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Killdeer Shorebirds Killdeer Charadrius vociferus All Year Shorebirds Daniel Fitzgerald Frequents a wide diversity of open habitats; usually, but not always, near water. Reddish-orange rump and the presence of two breast bands separate the species from all other “plovers”. Call, ‘kill-deer’ is also easily recognized. Nests on the ground, often amidst small- or medium-sized pebbles or rocks; nest is a simple scrape or depression. Diet includes terrestrial invertebrates; less frequently, also ingests small vertebrates and seeds.

Bushtit Swallows and Larks Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus All Year Swallows and Larks Daniel Fitzgerald Frequents scrub-oak and pine-oak woodlands; also found in chaparral and wooded areas. These tiny, short-billed, grayish birds and identified by the lack of yellow in the face, their energetic behavior, and the sharp twittering 'tsit' calls that they give. Seeing one is never enough: these birds tend to travel in flocks! Nests in trees or shrubs, where its pendulous gourd-shaped nest structure is built from twigs, mosses, lichens, and other plant matter. Eats mostly small insects and spiders.

Whites, Sulfurs Cabbage White Pieris rapae Checkered White Pontia protodice Large Marble Euchloe ausonides Margined White Pieris marginalis Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara

Wildflower Mount Diablo Wiry Snapdragon Scientific Name: Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatum Family: Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) Blooms: Jun - Sep Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Barn Swallow Swallows and Larks Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Summer Swallows and Larks Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Often found in open areas, usually near water. Deeply forked tail, reddish orange throat, and buffy orange underparts separate this swallow from all others in our area. Breeds in colonies, but may sometimes be a solitary nester. Nests in a wide variety of situations, most commonly on sides of buildings or under bridges. Nest is a cup-shaped structure constructed of mud and grasses. Eats insects caught in flight.

Peregrine Falcons of the Diablo Region Peregrine falcons live year-round in the Mount Diablo region. Most active during the annual nesting season (February through July), these apex predators can often be spotted in Pine Canyon , where they have nested for millennia. Photos by Wally De Young The nestin g are as in Pine Canyon and Knobcone Point are closed to visitors from February 1st through July 31st every year to protect the birds. View Closure Notice Las áreas de anidación en Pine Canyon y Knobcone Point están cerradas a los visitantes desde el 1 de febrero hasta el 31 de julio todos los años para proteger a las aves. About the Peregrines On the Brink of Extinction Recovery Efforts Today's Threats to Falcons About the Peregrines P eregrine falcons are the fastest animals on earth and can dive at speeds over 200 mph while hunting small to medium-sized birds in mid-air. Because their survival depends on this speed, even a small injury can be deadly. Only 20% of peregrines make it through the first year of life. On the Brink of Extinction Af ter World War II, extensive use of DDT devastated several bird species, peregrines among them. It interfered with calcium production, so the eggs could not withstand even the weight of an incubating parent. They cracked or collapsed, and the embryos died. As a result, by the early 1950s, peregrines had disappeared from Mount Diablo. By 1970, only two nesting pairs could be found in all of California. By 1975, peregrine numbers had dropped 80-90% in the western states and were extinct east of the Mississippi River. Recovery Efforts DDT was finally banned in 1972. Conservation groups, businesses, biologists, and dedicated volunteers came together locally and nationally to launch recovery projects, which were successful beyond all expectations. Peregrine falcons can now be found in almost all their old haunts, including Pine Canyon, where MDIA members helped the multi-year effort to recover the species. Today there are about 400 nesting pairs in California and 4,000 nationally, about the numbers before DDT. Two pairs live in the wilds of Mount Diablo itself, both monitored by MDIA's P-Team. Today's Threats to Falcons In 1999, peregrine populations had recovered enough to be removed from the Endangered Species List. Although the threat of DDT has waned, the steep increase in visitors to our parks poses another threat to the birds. Peregrines and humans both like cliffs; however, peregrines are highly territorial during their nesting season, and if disturbed, may become too distracted to pay attention to their eggs and young. In response, Mount Diablo State Park closes the Pine Canyon cliffs and Knobcone Point area annually during the nesting season, from February 1st through July 31st. Consequently, the P-Team monitors the area intensively during this six-month season. Team Training Day - by Dereck Love About the Peregrine Team MDIA's Peregrine Team, a natural history education group, was formed in 2015 to assist park rangers during the nesting closure season. P-Team volunteers tell visitors about the peregrines, their habitat, and the importance of respecting the closure zone. P-Teamers also monitor the status of the falcons throughout the nesting season. Its members hail from a wide variety of backgrounds and include birders, hikers, runners, bikers, and equestrians, all of them nature lovers dedicated to preserving the area for future generations of people, peregrines, and the land we all depend upon. For more information, contact: peregrine.team@mdia.org Photo by Dereck Love Quick Links FA Q's Peregrin e Nesting Timeline The Near-Extinction of Peregrine Falcons Halcones peregrinos de Pine Canyon Diablo Foothills Regional Park Get in touch with us First name Last name Email Phone Message Submit More about Peregrine Falcons MDIA Bird Guide-Peregrine Falcon Protecting Mount Diablo's Peregrines (SMD) Audubon Field Guide-Peregrine Falcon Return of the Pine Can yon Peregrine (YouTube) Wild Mount Diablo Peregrine Falcons 2022 (YouTube) More Resources Wildlife Photography Guidelines eBird: Find, Share and Track Bird Sightings The Peregrine Fu nd: Raptor Conservation Peregrines of the Diablo Region (Brochure-pdf)

Foothill Carpenter Bee Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex Apidae Xylocopa Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Description Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex is the smallest of local carpenter bees - about 12-18 mm. Females are mostly metallic black, with smoky-colored wings. Male Foothill Carpenter Bees are smaller and have a yellow/tannish lower face and tan/yellow hairs on top of the thorax. Nectar/ Pollen Plants The Foothill Carpenter Bee is a generalist, visiting many different flowers. They are known as nectar robbers, as they will slit the base of a flower to obtain nectar. Habits Females dig out nests in untreated wood, such as fence posts or wood pillars, or in larger plant stems. Each tunnel can have multiple nest cells. Season Later March - June

Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus estesi Lycaenidae Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Flies January to November Host Plant Mistletoe Nectar Plant Toyon Kevin Hinsta Underwing

Western Tanager Tanagers Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana Summer Tanagers Daniel Fitzgerald Found in open coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous woodlands. Breeding male is unmistakeable; note dull olive back and yellowish underparts on female. Both sexes have white and yellow wing bars. Compare these birds (especially females) to Bullock's Oriole . Tanagers build their cup-shaped nest in trees, using twigs, small roots, grass, and moss. Feeds mostly on insects but also eats fruits.

California Thrasher Thrushes and Thrashers California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum All Year Thrushes and Thrashers Daniel Fitzgerald Found in chaparral and riparian woodland, usually with extensive dense understory shrubs. Bill is noticeably decurved. Note dark, brownish-gray upperparts; somewhat paler below. Whitish throat, dark moustache, and dark eye are diagnostic. Can be heard singing at almost any time of year. Cup-shaped, twig nest is placed in shrubs or trees. This species feeds on insects, fruits, and berries.

FAQs About Peregrines Here are some frequently asked questions about the Peregrine Falcons of the Diablo Region. If you can't find your answers here, feel free to contact us. Back to the Peregrine Team Page Mail 1 Are peregrines really the fastest animals on earth? Yes, peregrine falcons are able to vertically dive or "stoop" at up to 200 mph, but only while hunting. However, a peregrine will always be faster when compared with other birds. In non-hunting mode, a peregrine flies at 25 to 34 mph. And when both peregrine and prey are near the ground, the falcon's direct pursuit reaches speeds around 70 mph. It is when the peregrine flies high and spots a meal down low that it can shift to its electrifying vertical speeds. 2 What happens if someone trespasses a closure zone during nesting season? Trespassers can be warned, cited, and/or criminally prosecuted for entering a closure zone during nesting season. MDSP Posted Order No. 011-21-680-203, effective July 1, 2021, closes two rock formation areas in MDSP to “all pedestrian, equine, bicycle, or any other mode of public transportation or public usage, annually from February 1, through July 31.” To view the closure notice, go to: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517 3 How long have peregrine falcons nested in Mount Diablo State Park? Mount Diablo is an ancestral home of peregrines. Peregrine falcons belong here on Mount Diablo, where they have nested for millennia, where they have an abundance of food, high natural cliffs, and rich hunting grounds. We humans are the visitors, not the peregrines. As stewards of this land, we have the responsibility to protect these iconic raptors. 4 Have the number of peregrines in California recovered? Yes, but human visitors are even more capable of going everywhere, fragmenting the habitats for plants and animals. Peregrines need peace and privacy to feel confident about spending six months of their short lives every year to raise their chicks. 5 Are there other threats to the peregrine falcon population besides us humans? A recent global outbreak of bird flu continues to kill birds, both wild and domestic. Because peregrines hunt pigeons, shorebirds, ducks, grebes, gulls, and songbirds, peregrines are at risk for infection from exposure through their diet. Peregrines can also contract lead poisoning and pesticide contamination by eating infected prey. Additionally, new poisonous chemicals show up regularly on our store shelves and their potential risks to wildlife, including peregrines, is unknown. Even DDT isn't completely gone, though it was banned in the United States in 1972. Environmental researchers have recently tracked down a million and a half barrels of DDT dumped for decades near Catalina Island during the last century. 6 Why is the nesting area closed to the public for 6 months? It takes time to raise kids from scratch, and anything can go wrong. For peregrines, close human proximity can be one of those things, drawing their attention from their core job of hunting and caring for their chicks. Human disturbances in the territory, especially while the chicks are in the nest, may cause the parents to abandon the nest, leaving the youngsters to starve to death or become a meal for another predator. See the full timeline at: https://www.mdia.org/peregrine-timeline 7 What is the average wingspan of a peregrine falcon? The average wingspan of a peregrine falcon is around 3 feet. 8 What do peregrine falcons eat? Peregrine falcons primarily feed on other birds, such as pigeons and ducks. 9 Where do peregrine falcons nest? Peregrine falcons typically nest on high cliffs or tall man-made structures, such as skyscrapers. Urban nests are at risk to human disturbance or excessive human intervention. For this reason, it is important to preserve and protect natural nesting areas. 10 How many eggs does a peregrine falcon lay in a clutch? Peregrine falcons usually lay 3 to 4 eggs in a clutch. 11 What is the typical survival rate of peregrine chicks? Peregrine chicks only have a 10-20% survival rate, once on their own. This makes protecting the nesting areas for a short time each year even more important to ensure their survival. 12 Where can someone safely observe the falcons? Diablo Foothills Regional Park, 1700 Castle Rock Road, in Walnut Creek: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/diablo-foothills Starting at the Park entrance, walk through the park’s recreation area and hike on Stage Road past the intersections of Fairy Lantern Trail and Buckeye Ravine Trail, for approximately 1 mile. You’ll find yourself in the first of two large meadows on your right. Look for the interpretive sign uphill to your right and view the Castle Rock cliffs from there. Depending on the raptor activity, you may also want to cross the creek and watch the birds from the second meadow across from the rock formations. The round trip hike from the Diablo Foothills Regional Park parking area to the second meadow and return is approximately 2.6 miles. In Spring, you may encounter water crossings along the trail. 13 How does the vision of peregrine falcons compare with humans? Unquestionably, a peregrine’s eyesight is extraordinary and is 8 times better than human vision. Peregrines can spot small prey from 1 to 2 miles away. Imagine being able to spot a rabbit 15 football fields away! Peregrines also have “fast vision.” Consider an animal’s visual flicker fusion rate, in other words, its ability to track rapidly changing visual events. Peregrines can see 129 images per second compared to a human’s 25 images per second. Peregrines also have approximately a million retinal cones allowing them to see color variation in the ultraviolet range, compared to our mere 30,000. By any measure, peregrines have far better vision than humans. 14 Where besides North America, do peregrine falcons live? Peregrines live on every continent except Antarctica. 15 What does history tell us about the relationship between humans and peregrine falcons? The falcon was considered king of the birds in ancient Egypt and was associated with several gods, including the sky god Horus, who was often shown with the head of a falcon. Humans and peregrines have a long relationship in the practice of falconry. Although historians disagree about when falconry began, records establish that an Iranian king, who may have lived as long as 10,000 years ago, used birds of prey to hunt. By 2000 BC, falconry was well-established in the Middle East and eventually migrated throughout Europe. Modern falconers still favor peregrines.

Wildflower Mount Diablo True Baby Stars Scientific Name: Leptosiphon bicolor Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Familiy) Blooms: Mar - May Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Flowers also white Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa