Red-winged Blackbird silhouette against orange sunrise at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California

PWA Monthly Bird Survey at Shollenberger (2/18/20)

Tuesday, February 18, was the bimonthly bird survey at Shollenberger Park for the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA). The team was greeted by this lovely sunrise symphony, as performed by The Red-winged Blackbird Orchestra.

Red-winged Blackbird showing red shoulder epaulets perched in reeds at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Red-winged Blackbird

Experiencing the mass exodus of blackbirds at dawn is one of many joys of each PWA bird survey.

Red-winged Blackbirds silhouettes flying out of roost against orange and blue sunrise at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Red-winged Blackbirds

Beholding Mother Nature’s sunrise artistry is another.

Orange and pink sunrise landscape reflected in pond at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Good morning from the wetlands!
Bird survey volunteer group during sunrise on trail at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Dedicated sunrise enthusiasts awash in the morning glow

The group moved slowly down the trail, stopping frequently to tally up duck species.

Birder man looking through scope and people looking through binoculars at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Whatcha seein’, Peter?

Near the Point Blue building, we spotted the recently reported “Storm Wigeon” – a male American Wigeon with unusually extensive white on its head and neck.

American Wigeon Storm Wigeon variety bright white and green head swimming in pond at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
American “Storm” Wigeon – flashy!

Green-winged Teals puttered by in decent numbers.

Green-winged Teal swimming in pond at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Green-winged Teal

Also abundant were the 1,000+ American Coots. Check out the American Coot’s particularly strange feet below. There’s a method to that weirdness – the structure of the foot makes the coot proficient on both land and water.

American Coot walking showing strange feet at pond edge at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
American Coot

It’s unclear whether more individual birds or individual midges were present. Our money’s on the midges!

Swarm of midges flying at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Swarm of midges
Group of bird survey volunteer birders at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
[L-R] Miles, Craig, Len, Malcolm, Rob, JoAnn, Peter, JJ, Mary, Andy, Gary, Joan (not pictured – Teresa)

A Common Yellowthroat’s song emanating from the reeds imparted the impending arrival of spring.

We love this time of year where the energy of spring is palpable, but we still get to enjoy the presence of overwintering birds in the park – like the Lincoln’s and White-crowned Sparrows.

Lincoln's Sparrow perched in branches at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow juvenile perched on branch at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
White-crowned Sparrow

We’ve heard loads of Song Sparrow songs – but we really think this sassy song takes the cake!

Song Sparrow perched in branches at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Song Sparrow

Marsh Wrens have begun singing around the wetlands as well.

Marsh Wren perched in reeds at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Marsh Wren

We heard a piercing call coming from the tall grass, and soon saw a female Northern Harrier take flight from the ground. According to the “Birds of the World” resource, this descending call serves different functions depending on time of the year. During winter, female harriers use this as an alarm when a predator is close, and during breeding months,  the call is used to solicit copulation or a food transfer from a nearby male.

Did this jackrabbit skedaddle because it heard the Northern Harrier nearby, or was it just having a springtime frolic?

Black-tailed Jackrabbit jumping in brush at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Black-tailed Jackrabbit

As the trail paralleled the Petaluma River, a small flock of Canada Geese landed loudly nearby.

Small flock of Canada Geese landing in river at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Incoming!!
Small flock of Canada Geese swimming in river at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Canada Geese

We rounded the next corner, and a long-awaited sound filled the air – dozens of Tree Swallows swarming several nesting boxes!

Some were already paired up and declaring their favorite box.

Tree Swallow pair perched on top of nest box in front of grass at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
We like what you’ve done with the place, you two!
Western Pond Turtles and Red-eared Sliders lined up on log in pond with reeds at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Western Pond Turtles and Red-eared Sliders

As we wrapped up, this Yellow-rumped Warbler of the Audubon’s variety bid us adieu from a high perch.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) perched at top of tree at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s)

By the end of the morning, the team had tallied 70 species. Later in the day, a team member spotted a Bald Eagle across the central pond, bringing the grand total to 71 for PWA’s February 2020 survey.

If you have any questions about this particular count or if you’re interested in participating in future counts, please contact the coordinator/compiler for these surveys, Len Nelson, at lennelsn@comcast.net.

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