The southern section of Point Reyes National Seashore, on the outskirts of Bolinas, offers a spot to see some charismatic birds up close. Lishka Arata, communications coordinator for Point Blue Conservation Science, says that if she had to pick a favorite bird at Point Blue’s Palomarin Bird Station, it would be the wrentit. The tiny Palomarin interpretive center has been banding birds and recording patterns in migration and other habits since 1966. Just off the main road, it’s surrounded by trees and coastal scrub that protect it from the dramatic wind and waves of the Pacific. On a recent weekday morning visit, some taxidermied species, also known as “study skins,” were out on display along with nests, skulls and other bird information to orient visitors to the avian world. Male birds have songs to establish territory and attract mates. A call is simpler — it’s both male and female, and more about communicating to build nests, feed their young and warn for predators. Back at the field station, researchers determine the bird’s age by the shape of its skull and wing pattern; sex and wing length and weight are also recorded. Point Reyes National Seashore is an annual destination for many migratory species, but is also a safe landing for those birds who got blown off track by wind or fog, or just took a wrong turn and ended up here instead of say, across the Pacific or New Jersey. Point Blue is partnering with farmers and ranchers to ensure that there are stops along their migratory paths for food and rest, particularly wetlands, that are critical to their survival. The organization also added penguins in Antarctica to the research and conservation efforts. Birds are considered indicators of a healthy ecosystem, and Point Blue is increasingly focusing its research on growing concerns around climate change.
Comment on A science stopover for migrating birds
By Maria Finn, San Francisco Chronicle: Travel
Wed, 05/24/2017 - 10:05am
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