It’s humorous the lengths that a few of us select to go to see birds. You will have heard tales of “large yr birders” or “large listers” flying throughout the nation when a rarity exhibits up that they nonetheless want for no matter present checklist they’re retaining. I all the time mirror on my luck when a Collared Plover confirmed up simply earlier than midday at a playa, which was a half-hour drive from my work in Mission, Texas. We patiently waited for the clock to tick in the direction of 5:00 pm so we might go seek for it. By the point we arrived so as to add it to our checklist, a birder had already flown in from Michigan to see it. That have opened my eyes to itemizing and listers and the aggressive facet of this passion.
And though I’ve neither the time nor curiosity for embarking on a correct Massive 12 months, the actual fact is I can not assist however care about a few of my birding lists. So, when the prospect arises to seek for a brand new fowl – I take it. A current alternative to go on a repositioning cruise with Princess Cruise Traces out of Los Angeles as they transition the ship from the winter Mexico cruises to summer season Alaska cruises gave us an opportunity to hunt out a species that’s extremely remoted however must be straightforward sufficient to see and could possibly be one of many rarest birds in the USA: Island Scrub-Jay.
Island Packers Cruises gives each day journeys to Santa Cruz Island from Ventura, which is simply north of LA. We weren’t fairly certain what to anticipate from this present day journey apart from that we had 5 hours to fill as soon as on the island and restricted entry to important sources. We packed our luggage with water and granola bars, headed to the marina, and hoped to see our goal fowl. Upon arriving on the marina, we checked in with the workers and looked for espresso. Harbor Cove Café, a cool Hawaiian-vibed spot, was simply in the direction of the tip of the harbor, and the espresso and muffins hit the spot. A prolonged line to board the 65’ vessel had shaped on the vendor’s headquarters. As soon as on the boat, we shortly discovered a spot on the bow to benefit from doable fowl sightings whereas in transit.
At about 10:30 am, we disembarked the Island Journey and set foot on Santa Cruz Island, an island inside the Channel Islands Nationwide Park. The 1½-hour trip over to the island was uneven, which the thirty or so youngsters aboard appeared to get pleasure from. They tried to time their jumps with the waves in order that they may get some air – the boat’s crew weren’t enthused. It was enjoyable to look at these children benefit from the nice open air, a few of whom had by no means appeared to ever be aboard a ship earlier than and had been understandably apprehensive. All of us ooh and ahh over the frequent dolphins that rode on the boat’s bow. Teams of dolphins sought out the incoming vessel to affix within the enjoyable and would dive beneath us.
Upon arrival on the island, we attended a required briefing by a naturalist with particulars concerning waste, bogs, mountain climbing, and getting again to the mainland. After listening in, we collected ourselves earlier than looking for our fowl. Then, it appeared proper subsequent to the desk we had been sitting at. The Island Scrub-Jay was only a few toes away.
I like planning my birding tour to know what to anticipate. Taking a look at eBird, I couldn’t get a transparent image of how simply accessible and constant the Scrub-Jays can be. The reportings are sporadic and unfold out over the entire island. It’s straightforward to suppose that the island must be comparatively straightforward to discover in a single day; nonetheless, it spans over ninety-six sq. miles. Island Packers can drop you off at both Scorpion Cove or Prisoners Harbor; it appeared like the previous can be our greatest wager.
There are a handful of hikes from Scorpion Cove, some extra strenuous than others. Based mostly on eBird experiences, we had mentally ready for the Higher Scorpion Canyon hike. And now that we noticed the Scrub-Jay right away, we had been at a little bit of a loss for tips on how to spend the remainder of the day. Fortuitously for us, the naturalist who gave us the briefing had a scheduled hike that we determined to affix on the Cavern Level path. The hike took us by means of the campground and up a grassy hill to the northern facet of the island, overlooking mainland California the place tagged Frequent Ravens soared on the winds.
The island has been occupied for over 10,000 years, with the Chumash as early residents. They relied on marine harvest and commerce with the mainland. Most just lately, earlier than the island got here to be managed by the Nationwide Park Service and The Nature Conservancy, ranching and agriculture had been the first makes use of of the island. The grassy hills would have been stuffed with cattle, sheep, and horses earlier than being eliminated in 1999, and the pigs had been eradicated in 2006.
Apart from its fascinating historical past, Santa Cruz Island is notable for it’s island endemics. Apart from the Island Scrub-Jay – which our information claimed appears identical to the Scrub-Jays in his yard – there may be additionally the Santa Cruz Island Fox. Each species are certainly one thing to behold, not only a tick in your checklist. Though intently associated to the California Scrub-Jay, which it diverged from over 150,000 years in the past, it’s bigger and is visibly extra brightly coloured. Scientists speculate that this species arrived at Santa Cruz Island resulting from a storm, floated in on driftwood, or probably throughout a interval of glaciation when the ocean channel was not as vast. The Island Fox is noticeably smaller than the mainland species, which put it in danger from the burgeoning Golden Eagle inhabitants that naturally colonized the island once we confronted a DDT-induced decline of Bald Eagles – every part is linked.
Our information completed the hike once we reached Cavern Level, a scenic vista on the north facet of the island overlooking plunging cliffs into the Pacific and Brown Pelicans fishing means under. It was as much as us to proceed the loop that led again to the place to begin and extra alternatives to expertise time with our island endemics. We wandered again right down to the campground the place the Island Fox could be simply considered beneath a grove of non-native Eucalyptus timber and some extra Scrub-Jays looking for no matter campers might need unnoticed.
We had a number of hours left earlier than our journey again to the mainland, which gave us ample time to get pleasure from watching the jays on the Scorpion Ranch and see a really daring fox exploring the campground. Just a few extra ravens handed overhead and a shocking Home Finch sunned itself on the rocks.
Our boat trip again was very eventful, with spouting whales, gliding shearwaters, and an overheard dialog from American overlanders. The scholar group that rode out with us should have been worn out as they slept a lot of the way in which again. However I used to be all abuzz as we discovered what we had been looking for, and it was not even that tough.
I hear criticisms of listers that they aren’t having fun with the expertise or appreciating the birds. And I’ll admit that, at occasions, I could be bird-bird-bird. However it is very important take journeys like this to actually get pleasure from an vital place’s panorama, historical past, and wildlife. In relation to going to nice lengths to see birds and chasing rarities, it’s good to know that for now, Island Scrub-Jay is a lock in case you are in the appropriate place.
Take a look at this Hannah and Erik Go Birding podcast episode for extra: https://www.buzzsprout.com/187049/episodes/15160425-santa-cruz-island-island-scrub-jays
