Are MdO Birds Practicing Social Distancing?

Much like humans the answer is yes, no, or sometimes.

Montaña de Oro (MdO)  -  Everything about MdO was Beautiful.  Coastal chaparral vibrant with spring growth, dramatic cloud formations, few people, precious bunnies dashing across the trail, and my favorite MdO bluff birds -  Scrub Jay (below), Quail, Thrasher, Wrentit, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren - Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorant - Oystercatcher, and the newly arrived Pigeon Guillemot.

But the beauty of the morning did little to assuage my deep concern over the welfare of MdO's birds.  Were they practicing "social distancing?"

"Yes!"  for Pigeon Guillemots.  Monogamous Guillemot pairs, obviously aware of the global pandemic, were keeping their distance from other pairs of Guillemots.  I was delighted to see they had perfected the art of social distancing.

"No!"  for the Brandt's Cormorant.  Like some humans Brandt's are very social.  They love to party.

"Sometimes!" for the Pelagic Cormorant.  When nesting they practice social distancing.  After their chick fledge they hang out in flocks, often mingling with other species of Cormorants.

"Sometimes!" for Oystercatchers.  They nest individually, keeping all intruders at bay.  Though, in winter they often gather in flocks, sometimes with friends.  Oystercatchers do need to work on their social distancing skills.

"Yes!"  for the majority of bluff birds.  Social distancing is firmly fixed in their way of life.  After my morning observations I realized that regardless of what happens to the human population, the MdO birds will survive. 

Thought For the Day - "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives.  It is the one that is most adaptable to change."     Charles  Darwin

Cloisters Pond - Pre-Birding

Christmas Morning - Cloisters Pond - On the 17th of January I will be leading an "Easy Birding" walk in the Cloisters Park.  My goal this a.m. was to find out what birds to expect on the day of the walk.  Due to a total lack of rain, the pond is shrinking, and the vegetation along the park paths is extremely dry and birds are scarce (nothing to eat I figure).  The park lawn and some of the plants are watered which helps in providing habitat and insects for the warblers and flycatchers; the number one attraction for the birds is the pond.  The majority of the 26 species I observed were in or around the pond or on the lawn.

The above photo was taken from the overlook; as I approached, a family that had been feeding the ducks crumbs, were leaving.  The Mallard Ducks, being more skittish, moved closer to the water which left the Sparrows pecking at the crumbs.  As I was watching the little darlings, a California Thrasher came into view - a most unusual sighting.  Ca. Thrashers are usually off in the distance singing from atop a tall bush.  I am hoping this Thrasher will appear on the "Easy Birding" walk in January.   For a 24 second, could stand improvement Thrasher video, go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hcp6sMyvFE&feature=em-share_video_user
 
 
 On my last visit to the pond I saw a male Northern Pintail Duck - a first-time Cloisters sighting (photo from wikipedia - with tailfeathers).  Male Pintails have long, pointy tail feathers, and this fellow was missing his tail.  He was probably hanging around the pond waiting for his tail feathers to grow back.  And sure enough his pointy tail feathers were sprouting, but they had a looong way to go.  I am hoping this handsome male will make an appearance in January.

Since the majority of the Cloisters birds are located in and around the pond, it looks like "Easy Birding" will be easy birding.