The Pigeon Guillemot - Montaña de Oro State Park

The Pigeon Guillemot - Cepphus columba - arrives on the Central Coast in mid-April and departs for the open sea in mid-August.  At Montaña de Oro (MdO) the numerous holes in the cliffs provide nesting sites for the arriving Pigeon Guillemot.

Eggs (1-2) usually hatch in about a month.  After 35-45 days the chicks fledge, flying out to sea.  They will no longer be dependent upon their parent's care.

The Guillemot on the far right is holding a small fish in its beak (click on photo for larger image).  The little fish is more than likely food for its nestling.

This year's Guillemot population at MdO appears robust.  Last Sunday the sea was calm with a low tide exposing the rocks (top photo).  I counted 40 plus Guillemot bobbing in the sea and 20 more perched on the rocks, and that was just in the area of Spooner's Cove (top photo).  It was a phenomenal day for observing the Guillemot.

The Pigeon Guillemots of Montaña de Oro

Of all my favorite birds, the Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) is number one.  During the breeding season, their rounded body is very black with brilliant white wing patches (photo by Mike Baird).  Their legs, feet, and mouth lining a brilliant orange-red; the feet are so red they look like they have been photoshopped.

Montaña de Oro's rocky shoreline with all its nooks and crannies provides the Pigeon Guillemot with ample areas to nest.  Like clockwork, every March, these hardy little sea birds arrive in Montaña de Oro.

 The Pigeon Guillemot uses its short strong wings to swim while searching for food, diving to depths of 150 ft.  When not feeding, they often rest on cliff edges (above photo).  By vigorous flapping of their wings, combined with the use of sharp claws on webbed feet, the Guillemot is able to climb the steep, rocky cliffs. 

A few days ago, from the Bluff Trail, I observed several pairs of Guillemots acting very frisky, with much splashing, wing stretching, and shallow dives.  I focused on a pair that was the easiest to view. For the ease of explanation I will call them Frank and Doris.  I would describe their antics as a pre-mating ritual.  Like some males Frank was the aggressor.  Doris was enjoying the attention but was rather standoffish, not ready for the grand finale.  Frank would close in, and Doris would scoot out of reach.  They participated in this behavior repeatedly.  Twice they flew to and from a nesting hole in the cliff. 

 As Frank (above photo, lower right) chased Doris he was constantly chatting.  Unable to understand the high pitched sounds, I made an unscientific assumption.  Frank was telling Doris that time was of the essence, as they must return to sea mid August.  He was reminding her that incubation takes at least 30 - 32 days, and then there is the intense 35 - 50 days of feeding the little darling; two eggs may be laid, but only one chick will fledge. (below photo - Doris checking out a nesting area)

Both parents incubate the egg and bring small fish to their chick.  Success raising a chick to maturity depends on the weather, the impact of human activity, and the warming ocean and its disastrous affect on the food chain.  Hopefully, Doris and Frank will incubate an egg, produce a healthy, well adjusted nestling which will one day return to the rocky cliffs of Montaña de Oro.

Birding Alcatraz

                          Alcatraz Island 1895
First, a little history - Alcatraz is a world famous island that receives 5,000 visitors every day.  In 1775 Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala named the island "La Isla Los Alcatraces" or Island of the Pelican," due to its large population of sea birds.  Seventy-five years later President Millard Fillmore reserved the island for the military; a fort was needed to protect the valuable port of San Francisco.  By the late 1850s the U. S. Army turned the fort into prison for military prisoners, citizens accused of treason, and rebellious American Indians.
                (For a larger image, click on the photo)

More changes were in store for the 22 acre island.  In 1933 the Justice Department wanted a federal prison that would house dangerous criminals, including prisoners that had escaped from other prisons.  Alcatraz the prison opened on July 1, 1934; but due to the cost of maintaining a prison on an island, Alcatraz was shut down in 1963.  Nine years later the island became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Now, lets skip ahead to 9:15 am, Oct 1, 2014, a momentous occasion - the mile and a half ferry ride to Alcatraz, also known as "The  Rock."  The weather was perfect, blue sky, no wind and warm.  The lines for the ferry were well organized.  As we waited friend Phoebe and I enjoyed watching the people.

As we disembarked onto the island an interpretive guide was offering a tour.  Noticing his binoculars I knew in a flash he was a birder.  The tour took about 45 minutes.  Our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Michael, spoke on the history, the gardens, architecture, and the birds, frequently pointing out Anna's Hummingbird which were prevalent due to numerous flowering plants, lovingly tended by volunteers.

When the tour concluded he asked for questions.  I waited till the very last to pose my question. "Where are the best places to find birds?"  He offered to show us where to find the birds of Alcatraz.  To our delight he took us down the "Puppy Stairs," which gave us a peek at the historic garden.  The story goes, the short little steps were built by a commander to accommodate the short legs of his Corgie.  (the stairs were not open to the public)

After rounding a corner we arrived at the parade ground (photo) located below California's first Lighthouse.  In this area hundreds of Western Gull nest.   Along the outer edge piles of debris and shrubbery provide safe haven for White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Song Sparrow.  Large clumps of ornamental shrubs provide nesting for Snowy Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron.  (the structure to the right of the lighthouse was the warden's house)

In a nearby stand of cypress we found an unexpected treat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend Warbler and a singing Fox Sparrow.  Before our guide departed he told us to check out the seldom open Agave Trail that meanders a short distance along the edge of the island (photo taken from the Agave Trail).  Our luck continued, foraging on the rocks were a pair of Black Turnstone, Surfbird, and a Black Oystercatcher.

It seems unlikely that  birds have actually benefited from man's occupation of Alcatraz Island.  When the military arrived they reshaped the island with dynamite; tons of sandstone rubble was deposited into the bay.  Over time life grew on the rocks providing habitat for numerous species.

 

 Soil was brought in for gardens; trees and shrubs took hold providing more habitat - a Raven nests in one of the tall Cypress.  Piles of broken masonry became nesting sites for Brant Cormorant and Pigeon Guillemot.  Man has made a tremendous impact on this little island, but serendipity has been part of the process, and through fortunate happenstance Alcatraz has once again become a haven for birds.