Gabe’s eaGle
project
Population check of the
Yellow-billed Magpie
In the Red Bluff Discovery Center
and monitoring of birds of prey
Who is the Yellow-billed Magpie?
This bird has its
namesake yellow bill
and bare yellow area
of skin behind eye.
Large white wing
patches and long,
wedge-shaped,
iridescent greenishblack tail.
Not your average magpie
• Yellow-billed is a different species from the
more common black billed magpie.
Yellow-billed
Magpie
Black-billed
Magpie
Endemic Species
• The Yellow-billed Magpie is found only in
central/northern California.
• Everywhere else you will find Black-billed
Magpies.
Why do we have a problem now?
The main issue today is that in 2004 a huge West
Nile Virus outbreak occurred.
Taking out about 50% of the population.
Before 2004
After 2004
Magpies are very susceptible to
West Nile Virus
• Magpies build nests
close to water where
there are more
mosquitoes
• 25% of scrub jays can
survive West Nile
Virus, only 5% of
Magpies do
The Big Idea
• counting the Yellow-billed Magpie nests and
the nests of other birds of prey in the 488 acre
area of the Red Bluff Discovery Center
• Monitor those nests for 2-3 consecutive years
• The larger scope of this project is to get scouts
and other members of our community
involved in the local wildlife of our area.
Endemic means local
This is OUR bird!
• We need to be
proud of it.
• We need to
protect it
• A young person that participates in this
project will develop a relationship with our
area’s wildlife.
• This relationship causes a long lasting effect
for this person will grow to value and protect
our land’s environmental resources.
WHY DO WE NEED TO DO
THIS?
Unless somebody like you care a whole awful
lot, it will not get better, it will not.
-Dr. Seuss
The Lorax
Summary
This project is to monitor the Yellow-billed Magpie population.
The Yellow-billed Magpie population has found itself at risk in recent years due to the
occurrence in 2004 of
West Nile Virus
I am monitoring the active nests and counting the occupants for two [2] consecutive years.
And since I’m there anyway…
...other birds being monitored
•
•
•
•
•
Cooper’s Hawk
American Kestrel
Osprey
Red Tailed Hawk and Red Shoulder Hawk
Great-Horned Owl
Accipiter
• Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
• Dark-brown to slate-gray back, with a darker
gray to black crown that contrasts with the
lighter nape. Finely barred underparts.
Undertail coverts pure white. Iris color varies
from deep reddish- orange to red. Legs and
cere yellow.
• So far I have seen none.
Falcons
American Kestral
(Falco sparverius)
• Smallest falcon in North America, roughly
the size and shape of a Mourning Dove,
(larger head).
• In flight, the wings are often bent and the
wingtips swept back.
• pale when seen from below and warm,
rusty brown spotted with black above, with
a black band near the tip of the tail.
• May have found 1 nest. Still uncertain.
Pandions
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
• The upperparts are a deep, glossy brown, while the breast
and underparts are pure white.
• The head is white with a dark mask
across the eyes. The bill is black, with
a blue cere,
• The feet are white with black talons.
• A short tail and long, narrow
wings with four long finger-like feathers
give it a very
distinctive appearance.
• So far I have recorded no nests
Buteos
Red Tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)
• Red-tailed Hawks are large
hawks very broad, rounded wings
and a short, wide tail.
• Large females seen from a distance might fool you into
thinking you’re seeing an eagle. (Until an actual eagle
comes along)
• Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale
below, with a streaked belly and, on the wing underside, a
dark bar between shoulder and wrist.
• The tail is usually pale below and cinnamon-red above
Buteos
Red Shoulder Hawk
(Buteo lineatus)
• The Red Shouldered
Hawk is Medium-sized
to large hawk.
• Wings and tail striped
black and white.
• Underparts barred
reddish.
• Pale crescent near
wingtips in flight
Please check out:
Redbluffmagpie.com
Gabe Sartori