their mate was off gathering food. 

My last visit was on Friday the 19th. - Two chicks - Parents bringing in the food.  One chick was visible, the other one mostly hidden.  When both parents are foraging both chicks remain out of sight.

In the above photo, this adventuresome little chick is about nine days old.  My next monitoring date is Tuesday the 23rd.  Can hardly wait.

Highlights of The Black Bloy Competition

January 3, 2020 - Montaña de Oro - The day was beautiful, sun warming, sea and sky a quiet azure.  Parking was not a problem as many of the Bloy (acronym for Black Oystercatcher) fans had either hiked, biked, or kayaked into the park.  For those who were unable to attend the events, a podcast will be available online.***

      Highlights of the Competition

Race to Hazard Reef - A paired race - From Islay Point (above photo) to Hazard Reef.  Each Bloy had to collect a food morsel, hold it securely in its bill and and fly back to the starting point.  Food morsels could not be eaten until after the morsels were weighed by the judges.  (many of the athletes could not resist eating their morsels)  The pair with the shortest flight time and the heaviest morsels won the event.  Briana and Bruce Bloy from Rug Rock were the proud winners.  As you can see in the photos they have a close relationship.

Pebble Toss - A precision sport - A pebble is tossed into a slight depression similar to the size of a Bloy nest.  The toss is judged on distance and how close the pebble comes to the center of the depression.  Too strong a toss could cause the pebble to bounce out.  Brandy Bloy from Point Buchon had been practicing her toss all year.  Brandy has a loyal following, as she is an environmental activist on climate change.  If it wasn't for the waves pounding against the rocks, you could have heard a pin drop when she executed her winning, no bounce toss of 12.38 feet.  Although shy, she posed for photographers.

Feeding Pose - Considered a difficult event - Participants had to hold a pose for a considerable period of time.  Since none of the entrants lasted more than three minutes, not much was expected of the last performer.  Brayden (below) the teenage son of Briana and Bruce Bloy astounded the crowd with a time of 9.35 minutes.  Brayden said he owed his success to his parents love and support.

Mussel Relay Race - A timed event - 5 teams of 5 were up for the challenge.  Team members were stationed about every half mile between Islay Point and Coon Creek.  The team member at Islay point began the race by collecting a mussel and flying it to team mate #2.  When the mussel finally reached team mate #6 at Coon Creek the mussel had to be relayed back to #1 at Islay Point.  If the mussel was dropped, the team member had to find a replacement.  The event was chaotic as all 5 teams were racing at the same time.

Team captain Bridget and her mates (below photo) won first place as they were the only team to complete the race with their original bivalve and all their original team mates.  Each Member of the winning team received a portion of the mussel's tasty adductor muscle.  In the above photo Bridget is demonstrating her winning grip.

Moments before the start of the next to the last event, a Marathon Flyathon between point Buchon and Morro Rock, there was an announcement - The competitors would be taking a four hour break to feast on a smorgasbord of delights that had been exposed by a minus tide.

As a consequence of the announcement, the "Black Bloy Competition" was officially placed on hiatus.

Photos by - Gary O'Neill, Mike Baird, J.A. Cory

***This is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to actual events is entirely coincidental.  

Breaking Bird News

                    

***The 2020 Morro Bay Winter Bird Olympics has been cancelled.  Unusually stormy weather along the Pacific Flyway caused many of the migrating athletes to abort their flights.  At the point of desperation, seeking food and rest, a rag tag flock finally found respite at the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the Sacramento Delta.  A smaller flock from Alberta Canada came down at Mono Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra.  They immediately chowed down on the abundant supply of brine flies.

Unfortunately, Alexy Kuznetsov (center of photo), the captain of the Siberian Scaup Synchronized Diving Team, was struck by lightening while crossing the Bering Strait.   RIP Alexy

The news is not all bad.  Local Black Oystercatchers (Bloys) will be presenting, for the first time, "The Black Bloy Competition."  Montaña de Oro State Park (MdO) will host the competition along its rocky coastline.  The date is January 3, 2020 - from dawn to dusk Bloys from MdO and Point Buchon will demonstrate their extraordinary athletic abilities. (below photo by Gary O'Neill)

From left to right Briana, Brayden, and Bruce Bloy.  Admission is free - Parking limited.  Refreshments and Bloy memorabilia available at the Ranch House and Quarry Cove.

***This is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to actual events is entirely coincidental.

Pre-Spring Observations

Montaña de Oro State Park - Oystercatcher's can often be seen on the rugged shale formations that reach out into the sea (above photo).   A few days ago observed three Oystercatcher's participating in what could be described as a mating ritual.  A pair possibly males, while cheeping loudly, were in unison, prancing and bobbing their heads while another Oystercatcher (below photo), possibly a female and slightly larger than the two prancers, sedately observed the action.  

Obviously she was not impressed with their performance, as she flew off.  The two males wasted not a moment, cheeping loudly, they dashed after her.  To my disappointment they flew out of sight.

Continuing with Montaña de Oro Observations - About two weeks ago California Thrasher, known as an exuberant songster, began his spring song fest.  Thrasher vocalizations mark territory, demonstrate motivation, and if luck prevails, attract females.  Like their cousin, the Northern Mockingbird, they are mimics.  The more varied their repertoire, the greater their attraction to females.

One of the delightful aspects of Thrashers is when they sing, they are perched atop a large bush and easy to observe.  The California Thrasher in the photo is perched on a Dune Lupine Bush.

Another songster that has begun his pre-spring vocalization at Montaña de Oro is the perky Wrentit.  Although the male sings all year, as spring approaches his song is more frequent.  Unfortunately, unlike the Thrasher, Wrentits are difficult to observe, as they spend most of their time well hidden in the brush, which this year is dense due to abundant rain.  When birding the coastal areas of California and you hear a song ending in a descending ping pong ball trill, you know that somewhere in the brush is a Wrentit. 

Day of the Oystercatcher

Mid morning - Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail - The resident Black Oystercatchers were carrying on something fierce - in groups of four to six, they were flying noisily between rock formations, and I do mean noisily. (above photo - Oystercatcher habitat)

Their high piercing sound, which makes them easy to identify, can be heard at a distance of at least a 1/4 mile.  The Oystercatchers were very active along the bluffs this warm, spring like morning.

Fortune shined when the opportunity arose to observe two separate flocks of four, flying between formations.  The lead pair would find a suitable rock and land. The second pair looking like they were going to land in the same area, would suddenly veer off to a nearby, but not close, rock. (Oystercatcher pair by Mike Baird)

Being a romantic at heart I thought this behavior might indicate the beginning of the breeding season, as fledged juveniles do not go off on their own until the next breeding season.  Perhaps this behavior was an indication that breeding season was near and that the juveniles now have to face the reality that adulthood is just around the next rock. (flying Oystercatchers by Mike Baird)

Today, Black Oystercatchers dominated the scene.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring.