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Happy 2019! Let's Make it a Great Year for Wildlife and the Environment

1/4/2019

The FORB tradition of meeting at Sutter's Landing Park early on New Year's Day continued with nearly 40 happy nature lovers. We've been doing this for years now and gathered once again around hot chocolate, coffee and oatmeal cookies. Those present made new friends and greeted old ones in the New Year before heading down to the American River for a stroll along the shoreline. For over a dozen years, FORB has kicked the New Year off this way. We always have a good time including a few surprises. This year was no exception as an adult Bald Eagle flew directly overhead while the group chatted happily while below. We almost managed to miss this rare event but many folks did get a good look. Buffleheads, Mallards, Goldeneyes, Gulls, Crows, Cormorants, Red-shouldered hawks and more species watched as the happy group reconnected with the river that flows through our neighborhood and city. For a list of birds the group sighted eBird List Sutter's Landing Park 1/1/19. Hopefully we'll add more photos taken during the event soon.

The kids marveled over tiny rodent bones in an owl pellet they found and a soggy dead tree squirrel that provided an unsolved mystery too. How lucky can we get! Be sure to put this event on your calendar for next year. We'll head back to the river many times again this year and then start the cycle all over again in 2020.

eBird List of species observed (Thanks JoEllen!)

Our happy FORB group gathered around the Sutter's Landing Park gateway to the American River Parkway (photo by JoEllen's Apple Watch)

A coy killdeer

Golden-crowned sparrow playing hide and seek

Non-native eastern gray squirrel making itself at home

We didn't see a White-shouldered kite but they are commonly seen here

Not the bald eagle we saw on New Year’s Day but many thanks to Kathy Kayner for this beauty!

Be sure to visit Sutter's Landing Park often and relax taking time to experience it all again (photo by Lori Ward earlier last month)

Enjoying a few perching birds and other things while out walking by Dale

12/30/2018

Sunday afternoon was a good time for a walk and many people had the same idea as 2018 was coming to an end. I snapped a few photos, mostly of perching birds, along the way as I walked up river and back. There were many other things to see and do too. Consider forwarding your photos and notes when you next head out to Sutter's Landing Park. Happy New Year too!

Meadowlark preening on a wire

Paper wasp nest in an unusual space

Red-shouldered hawk looking for its next meal

Always lots of Mourning doves

First winter White-crowned sparrow

Fuzzy photo of an adult White-crowned sparrow

Shy Sharp-shinned hawk

A noisy group of Yellow-billed magpies in the mistletoe

One of 7 different bike riders illegally riding in wildlife habitat and erodible soils. This rider was exercising his off-leash dog on the footpath too. Document & send 311 report to rangers.

Closer look at that yellow bill

One of a pair of Killdeer on the mound

P perched White-tailed kite watching another kite forage

The other White-tailed kite foraging near the entrance to McKinley Village

A Coyote Sunset at Sutter's Landing Park! by Dale

12/27/2018

Winter has arrived, sort of. These days it's not uncommon to see many people and pets all out enjoying Sutter's Landing Park at any time but especially as the sun goes down. Yesterday was no exception and there is always much to see and do, or not. Meanwhile, up on the mound, we were all being watched, or maybe coyotes appreciate a good sunset too...

Coyote Sunset!

A closer look at a Sutter's Landing Park "neighbor" in plain sight but missed by most who visit.

Sunset over Sacramento looking across the "Triangle" mitigation site and former landfill mound.

FORB and Friends Welcome the Salmon Back Again by Robert

10/27/2018

It was a beautiful day for all who gathered at Sutters Landing Park, the "Gateway to the American River Parkway", for our annual, Friends of the River Banks “Welcome Back the Salmon Event!”

We had fun, learned many new things, renewed old friendships and made new ones.

We are fortunate to have such magnificent animals, who are so vital to natures food chain, return from the open sea and pass through our capital city to spawn and bring in the next generations!

Betsy from Save the American River Association (SARA) brought those cool “fish fans" and as always, delicious cookies.

We were happy to see our friendly and effective County Park Rangers on the scene early, they were and are a welcomed and reassuring sight. They certainly enjoyed the activities and having a sweet tooth too.

Our most interesting and dependable presenter Laura Drath from California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Nimbus Fish Hatchery was back with her table of hands-on wildlife exhibits and information and “gyotaku of Japanese Fish Painting” art. Originally real fish were used but these days, fake ones do the job. Colorful salmon art is certainly on display on home refrigerators now.

Bruce Forman, also with California Department of Fish and Wildlife joined us for the first time. As you can see he brought his menagerie of animals with him to help quiz everyone and share stories. By the time he finished we had all participated in the salmon’s life cycle game! Just one of his many interactive and educational games, Thanks Bruce!

Thanks to Betsy and another SARA volunteer, Kathy, and Lyvonne for providing great support during this event too!

"Long Live the Salmon"!

Bruce is a natural story teller. Photo by Kathy Kayner

Young salmon students. Photo by Kathy Kayner

Laura Drath always brings lots of salmon wisdom. Photo by Kathy Kayner

Creative scene at Laura's table of facts and fun from a previous year.

Photo by Kathy Kayner

3 Cormorants watching human play "salmon" life cycle game. Photo by Dale

Canada geese were doing their thing on the river too. Photo by Kathy Kayner

Searching for salmon in all the right places. Photo by Kathy Kayner

No sea lions were seen this year searching for salmon but we have often watched them during our salmon events

Another fine day on the river at Sutter's Landing Park in the American River Parkway. Photo by Kathy Kayner

Our September 2nd Saturday FORB Nature Walk was quite special. by Robert

9/13/2018

Our September FORB's monthly 2nd Saturday Nature Walk was quite special and memorable because naturalist Greg Kareofelas was back to lead our annual "Dragonfly & Damselfly" event again at Sutter’s Landing Park. When Greg and these unique animals come together, there are always amazing new things to learn and discover!
As seen in the excellent images by Kathy Kayner, Greg showed us most of the species found in California on this chart. He also recommends the book "Dragonflies and Damselflies of California" by local well-known biologist Tim Manolis.
Greg caught a few specimens the day before to be released at our event. It was an exciting moment when he delicately removed one at a time from their cage, so each of us could get a very up close look at them, then he let a youngster carefully hold and release each one! Two of them took to the sky but the last one headed to the river!
Our county park rangers came by in support of the event and as you can see, one of them was as excited to see these creatures as were the rest of us. All who wanted to use our insect nets took one and we headed down to the river.
On the beach, we learned that when dragonflies and damselflies emerge from the water, they are most vulnerable to predation and disturbance by humans and dogs because their bodies are soft and they can’t yet fly. (This disturbance and damage has been seen at previous FORB dragonfly events and other times). Even after their wings are strong enough for first flights, they need to find shelter in nearby woods until their wings have hardened and they have enough strength to hunt.
These animals are among the more ancient creatures still thriving on planet earth. They must be doing something right!
Enjoy them where and whenever you are fortunate to see them! Many kudus and thanks to Greg for coming out to SLP today to lead this awesome event! We always learn something new every year!

A "neighbor" watched all the dragonfly activity from the distance. (photo by JoEllen)

2nd Saturday FORB Event (Useful Plant Walk) by Kathy

8/14/2018

Blue Elderberry tree. Some tribes used the wood for making bows, pipes, fire drills as well as a few musical instruments. The plant was used as a fever deterrent and a blood purifier. (I hear it makes some very fine wine as well. □)

We had a fascinating and very educational FORB event today at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park this morning. Our friend, Brian Collett, took about a dozen or so guests on an adventure near the banks of the American River showing us native and non native trees, shrubs and other plants that most of us do not pay much attention to when we walk down to the river. I can assure you after this event, everyone that attended will be paying attention to what we learned about today and sharing it with their friends and families.

Brian mentioned a very interesting fact before we began our walk. He said even though it is still the Summer season, the trees and plants are now at the beginning stages of the Fall season. This is evidenced by noticing some of the leaves turning and falling. The biggest growth and development began much earlier in the Summer.

Thank you so much Brian for taking the time to put this event together. Your knowledge of all the trees, shrubs, vines etc is endless and so very valuable.

We all appreciated Brian not only describing the different plants, shrubs and trees to us, but he also connected them to how these items were used, cultivated and treasured by our Native American tribes. Here are some examples:

Manzanita Shrub produces edible fruit/berries consumed by coastal and foothill Native groups. The wood is used for tools and fire wood which produces low smoke and high temperature fires

Curly Dock. This plant starts out as a green leafy growth which is used as a vegetable and medicinally for skin and internal ailments. It is also high in Vitamin C content. Its flowers and seeds are usually very small, growing in yellowish green to green to purplish plume-like clusters at the top of the plant.

Fennel/Anise is an introduced species accompanying the introduction of cattle in California. The entire plant and roots can be eaten without any ill effects.

Wild Rose, a deciduous shrub, produces edible fruit that can be harvested in the fall when sugar content is highest. The fruit was also used as adornment such as necklaces and earrings. The rose petals were dried, ground to a powder and used for skin rashes on babies.

Chicory is an herb used as a savory green to enhance salads. The roots can be baked or roasted and the plant can be substituted for oats as horse feed. It is also a delicious substitute for coffee.

Wild Grape can be seen all over the Parkway this time of year climbing up on trees. The berries were harvested for food. Some Native tribes used the vine as twine and as a support for foot drums. Other tribes used the vine stems for basketry.

Our walk ended with a stop at the Poison Oak shrub. (we made sure to keep our distance) Some Native tribes used it to remove warts and skin growths. Others used it as an antidote for rattlesnake bites and in charcoal form for tattoos.

This was one of the best walks we had at SLP. Brian is an absolute wealth of knowledge and he thoroughly prepared for this well in advance.

7-14-18 FORB Bug Event! by Kathy

7/24/2018

Today at Sutter’s Landing Park, our very own Entomologist, Nita Davidson, gave us a “Bugs Eye View” into the world of insects that live, fly and breed at our own Regional Park and along the American River.

We learned about true bugs Stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and bed bugs are true bugs (Suborder Heteroptera) and have mouth parts that are modified for piercing and sucking.

The highlight as always is passing out nets to the children so they could catch and release whatever insects they could find. On one small sandbar willow bush right near the river, one of the children found hundreds of beautiful blue willow leaf beetles (Plagiodera sp., Family Chrysomelidae) It was a source of fascination for all in attendance as most of us had never seen these beetles before. We also learned that caterpillars of Western tiger swallowtail butterflies life cycle actually begins in the cottonwood and sycamore trees at Sutter's Landing Park and thrive on sycamore and ash trees throughout the older parts of Sacramento.

Nita, thank you for taking the time to share your vast knowledge of the insect world. I am sure you have inspired a few kids to become fascinated with the insects that inhabit our amazing Park!

A father and his sons were intrigued to find that some lady beetles are black or gray

They also netted a large group of blue willow leaf beetles from sandbar willow

Close-up of blue willow leaf beetles

Here are a few of the other insects that were seen at the Park today. Thanks to Kathy for this summary and Nita for leading this great FORB outing and sharing her insect knowledge with all who attended!

cabbage butterfly (on yellow star thistle--ouch!)

Grasshopper

Dragonfly

Bat Event Report

5/24/2018

JoEllen shared stories and photos of several fascinating species of bats. Photo by Kathy Kayner

JoEllen Arnold led another batty gathering on May 12. After an informal presentation about bats in the Sutter’s Landing parking lot & new gateway to the Parkway, we went down to the river to meet the bat ambassadors she brought and listen for bats with fancy echolocating equipment. The high point of the evening was when JoEllen released a recovered Mexican free-tailed bat to the wild. Thank you, JoEllen!!!

Photo by Kathy Kayner

Making good use of the new Sutter's Landing Park gateway to the American River Parkway at the start of the event. Photo by Dale

This little guy was not happy to be shown off—we could hear his objections through the echolocating device. Photo by Laurie

Hanging out on the beach to learn about our local bats. Photo by Laurie

Another great FORB event enjoyed by all! Photo by Dale

2018 FORB Welcome Back Swainson's Hawks Event by Kathy

4/18/2018

Approximately 30 people enjoyed the presentation and came away with a better understanding of our local Swainson's hawks

Another excellent and well attended event enjoyed by all who were able to be there. That included at least one pair of wild Swainson's hawks soaring overhead while we learned about these great raptors from our friends and the UC Davis Raptor Center again this year. A northern harrier, one or more Red-tailed hawks, Turkey vultures and other wild neighbors were also in the area.

Thank you to the UC Davis Raptor Center and Julie Cotton, Diana Munoz, and Joleen Maiden for coming to Sutter’s Landing and bringing Whistler and Grasshopper. We all enjoyed your most informative presentation about Raptors and how Whistler and Grasshopper came to be wonderful ambassadors from the Raptor Center.

You can see Grasshopper’s cataract that prevents him from being released

Grasshopper enjoyed being in the sun after the presentation

Whistler’s gaze

Whistler was getting hungry and had just poked at Joleen’s glove for food.

Thank you Diana and Grasshopper, Julie, and Joleen and Whistler!

It was a real treat to see Swainson’s Hawks flying above us during the presentation again too!

My first sighting of Swainsons Hawks at Sutters Landing Park this year, April 3, 2018 by Robert

4/9/2018

Spring has returned to the Sacramento Valley and that means Swainson's hawks are returning from their long migration south to find mates and nests for another season. FORB will welcome them back again this year on April 14th with what promises to be another great event you won't want to miss. Meanwhile, here are some sneak previews.

Best Wishes!

Robert

This hawk was perched when I first saw her. This tree is on the North bank and just to the right of a tall power line tower

He soon flew in and it looks like they are preparing to start a family

If they are successful this will be the first time Swainsons have nested in this location since 2014, when the Great Horned Owls took over their old nest