Recent Sightings – Page 11

Homeward Bound: The Green Heron Version

heidi08 New Species, Recent Sightings July 13, 2009

So this little fellow has been hanging around our beaver dam. Cheryl Reynolds photographed him here sitting on the filter for the flow device. He’s a juvenile starting life on his own, which is not so surprising. What is remarkable is that she noticed he had a band on his leg, meaning he was caught and released.

She’s been piecing together images and was able to identify from the numbers that he was tagged by IBRRC: International Bird Research and Rescue Center, where she volunteers. She showed the photo to the director who says that they released 34 green herons this year from Susuin Marsh, and it is definitely one of theirs. Then last night we saw it in the company of another one, who also looked banded!

Maybe you’re wondering whether those crazy volunteers at Lindsay or IBRRC actually do any good treating wildlife and releasing it back to take its chances. Well this little bird was rescued and went 25 miles towards finding a good new home. Maybe he heard about the Martinez Beavers and wanted to see for himself, like the couple from Pennsylvania last night who stopped by for some prime beaver viewing.

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=sI0enx_Jnqc]

Tail slap!

heidi08 Festival, Friends of Martinez Beavers, Recent Sightings, Video July 9, 2009

Yesterday I got only the second tail slap ever on video. I’m pretty happy about the capture. I think it was dad, who was down by the outlet of the flow device while the yearlings were wrestling about nearby. He saw me on the bridge and wanted to make sure our ELUSIVE kits didn’t wander into harms way. Cheryl isn’t sure his nose is pronounced enough for papa, but we both recognize the message “You kids quit horsing around and get off my lawn!”

If our kits turn up eventually healthy and stable, then I think it would demonstrate a very good thing — that the beavers have adjusted to their stay in Martinez by becoming more careful of their young, rather than less. It’s a good sign that they aren’t becoming habituated or taking our intrusions for granted, and that they still have all the skills to be wild beavers.

Click on the photo to view the footage:

From Tail Slap July 7, 2009

One other piece of news. A close beaver friend suggested yesterday that I might ask our beloved columnist and animal advocate Gary Bogue if he would be willing to donate time with himself for the silent auction! I thought the idea was crazy enough to work, so I wrote him and asked if he would consider it. He wrote back this morning that it works for him! So make sure you bring your checkbooks to the festival. Worth A Dam is offering veryyy rare treats.Thanks so much, Gary!

PS We were added to the Land’s Council Website this week. The are offering this fantastic list of reasons to keep beavers. Check it out!

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=wI5AjJd00cM]

High Tide

heidi08 Environmental, Recent Sightings June 25, 2009

Yesterday morning was a super high tide and the water level rose past the secondary dams and easily over the first. It gushed through the muskrat passage at the main dam and filled up the lodge pond with a healthy amount of water that was lovely to see. A huge log floated or was dragged downstream into the creek and dad could be seen bringing willow branches into the old lodge, where one can only assume our elusive kits are still hiding out.

Last night Cheryl thought that passage had been officially plugged, even the muskrats had to walk around the hard way. The tunnel area was obviously a mixed blessing and they weren’t sure they wanted to give it up. It was a useful way to sneak by pesky photographers, and a handy cove for sitting and munching without prying eyes. Still, it drained away their precious water and I think they were getting the idea that water is not going to be replaced any time soon. A true approach-approach beaver conflict where the scales were finally tipped.

Hmmm…I wonder what will happen next?

Two tails and a City

heidi08 Beavers or Social Ambasadors, Recent Sightings May 20, 2009

(With apologies to Charles Dickens, I just couldn’t resist the picture or the title.) This photo from Cheryl Reynolds is a lovely prelude of things to come. We are still squinting into the watery horizon to find sign that our new kit delivery has arrived. What will the 2009 models be like? While you’re imagining their tiny tails and mewing little voices, I’ll introduce a recent visitor.

Laura is a knitting wizard with a website called Fiber Dreams including a design/pattern page and a cheerful crafting blog that is as likely to display her amazing shawl designs as it is to talk about a strange bird in her garden. She lives in southern California but was recently up here for a visit with her mother and stopped by to see the beaver dams. Her site linked to our site and that’s how I found her. She thought she caught a glimpse of an otter in the creek and posted the picture. I explained that it was actually a very lovely picture of one of our muskrats, and invited her to come to the beaver festival and get the full tour. She was very enthusiastic, and commented on the recent sightings page as well. Go check out her gallery for mouth watering designs that your fingers will just itch to stroke, and maybe leave a polite comment about how talented she is and wouldn’t it be lovely if she would consider possibly donating the smallest doily for the raffles at the beaver festival?