Naturalist Notes

Red-capped, clown-faced flocks are easy to spot in oak woodlands. They live in big noisy groups; listen for their raucous, laugh-like calls. In fall they get busy, drilling holes and stashing acorns in trees, fence posts, and other wooden structures. A single tree may hold thousands of hidden morsels, serving as a communal food pantry through winter. The birds carefully tend stored food, making sure acorns are wedged tightly so other animals can’t snatch. They also practice cooperative breeding with all the adults working together to raise the young from a single nest. Add sightings of Melanerpes formicivorus to iNaturalist.

The common black crow lacks dazzling plumage but it has more than its fair share of avian intelligence. Crows solve puzzles, make tools, teach each other tricks, and recognize faces. They also love to play. An online “crow boarding” video features one of these corvids repeatedly sliding down a snow-covered roof on a sled of its own making. Crafty omnivores, crows forage insects, grain, and garbage, making them adept at surviving in almost any North American locale, from wilderness forests to residential backyards. Add sightings of Corvus brachyrhynchos to iNaturalist.

One of our few native trees to offer autumnal color, the deciduous leaves of bigleaf maple carpet woodland floors in shades of yellow and orange during the fall. Having the largest leaves of any maple, leaf widths of nearly two feet are possible but 6-12 inches are more common. Capable of crown-sprouting, these trees can quickly regenerate after fire. Although the sugar content is comparable, the taste differs from common maple syrup and therefore this species isn’t typically tapped for its sugary sap. Add sightings of Acer macrophyllum to iNaturalist.

Native oaks are woven deep into the life of California ecosystems. Owls, woodpeckers, and squirrels nest in the safety of oaks. Many wild mammals and birds survive the winter thanks to nutritious acorns. Black oak acorns are a favorite wild forage, and native Americans preferred black oak acorns when making meal. Black oaks also offer a luxurious display of fall color uncommon to the Bay area’s native trees. With thick bark, and a rich supply of nutrients stored in their roots, oaks have adapted to survive wildfire. Sadly, they are not resistant to sudden oak death, a pathogen exacerbated by climate change, that is claiming the lives of thousands of oaks across the state. Add your sightings of Quercus kelloggii to iNaturalist.

Common from Washington state to Baja California, these bright blue songbirds are mischievous characters, brave enough to steal acorns from woodpeckers, or even a piece of sandwich from a picnic. When other birds hear the jay’s loud raspy calls, many will clear out to avoid the commotion. It’s fun to watch these animated characters; they aren’t easily spooked. Couples typically form life-long bonds, and actively defend their territory. One jay can bury up to 500 acorns during the fall and, remarkably, remember where each is buried several months later. Add sightings of Aphelocoma californica to iNaturalist.

This bushy shrub up to 9 feet high is common from coastal California to the Cascade ranges. In autumn, male plants produce small clusters of white flowers with yellow pollen. This fertilizes nearby female plants, which produce seeds carried on the wind by fluffy white “pappi.” An integral component of native coastal scrub and chaparral habitat, Coyote Brush frequently has galls, harmless abnormal growths that shelter insects. Over time mature plants build up dead wood, nature’s way of encouraging the fires that have been part of California ecosystems for thousands of years. Add sightings of Baccharis pilularis to iNaturalist.

Also known as Pacific harbor seals, these marine mammals have pretty spotted coats in a range of shades from silver to brown. They spend half their time in water, diving for seafood: sole, flounder, hake, cod, herring, or squid. Safe in the surf, they often stop to bob and fix curious eyes on shore dwellers. When they haul out on land, they prefer to be left alone, snoozing in groups as they recuperate from swimming and foraging. Although rare, mothers will sometimes leave a pup on the shore when they move off in search of a meal. If you spot a solitary youngster, leave the pup alone–mom will soon return. Any disturbance reduces the young one’s chance of survival. Add sightings Phoca vitulina to iNaturalist.

The name peregrine comes from the Latin peregrinus, “wanderer”, and true to its name, this long-distance migrant is also the world’s most widespread raptor. Northern breeders move south along the Pacific Flyway following the fall migrations of their prey species. When hunting, peregrines turn into feathered bullets, plummeting from great heights and reaching speeds of 250mph – making them the fastest animal on earth. Watch for their strong flight on pointed wings, cruising over wetlands and swooping down on flocks of ducks and shorebirds. Add sightings of Falco peregrinus to iNaturalist.

This adorable rodent, marked by five black longitudinal stripes, is found in chaparral and forested areas of Marin and Sonoma counties. In fall they get busy, foraging during the day for seeds, fruits, and insects, stuffing their cheek pouches. They carry the treats back to snug underground dens, building a food cache to sustain them through winter hibernation. You can spot Neotamias sonomae perching on stumps, low tree limbs, and rocks, munching and keeping a watchful eye out for intruders. Add sightings of Neotamias sonomae to iNaturalist.

Endemic to California, these majestic elk were believed to be extinct when in the mid-1870s one small herd was discovered on a private ranch in Bakersfield. In 1978, 8 females and 2 males were reintroduced in Point Reyes. There is now a large population at Tomales Point as well as additional, smaller, free-ranging herds on other National Seashore grasslands. In early fall, the elk are in rut–mating season–and the dramas begin. Males gather harems of females, sparring with other males for dominance. Occasionally a female will wander from the group eliciting high-pitched bugling and posturing from the bull as he herds her back in. Bachelors are almost always roaming on the outskirts, waiting for any opportunity to usurp the dominant bull. Bring binoculars and enjoy the show. Add sightings of Cervus canadensis nannodes to iNaturalist.

Cool gray and white, without a hint of brown, these tree squirrels are California natives. Unfortunately, the woodland creatures are more sensitive to the intrusion of human settlement than their non-native cousins the fox squirrel and eastern gray squirrel, which are established in the Bay Area. Western grays thrive in oak forest, eating acorns, nuts, and fungi, and only have one litter of kits a year. Fox squirrels and eastern grays have adapted more easily to fragmented suburban habitat, even crossing along power lines between trees. And they breed more frequently. Consider yourself lucky if you see one of the truly indigenous Sciurus griseus. Read more in Bay Nature.