KRV Summer Birds and Arrival Dates

Tu, Jun 5 NOTES: Lawrence's Goldfinch numbers are already rapidly dwindling with none detected along the Migrant Corner Trail this morning and 11 found west of Headquarters yesterday vs. 258 just a week ago. BB.

Tricolored Blackbirds seem to be finished nesting, but numbers into the several hundred are still around. If form holds, their numbers will rapidly dwindle throughout June and early July. BB.

There appears to be a grasshopper explosion in population this first week of June in the dry fields bordering the Preserve's riparian forest on the north. These are small grasshoppers (0.5"-1") kicked up in clouds and swarms of individuals by people while walking and driving along the Preserve's north side ranch roads. To see a Western Meadowlark with its bill jammed full of 4-6 grasshoppers lined up in a row, protruding from both sides of the beak, extending beyond the front of the bill, and greedily looking to pick up more before returning to feed young, is very impressive and comical to me. Happy & productive birding. BB

SPECIES ACCOUNTS:

Wood Duck - Kern Valley Fish & Game Habitat nest box program on KRP. Forty nest boxes, 90%+ occupancy rate. Increasingly scarce as summer passes.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - The first individuals arrived this year on June 1st (vs. June 9th in 2000) Best looked for after Summer Bird Count Weekend (July 7 & 8, 2001) when numbers and locations will be well determined.

Hummingbirds - June through mid-July, Black-chinned and Anna's are abundant at the Kern River Preserve, Costa's are common to very common in the deserts, and Calliopes are common at the feeders at Black Rock Ranger Station, Sequoia National Forest. Late July and early August, 2000 banding days produced six hummingbird species: Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, Calliope, Allen's and Rufous. Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds may be present as early as late June and build to peak numbers the second half of August.

Willow Flycatcher - Being heard and seen in the Kern River Preserve Headquarters area and from the ranch road leading west from Headquarters. Best looked for on the telephone wires between the first and third telephone poles across from the dirt road next to the KRP Visitor Center.

Brown-crested Flycatcher - Hard to find. 5-8 pairs along fourteen miles of river. In 2001, observations have been made in the main forest accessed from the ranch road leading west from KRP Headquarters, along the trail to Migrant Corner accessed from the northeast side of the Sierra Way Bridge over the South Fork Kern River, from the Public access Trail at the Cane Brake Ecological Reserve, on the Kern River Preserve east of Fay Ranch Road (docent-led access only), and from both the north and south side of the South Fork Wildlife Area (Sequoia National Forest) west of the Kern River Preserve.. Be careful in your identification, Ash-throated Flycatchers are being observed much more numerously.

Red-eyed Vireo - One report thus far in 2001. Up to five individuals of this species were been found at five locations in summer, 2000.

Northern Parula - One report thus far in 2001. Several reports of summering individuals in 2000.

Summer Tanager - Being heard and seen consistently along the Nature Trail at the Kern River Preserve (KRP). Heard and seen consistently at least three times a day in the yard at KRP Headquarters: dawn, 11am-Noon, and evening hours. Also being heard and seen at the Cane Brake Ecological Reserve from along the Public Access Trail.

Blue Grosbeak - Being observed commonly along the 1/2 mile stretch of Fay Ranch Road north of the bridge over the South Fork Kern River.

Lazuli Bunting - Abundant in June and early July. Numbers detected lessen as summer progresses.

Indigo Bunting - Two males reported thus far in 2001; one in the vicinity of the Fay Ranch Road Bridge over the South Fork Kern River. More than 12-14 individuals of this species, mostly adult males, were found on territory during the 2000 nesting season.

Tricolored Blackbird - Numbers will get progressively scarce as summer passes. Look for this species among any flocks of blackbirds you encounter along Hwy. 178 in the South Fork Valley. Also being observed from along Fay Ranch Road north of the bridge.

Lawrence's Goldfinch - Numbers (abundant) peak in early June, then rapidly dwindle as summer passes In 1999 & 2000, they went undetected in the Kern River Valley throughout August with a brief reappearance by a low number of individuals in September.

For more information on finding the above species and many, many other species, go to the "KRV Birding Tips" web page.

BIRDING STRATEGIES:

Following are some sample birding strategies...

Kern River Preserve Headquarters Morning (5:30am-10:30am): Headquarters (5:30am-6am), ranch road west from Headquarters (6am-7:30am), Headquarters (7:30am-8am), Nature Trail east from Headquarters (8am-10am), Headquarters (10am-10:30am), head for the mountains - Breckenridge, Greenhorns, Piutes, or Trail of 100 Giants (10:30am)...

Kern River Preserve/Sierra Way Morning (5:30am-9:30am): Migrant Corner Trail east from northeast side of Sierra Way Bridge (5:30am-7am), Sierra Way Bridge at car (7am-7:15am), Sierra Way Bridge south along edge of Sierra Way and west into Prince's Pond and back (7:15am-8:45am), Sierra Way Bridge to KRP Headquarters taking Paul's Place Road en route (8:45am-9am), Headquarters (9am-9:30am), head for the mountains...Breckenridge, Greenhorns, Piutes, or Trail of 100 Giants (10:30am)...

Kern River Preserve/Fay Ranch Road Morning

Cane Brake Ecological Reserve Morning

Chimney Peak Road Morning

South Fork Wildlife Area (North Side) Morning

South Fork Wildlife Area (South Side) Morning

Breckenridge Mountain 3/4 to All Day

Greenhorn Mountains/Old State Road 3/4 to All Day

Greenhorn Mountains/Portuguese Pass 3/4 to All Day

Greenhorn Mountains/Saw Mill Road 3/4 to All Day

Piute Mountains 3/4 to All Day

Sherman Pass Road 3/4 to All Day

Western Divide Highway 3/4 to All Day