Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center

The photos below are two aerial surveys of the Preserve performed on Oct 29 & Sept 3, 2020. The most striking difference is the loss of greenery in the SW corner of the Preserve. This is totally normal for the season and represents the brief period of green lowland meadows is over. Preserve Staff have also started the annual Fall preparations for rain (more on that in a separate post). These aerial surveys are donated by Sky Ladder Drones. They provide commercial services to the construction and design industries.

Two American Kestrels at the Preserve. The female (top photo) has been around a few weeks and we noticed a male yesterday (10/27). In the past when both decided to stay for the winter, the two divide the Preserve into north/south territories and don't interact very much. Kestrel(s) usually hang around until February. Both photos were taken on Oct 27. #madronamarsh

Just in time for Halloween! The black & orange bird in the photo is a breeding male Northern Red (or Orange) Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus). These birds are originally from Africa north of the equator and the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. A close "cousin" species lives south of the equator - you can probably guess the name. Northern Red/Orange Bishops were imported as pets. Escapees have formed permanent colonies along the coast of Southern California and Houston, Texas. A few are found in Florida too. The color of the breeding males plumage is dependent on their diet. #madronamarsh

This week for "Virtual Friday Fun" we will be learning about Animal Trickery - part two. Halloween is almost here, and I wanted to focus on the "tricks" of 'trick or treat'. Our local wildlife has lots of clever ways to get food, stay safe, and even have others raise their babies. Last week we covered: Camouflage, Bombardier Beetles, Opossums, and a Green Heron using a lure to catch a fish. This week there will be more videos and even more clever tricks. Click on the link bel...ow to register. All registrants with a waiver on file should receive a link to the meeting on Wednesday afternoon. See you Friday, Cindy Reid Https://us02web.zoom.us//tZUvd-msrDIrH9S5pGDTO5Vs3PM0R6_eP #madronamarsh

3-in-1 sparrow photo. (L-R: House-male, White-crowned, House-female). #madronamarsh

Is a couple more hawk photos OK? Red-shouldered and Red-tailed. #madronamarsh

Whoo Hoo! Starting Tuesday, October 20, the Preserve will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 AM to 3 PM. All restrictions will remain as they are now (masks, social distancing, hand sanitizer, no groups or tours, etc). Full details are now available at the Friends of Madrona Marsh website: https://friendsofmadronamarsh.com/news-controlled-access.sh... The Preserve operates under the COVID-19 orders of the LA County Public Health Dept and recommends visitors follow CDC Guidelines. #madronamarsh

Jonathan and co-worker Bekah prepare the soil as part of a restoration project in the Preserve's Coastal Prairie section. When they're done, the area will be seeded with a mix of locally-sourced wildflowers native to our South Bay area. The little flags mark previously transplanted Coastal Poppies, California Aster, and Verbena wildflowers. The photo covers just a small portion of the entire project area (~0.2 acre) so there is much more work to do. The restored area is going to look incredible. Jonathan's project is funded through a grant from the Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society. Bravo! #madronamarsh

The dove-sized American Kestrel is the Preserve's smallest and most colorful raptor. You'll find them around open fields perched in a tree looking for lizards, grasshoppers, tree frogs, etc. If there's no convenient tree, they may hover over a spot waiting for the right time to strike. These fierce birds have no qualms whatsoever going after a much larger hawk they feel has encroached on their territory. #madronamarsh

The Fall 2020 issue of "Marsh Mailing", the newsletter of the Friends of Madrona Marsh, is now available for download from the FOMM website (see link below, PDF format). In this issue: - Marsh Manager Melissa Loebl writes about the large open field in the NE corner of the Preserve in "Our Coastal Prairie". - FOMM President Suzan Hubert discusses the Preserve's natural recycling system in "The Circle of Life is Messy".... - Jeanne Bellemin tells us her story behind "My Tortoise Garage Doors". - Special guest writer Jenny Miller discusses how to get your family unplugged and outdoors in "What Parents Need to Know. . ." - and more https://friendsofmadronamarsh.com/ #madronamarsh See more

Everyone in the lower 48 states of the USA knows what a House sparrow looks like. They live in cities and neighborhood trees. They hop around parks and gardens looking for seeds. During Fall and Winter, Madrona Marsh is home for several other types of sparrows that may not be so familiar to you - White-crowned, Lark, Savannah, Lincoln (not pictured), and a few others. The Song sparrow is a year-round resident that you may never have noticed before. #madronamarsh The Fall 201...8 issue of the Friends of Madrona Marsh newsletter has a very nice article on the White-crowned sparrow (pg 9, PDF format): https://friendsofmadronamarsh.com//fall-2018-marsh-mailer. See more

Red-tailed hawks are pretty easy to recognize - they have red tails and are really big (~4ft wingspan). From far away the red tail is only really obvious when you can see their tails from above. At the marsh, you'll often see them soaring in circles high in the sky or perched high in a tall tree. Crows will often gang up to harass them and try to drive them away. #madronamarsh

Majestic juvenile Cooper's Hawk along the main north/south walking path. Our other commonly-seen raptors are the Red-tailed and Red-shouldered hawks. The beautiful American Kestrel is a reliable Fall and Winter visitor. The Fall 2018 newsletter of the Friends of Madrona Marsh has an awesome description of marsh conditions and wildlife during a typical Fall season (pg 1, PDF format): https://friendsofmadronamarsh.com//fall-2018-marsh-mailer. #madronamarsh