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Bird Watching
around the microclimates of Bethel Island and East Contra Costa County lowlands vary with each season. Ocean tidal waters meet the fresh water of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, attracting a wide variety of birds and wildlife to the many micro-climates along the Pacific Flyway.
Over 300 species of birds are residents or migrate through this part of the Pacific Flyway in the spring and fall or stay during the summer or winter to perform mating rituals, nest, raise young, roost, feed and some appear to have retired here.
Tidal wetlands and Delta island habitats create infinite and changing micro-climates suitable for a wide variety of species. Islands, Rivers and Sloughs are forested with grand native trees - Cottonwood, Poplar, Black Walnut, Oak and Willows. Bushes, berries and smaller fruit trees are everywhere. The tulle fields, vernal ponds, cattle pastures, fields, bogs and of course the levee created farmland are great habitat for the fast disappearing Long-billed Curlews. Sandhill Cranes prefer to feed in harvested corn fields and vineyards that do not have trellises' which prevent great wading birds from landing. In Spring most Pacific Flyway migration is done. Birds have chosen mates and are building nests. The Delta is full of song day and night.
Cornell Lab eNews : State of the Birds United States 2009 look up your State.
Journal
notes April 18, 2009;
Last night there was a Barn Owl hunting around the docks and tulles. The Marsh Wrens were singing as in the day along with Barn Swallows and frogs a symphony of song filled the air. Morning was a din song from the Black Phoebes, House Finches, Robins, Marsh Wrens, Barn Swallows and Cliff Swallows.
Red Wing, Tri & Bi colored and Brewers Blackbirds are still doing mating dances and chattering on deck railings.
Common Moorhens, Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots feed in the same areas with the Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets. Spotted Towhees beautiful song is heard along the scrub willows. A pair of Canadian Geese have made a nest nearby and feed at low tide. Gulls and Terns fly along the sloughs diving for fish.
Mallard Ducks are building nests. Some Mallards don't look like the picture in the Bird ID book. True wild Mallards are a rarity as domestic "pet" ducks people have let loose live in the sloughs mate with wild ducks. Gulls and Terns fly over the sloughs dive for fish.
Barn & Cliff Swallows have build nests and are setting on their eggs. Since they typically have 3 broods you can watch the progress for each. Swallows eat thousands of mosquito's daily, try to find ways to get along with them. (A towel under their perch or nest will reduce cleaning droppings) Notice in October there are more mosquito's, that is because birds have migrated.
Best Birding! Near the Fast Water Bethi
Bird Watching
is a recreational activity also called Birding.
This is a field activity of the science called Ornithology. The art Ornithologists use for documentation is called Scientific Illustration. Photographs, audio tapes and video are also helpful. Digital recordings may not document the entire bird song or movement.
A lifelong learning skill for all ages, Birding is simple to do and easy to get started. Tools and preparation depend on what kind of adventure and documentation you want from your experience. . A trip to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum & Hospital in Walnut Creek, Cosumnus River Preserve Visitor Center or the Brannan Island Visitor Center will provide close viewing of raptors, small birds, reptiles and mammals. There are classes for all ages. The gift shops are a good place to purchase books and educational toys.
Go on a field trip, take a class, attend a birding festival. This web page has links and phone numbers of places you can expand your birding knowledge and buy equipment. Birding Festivals are also a great way to find your tools and go on some field trips.
Do enjoy watching the birds from a discreet distance. Do not tamper with them or their nests. Some birds will get irate and protect their nest. Use common sense and go birding with an experienced birder.
A few Bay-Delta birding events
November Sandhill Crane Festival, Lodi
November 19 - 22, 2009 Central Valley Birding Symposium, Stockton
December Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
January San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival on Mare Island in Vallejo
February The Great Backyard Bird Count
April Berkley Bay Festival, Berkeley Marina
BINOCULARS, BOOKS & CHECKLISTS
A
BIRDERS BASIC TOOL BOX
includes Binoculars, a Bird Identification Book, a
local Checklist and maybe a camera and/or sketchpad. As simple or complicated as
you want it to be, it is your adventure. Mostly, get started with wearing
clothing that will augment your adventure.
Even at home, non-shiny, quiet, muted color clothing helps. On a
trip or long walk, wear sturdy shoes, a hat, insect repellant & sunscreen. Waterproof footwear is best for some places.
Binoculars (8x42), spotting scope and/or zoom lens camera. The photos on this web site were taken with low power camera and film and small digital camera. Waterproof Binoculars are made by most companies
BIRD IDENTIFICATION BOOKS; Many birders mark in their book when and where they first spotted a particular bird.
BIRDING CHECKLISTS can be seasonal, competitive, County, geographic, club, country or continent. County Birding checklists can be obtained from your local Audubon Society and Birding Clubs and their web sites. A personal Life List helps keep track of many details and good locations. A Birding Journal with sketches, photographic and/or video record of sightings all help. Your lists are data collecting that can be used by Ornithologists to better understand wild birds. A Birding Life List is simply a list all the wild birds you see in the wild, including where and when. Birding journals document the birds and landscapes on your trips, which will help you remember the sighting. Cornell Lab has a Citizen Science program where you can send your observations.
"Luck Favors the Well Prepared Birder" Jim Gain
A Beginners Birding
Checklist for Bethel Island, Lowlands & Delta of East Contra Costa County
& Vicinity has
163 native birds of the
American Continent that are residents of or who migrate through this area. The lowlands (about
50' elevation to levee
protected areas below sea level) from Byron north to Brannan
Island State Park and Pittsburg east to the County line are included. The
list is edited down from the 350 or so birds so that beginners can be encouraged
by their progress. The Checklist is available FREE at these locations, you are
encouraged to make copies as needed. These are also great places to buy a Delta
map and start a birding trip;
Data Collection Web Sites, just a few
Bird Links to the World Birding Checklists and links by Continent
All Bird Bulletin joint venture conservation with Mexico.
NationalZooMigratorybird information.
Bird Identification books
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
The Sibley’s Guide to Birds
Bird Clubs, Outfitters, Classes & Field TripsLindsay Wildlife Museum and Hospital 1931FirstAve, Walnut Creek Books, Classes (925)935-1978
Delta Natural History Museum and Association at Brannan Island State Park (916)777-7701
Grizzly Bay Wildlife Area (707)425-3828
Mt Diablo Audubon Society for Contra Costa County field trips (925)254-0486
Central Valley Bird Club Online access to the Central Valley Birding Checklist, Map & more
Cosumnes River Preserve Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center
Wild Birds Unlimited 692 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill (925)798-0303
East Bay Regional Parks Bay Area field trips Mike Moran (925) 757-2620
www.sketchnature.com Bill Pierson, sketching hikes flora and fauna art, Sierra Club hikes
Sandhill Crane Tours Dept of Fish & Game, Bruce Forman, Interpretive Services (916) 358-2869
Delta Map Delta Chamber of Commerce map by Hal Schell shows sloughs, roads and pit stops.
BIRDING ACTIVITIES
BACKYARD BIRDING is a great place to get familiar with using your books, binoculars, checklist and journal. Landscaping your yard with native plants will create habitat for native birds and will increase your chances of sightings at home. Bird feeders also attracts wild birds to your yard. Information and assistance is available from Wild Birds Unlimited, Stokes, and "The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds web site"
FIELD TRIPS with an experienced guide can help you find the birds without mishap and improve your identification skills. Tools for planning a Delta birding trip include; tide tables, weather and a map that shows waterways and places with a restroom. Weather in the Delta can change from sunny to foggy, fair to drizzling or windy and rainy, prepare for all possibilities. Summer has the fire hazard of dry brush. Peat "dirt" is vegetable matter and flammable any time of year. It can also become very soft if wet. Take no chances if you are walking in it. Check the weather forecast and tide chart for your birding trip location.
Weather, Tides & Charts;Tide Log & E-Z Delta Tide Tables have corrections for the Delta.
Weather Link N.O.A.A. look for Venice Island
Chart of Bethel Island Hal Schell's Delta Map , other maps and charts can be purchased at many Chandleries, Parks, Marina stores & Restaurants. Delta Chamber of Commerce
Weather and Birding page from Mt Diablo Audubon Society Many birding links but not much specific weather or tides for the Delta.
BIRDING and BOATING tips and links;
WEAR your LIFE JACKET A PFD will not do you any good unless you snap it on! If you're looking at the PFD or sitting on it, you are probably not wearing it!
File a float plan, make sure someone has your plan and return time.
Take a delta chart and road map with you. Delta Chamber of Commerce has Hal Schell's Delta map and a new one.
Check out the weather and tides while planning your trip and before you leave.
Stop the boat before you look through the binoculars, or have someone else steer the boat. This will prevent seasickness and running into something.
Take a Boating Safety Course;
Kayaking and Canoeing is a great way to watch wildlife.
Learn safety measures, do not assume you can swim out of a problem in Delta waters.
Other things to know about 
West Nile Virus is here.
Study up. Remember, you cannot catch the virus from birds directly. Birds and other animals carry it and eat thousands of mosquitoes daily which is beneficial to keep the insect population down. Wear insect repellant and check the web site www.westnile.ca.gov or call (877)WNV-BIRD for more information. Always use gloves if you must touch a bird.
Click on this AVIAN FLU for a Bird Banders fact sheet article January 2006 Information is also available at the Audubon web site.
You can help by calling the closest wildlife hospital that is open or Dept of Fish & Game (888)DFG-CalTIP and follow instructions.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum & Hospital (925)935-1978 Walnut Creek http://www.wildlife-museum.org
Wildlife Rehab Center (707)429-4295 Suisun Bay & Grizzly Bay
Contra Costa County Vector Control
DID YOU Know it is illegal, by federal regulation, to tamper with or destroy the nests of native birds?
It is also either illegal and/or not recommended you move or transport an injured animal or bird unless instructed.
My hope of this
web site is to help you get started with birding in the Delta safely and easily.
If you have a photo of a wild bird you want help to identify, E-Mail or snail mail to: Bethi Carver P.O. Box 2022, Bethel Island, CA 94511.
Best Birding! Near The Fast Water
Bethi
Some photos are by Ron Jorgenson. Contact Ron by clicking on his name. All other photos and artwork, text, titles and images belong to and are the property of the artist, Bethi Carver . No reproductions, copies or using in any internet or other media of any kind is allowed without the express written permission of the artist, Bethi Carver or photographer Ron Jorgenson. If you find any problems or missing info on this web site please contact webmaster. Thank you very much. © 2009 Bethi Carver. All rights reserved. 2009 Webmaster
