Cheryl Reynolds – Page 6

“Please sir, I want some more.”

heidi08 Beaver News September 15, 2009

How about a fourth dam behind the corp yard? Remember last summer there was a fourth dam that the parents made, and did such a good job that the third dam (yearling work) ended up being underwater most of the time. In the funny way that things work out the fourth dam became weakened by the dredging birm and collapsed so the third dam became their heroic water save, and with some reinforcements held the ponds together.

Now we have a NEW 4th dam, slightly below where the old one was, and looking mighty dam-ish. Every time I think our beavers have become to “cityfied” or “soft” to make it in the real world they surprise me by behaving so very much like…well…beavers! Remember that the purpose of any secondary dam is to build a terrace and broader safe feeding area. For the yearlings it is also on-the-job-training.

While Cheryl was snapping these photos she also got a nice glimpse of a lovely yellow warbler. This is definitely someone we want to keep around! Oh and the bonus? Jon spied a pile of otter scat in the area, (visible by the crushed red crayfish shells in the stools). So this means we have regular otter visitors as well.

Photos: Cheryl Reynolds

Cuteness Competition

heidi08 New Species, pictures August 20, 2009

The beavers have been number one in dam-side cuteness for so long it must come as a shock to them that other creatures are giving them a run for their money. Remember when they were the only show in town, and a trip to the dam was entirely focused on them?

Victims of their own success, the beavers built the lovely habitat and now everyone wants a piece of it. First the squaking green heron with the telltale band, then the adorable procession of baby muskrats, followed by those hollywood mink super-starlets with their sunglasses and trailing furs… and now this! The pesky bandit family of 6,7,8 (?) are seen here showing off the very skill beavers lack (climbing) in the very place that beavers most value (willow trees)!

Faced with such an uneven playing field, the beavers have decided to fight fire with fire. Drawing from the teenage-girl-getting-attention playbook they settled in to demonstrate rarely seen behaviors in prominent trademark places to keep audience interest. You think I exaggerate? See for yourself.

Photos: Cheryl Reynolds

This beaver is sitting on the primary dam, grooming himself with his foot in the air like a ballerina from a Degas painting. Quick get the camera!

“They only eat the apple peelings”

heidi08 pictures, Recent Sightings July 25, 2009

The folks who live in backward town
Are inside out and upside down
They wear their hats inside their heads
And go to sleep beneath their beds
They only eat the apple peelings
And they take their walk across the ceilings

Mary Ann Hoberman 1959

Our intrepid wildlife photographer Cheryl Reynolds was on hand last night when beaver friend (and fish defender!) ML showed up after having spent the day making apple pies. She wisely saved the peelings for our furry friends, and they enjoyed a truly unique meal of “apple pasta”.

Branta Canadensis Meets Castor Canadensis

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, New Species April 13, 2009

Our very own Cheryl Reynolds attended Saturday’s Pollinator Class at Mt. View Sanitation and was able to meet naturalist Jeff Alvarez, who will be helping us with our interpretive signs. He is very knowledgeable about and interested in beavers. They talked about the many ways beavers impact habitat, and the lodges being useful to all sorts of surprising species. Remember that lodges are lined with mud and highly insulated. During the day they are full of toasty cuddling beavers, and that makes the outside of the lodge warmer than the surrounding area. We saw this in person when we measured with the non-contact thermometer during the sheetpile installation. This is why lodges are so appealing to reptiles, why we used to see the pond turtles sleeping on the old lodge, and why the variety of snakes around and atop a lodge are greater than a similar area without a lodge.

It’s also why this Canadian goose, and many many others, decides to make her nest atop it. The eggs are warmed on both sides, and mom has an excellent vantage point.

For other photographs of geese nesting on lodges, go here.

Leave only Footprints…

heidi08 Beavers or Social Ambasadors, pictures March 17, 2009

Take only photographs.

Recognize these? This is the front footprint of a beaver, photographed by Cheryl Reynolds in Sonoma where the beavers were wreaking havoc a while back. Look at those wide splayed toes, almost human, and think about those front paws which can grasp and hold things. Our habitat isn’t ideal for footprints, but we occasionally see some in the mud.

Once I was told the dynamic story of Mary Leakey’s lecture on footprints discovered leaving the site of the Sadiman Volcano 3.6 million years ago which was spewing ash at the time. The footprints of a smaller female appeared to turn back for a while, then resume the exodus, and Dr. Leakey speculated that this was the first known evidence of human hesitation, meaning that the human brain had advanced already to such a state as to weigh opposing factors and consider the best options.

These footprints, of course, do not suggest hesitation to me. They say “direction”. Here’s a drawing to help you identify your own tracks.

I also thought I would share the nice thank you Igor and I got from the Sierra Club on our talk last Wednesday. I appreciated her letter so much I forwarded it onto the council.

Thanks so much for coming out to Antioch for the Delta Group Sierra Club meeting to tell us about the beaver colony in Alhambra Creek. I suppose that beavers in creeks are considered “normal” — but as anyone can see, the beavers in downtown Martinez are truly “special”! Their location is a unique opportunity to study beavers, and at the same time, to monitor the health and stability of an urban creek system.

I think the City of Martinez is very fortunate to have citizen like you willing to volunteer your time to help with the sensitive issue of maintaining the health and survival of both Alhambra Creek and the beaver colony, within the structure of a downtown business area.

The powerpoint program on the Alhambra Creek watershed, together with photos and videos of beaver activity, are a winning argument in favor of having a beaver presence in the middle of the city. I have seen for myself the awakening of interest and pride of “possession” for people who drop in to view the beavers at work. A great asset for the city, and hopefully, with continuing help from your groups, the beavers can continue to thrive as “city” beavers.

Thanks again for joining us on March 12 to share scenes of busy beaver family life in downtown Martinez.

Janess Hanson
Secretary, Delta Group
Sierra Club