Tag: beavers and birds

Buckle up, Buttercup. I think Beavers are coming

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers and salmon, Beavers and trout, Beavers and water, Educational, Environmental May 31, 2017

Isn’t that always the way it is. I start to sniff the faintest hint of an upcoming beaver battle and then boom! it shows up in Spades. Here’s a feisty warrior from the newest issue of YES magazine.

In California Wine Country, Restoring Salmon Habitat After More Than a Century of Dams

Wander out the back door of the tasting room at Truett Hurst Winery in Sonoma County, California, and follow the dirt path to the red Adirondack chairs next to Dry Creek. Look just downstream to the side channel that splits off the main waterway. You will see sets of interwoven logs and overturned trees with roots that splay along the banks. These aren’t the result of a particularly rough storm—they are there by design. As Dry Creek rushes by, these logs and root beds point the way to a newly excavated side channel—prime habitat for spawning and juvenile salmon.

In freshwater waterways along the coast from Marin to Mendocino counties, agencies are restoring salmonid streams to create habitat diversity, areas that provide deep pooling, predator protection, and side channels of slower-moving water. California salmon are in dire straits. Decades of dam building and development have destroyed or altered salmon habitat, eliminating the diversity of habitat these fish need.

As a result, salmon populations have plummeted. The number of coho salmon that return to the California waterways from the Pacific Ocean each year has dropped from around 350,000 in the 1940s to less than 500 in 2009. Although they’ve rebounded slightly, numbers are still 90 percent to 99 percent below historic levels, and many scientists are worried that California’s historic five-year drought followed by an exceptionally rainy winter could wreak further havoc.

These habitat restoration projects are one tool being employed to try to prevent California salmon from going extinct. Ettlinger says that in Marin there has been a growing movement for another type of project—reintroducing beavers. “Beaver ponds are ideal salmon nurseries,” he says. “In the salmon restoration community, it’s become apparent that coho and beavers evolved together.” Plus, “a lot of the wood replacement we’re doing now in Lagunitas Creek the beavers would do for free.”

Don’t look at me. I didn’t say it.

Apparently things are gearing up for a first-rate struggle between salmon supporters and bird lovers, which makes as little sense as anything I can imagine. Obviously they should both be lining up to welcome beavers with bowers of willow branches and safe harbors. It is in their interest to support the services of this well known ecosystem engineer who creates essential habitat and rearing grounds for salmon AND birds. But I’ve seen people act against their own self-interest before, so who knows what will happen?

It all really couldn’t be more perfect timing for me to march into Marin Audubon next week. I sense a lot of drama coming their way, and for once I won’t even be the cause of it!

Beaver treats

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers and Birds, Beavers and Frogs, Beavers and water, Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Educational, Environmental, Who's blaming beavers now?, Who's saving beavers now? January 24, 2015

Beaver making an Arizona comeback

54c0017bc831e.image — A beaver lodge built into the bank of the San Pedro River indicates the presence of the aquatic rodents, which were reintroduced to the river in 1999. About 50 beavers inhabit the San Pedro National Conservation Area.

“A hundred-and-fifty years ago, it was called the Beaver River because there were so many beavers,” said Dutch Nagle, former president of the Friends of the San Pedro River, an organization that promotes the conservation of the river.

Thanks to reintroduction efforts by the Bureau of Land Management beginning in 1999, an estimated 50 beavers now roam the waters of the San Pedro. The beavers have built dozens of dams that slow the river’s flow and create ponds. Along with raising the water table near the river, the slack water provides increased habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.

One of the species that prospers from the beavers’ tireless dam-building is the lowland leopard frog. “Historically, I’m sure there was a very close relationship between beavers and leopard frogs,” said Mike Sredl, who leads the ranid frog projects for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Along with environmental factors such as tree density and the availability of food, beaver behavior can have a significant impact on the number of birds along a river.

“The beaver contribute most in defining how many birds are in an environment, and the reason for that is they change the environment,” said Van Riper, who is the co-author of a study that examines the effects the reintroduced beavers have had on various bird species.

Great work from our beaver friends on the San Pedro! It is lovely to read about the difference beaver can make – especially in arid land. Of course the article takes time to whine a bit about how there are also more bullfrogs and non-natives but I don’t think anyone really takes that seriously anymore. I know I don’t. It’s like saying we shouldn’t repair our roads because it makes it easier for thieves to get away from the police.

The thing we want matters infinitely more than the thing we don’t.

In case, you, like me, are dying to look at Van Riper’s bird study, the whole thing is available here. It’s a very interesting read, but I think overly cautious about the benefits of beavers. For example, they note they “can’t conclude whether” the increase in biodiversity near beaver activity represents beaver effects, or just beaver CHOOSING richer habitat to settle in.

(Sheesh. Because you know how those lazy opportunistic beavers are – always picking the nicest neighborhoods to move in. Grr.) The report generously concludes that at least beavers did not appear to make anything worse.

Beaver reintroduction did not appear to have detrimental effects on any species of conservation concern and, in fact there was evidence that a breeding bird community is more abundant and more diverse where beavers were present.

Mighty white of you, I’m sure.

_______________________________________

Now for an unmitigated treat, check your insulin levels first, because this is too sweet to be believed. The kit is at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma WA and her grape-testing made TIME this morning. Her name is Hazel.

Still, if you think its cute when beavers in zoos eat grapes, you should see what it looks like when wild beavers eat strawberries.

Yearling eating Strawberries - Photo Cheryl Reynolds — Yearling eating Strawberries – Photo Cheryl Reynolds

Birds and Beavers

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers and Birds, Beavers or Social Ambasadors, Educational, Environmental July 15, 2014

Tomorrow night our own Cheryl and Jon will lead a Golden Gate Audubon “Birds and Beavers” walk. It’s a wonderful way to show off the great relationship between these species, and encourage folks to come back for the beaver festival!

I’m trying to limit my hopes to three things:

They get to see baby-head.
A lovely night heron, egret, kingfisher and and/or green heron
They remember to mention THIS article!

Birds & Beavers in Martinez — FAMILY BIRD WALK

Wednesday July 16, 7 p.m.

Anthony DeCicco, adecicco@goldengateaudubon.org

This is part of a series of GGAS Summer 2014 bird walks geared to families with children or to more experienced young “junior birders,” and led by our expert Eco-Education staff. Join us as we look for wetland birds near the Martinez Regional Shoreline — such as Green Herons and Belted Kingfishers — on our way to visit the famous beaver dens along Alhambra Creek. We hope to see the beaver kits born this year! Advance RSVP required. For details and directions, please see goldengateaudubon.org/kidsbirdwalks.

Good luck team beaver! And if all this talk of Audubon and research is too lofty for a Tuesday morning, here’s something to appeal more broadly.

VIDEO: here’s Rob Ford as a muppet beaver

For the past little while, Rob Ford–based comedy has been a story of diminishing returns. Late-night hosts have had their fun with the mayor, leaving the wreckage of his term for lesser satirists to pick over. But there’s something about this clip from No, You Shut Up, a Jim Henson Company talk show that airs on American cable TV, that makes us remember what it was like before all this “crack scandal” stuff became as irritating and omnipresent as refrigerator hum. This time, Ford is a muppet beaver being interviewed by comedian Paul F. Tompkins. The beaver’s Ford impression is actually quite good. And that’s all you need to know.

What RSPB really means…

heidi08 Beavers and Birds, Beavers elsewhere, Environmental, Who's saving beavers now? June 19, 2014

Guess who is supporting the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland now? Only the biggest environmental organization in the country, that’s who.

RSPB favours further releases of beavers

RSPB Scotland offered some of its own 80 nature reserves as potential sites following last month’s conclusion of the Scottish Beaver Trial, run by Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, in Knapdale Forest in Argyll.

The beavers, which began to be introduced five years ago, now range over a territory equivalent to 120 football pitches. Between May 2009 and September 2010 16 Eurasian beavers were released in the woodland, near Lochgilphead.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: “Beavers are incredible mammals that have an important role to play in our countryside. We urge the Scottish Government to make way for further projects to bring this remarkable species back to our countryside.“

Not only is RSPB lending their support to beavers, they’re lending their extensive preserves all across the country! If the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds becomes the Regional Spokesmen for the Promotion of Beavers, hold onto your hats. We are in for an AWESOME year!

For those of you following along at home, let’s just review just some of the ways beavers help birds:

Increase fish and frog population which feeds water fowl
Augment invertebrate community to feed songbirds & waterfowl.
Restore plant complexity to benefit all birds.
Create flooded and dead trees for obligate nestors.
Promote coppicing to create dense and bushy new growth for nesting.

We should all be very happy that twitchers support beavers. It means not only can we expect the beavers in Scotland to be welcomed with open willow, we can bet we will see them soon in England. Thanks RSPB!

About Friggin’ Time!

heidi08 Beavers, Beavers elsewhere January 28, 2014

Beavers might be the ticket for wild steelhead survival

Depending who you ask, beavers can be a blessing or a curse. Considered shadow rodents because we don’t hear much about them unless their building activities create some public safety issues, it is a known fact beavers and their dams play an important role in nature’s big picture, and because of the dramatic effects their dams have on surrounding ecosystems, beavers are considered a keystone species. Today, biologists, scientists and naturalists are embracing the beaver’s ability to create wetlands and other natural habitats.

That’s right. The day after the SF gate announced that salmon could become extinct and painfully ignored the role of beaver, Washington says gosh, beavers sure are good for steelhead, and when are we going to start using them to build habitat? The timing could not be better and I hope it at least makes the reporter of the gate article idly curious. Look at this, for example!

Beavers, salmon returning to Los Gatos Creek

Mind you this is a different location on Los Gatos Creek than our previous beaver sighting! You have to sit through a comercial to watch this clip but it’s worth it!

Nice work team San Jose! Remember if folks can start to clean out the creeks, beavers can make them salmon-friendly!

Lots of good beaver news today. Here’s a part where residents are begging for beavers to be removed and officials say they can stay. No, really!

Locals to Golden Gardens beavers: Please leave

Ballard locals say beavers have cut numerous trees and devastated two scenic ponds at Golden Gardens Park. It’s their natural habitat and they can stay, parks officials respond.

You could stand on a footbridge between the ponds and gaze out onto this peaceful preserve. Chirp, chirp.

Then two or three years ago arrived one beaver, or maybe it’s up to a dozen beavers — depending on which irate leisurely stroller you talk to.

Seattle Parks and Recreation estimates the rodents have downed 65 to 75 trees so they could eat the bark, and build a dam and a lodge.

The parks department says their tree cutting is just part of nature. It’s not going to relocate the beavers.

Ahh Washington State! Even when you’re being stupid about beavers you are still smarter than the other 49! Why aren’t people telling them that beavers make habitat for more birds? Here’s the sign those park officials need to display. Or heck, just give them my email. I’ll talk to those bird lovers!

Yesterday a lovely silver ball chain necklace arrived in the mail from Cecile Stewart in North Carolina of Partsforyou. She makes necklaces and earrings out of really beautiful old coins. I can’t find a photo of the one she sent so this must have been her last, but it is awesome and happens to be dated the year of my birth. I wouldn’t bother bidding on this at all because you will never, never win. Thanks Cecile!