Get Active! in your
Regional Parks
Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
VALLEY
Look inside for the latest Regional in Nature Activity Guide!
THE
SENTINEL always for the community VOl 19, nO 2
Look inside for this Activity Guide to
February 2014
EXPLORE your Regional Parks Swim Lessons and Day Camps Birdwatch by Kayak
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Celebrate with a Scottish Clan Participate in a Citizen Science Research Project
SPOTLIGHT
ROMP with a Naturalist ... plus more activities for everyone in Your Regional Parks!
Bridesmaids Walkers stop for a photo at the footbridge on the Iron Horse trail on their way to Alamo
“Bridesmaids” walk to raise funds for cancer research On a recent Saturday morning many Danville and Alamo residents may have noticed a brightly colored flock of chiffon clad women in billowing peach, pink, purple and more, making their way down the Iron Horse Trail. This flamboyant group was out raising money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and having a great time in the process. I caught up with a few of them to
ECRWSS
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
See BRIDESMAIDS page 5
The science team from Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon won the Sandia/CA Regional High School Science Bowl on January 25, 2014 . Left to right: Kathy Huang (coach), Augustine Chemparathy, Saranesh Prembabu, Wesley Wang, Bibhav Poudel, Rishi Krishnan, Rym Hannachi (coach.) See story on page 7.
Local Wood Duck population benefits from nest box program white belly is highlighted by a to recover throughout their
Postmaster: Dated Material
By James Hale
Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
The drake or male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is perhaps the most colorful of all the worlds waterfowl. The distinctive multicolored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with distinctive white flare down the neck and crested head are unique to the Wood Duck. It shares its genus with its old world counterpart and cousin, the Asian Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), whose males plumage is equally bathed in a multicolored palette and exquisite pattern. Both species are favored by artists worldwide. The Wood Duck is a surface-feeding, medium- sized perching duck equipped with sharp claws for perching in trees. They nest in tree cavities or artificial nest boxes. As is common in most bird species, the female is more neutral in color. The buff to mouse-gray coloration and
large, white teardrop- shaped eye patch. Juveniles resemble the female, however are spotted below. Wood ducks are about three-quarters the length of adult Mallards, approximately 21 inches with a 29 inch wing span. The rising whistle call of the male, the drawn-out rising squeal of the female, and sharp alarm call of both sexes reveal the Wood Duck’s presence. Wood ducks prefer secluded wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes, ponds and creeks for breeding habitat. They usually nest in tree cavities close to water, although due to loss of habitat and natural nest sites, they have readily taken to nesting in artificial nest boxes in wetland locations, which has allowed their populations
range. The elevated nest site offers some protection from predators.The efforts of scouts and local conservationists in Contra Costa County’s wood duck nest box program have been highly successful at many reservoirs and creeks. Nestlings have fledged in many of the county’s watersheds and other cavity nesting species such as the Screech Owl have utilized the nest boxes to raise their young. Female Wood Ducks line their nests with feathers, cottonwood down, and other soft materials. Between 7 and 15 white-tan eggs are laid and incubated for about 30 days. After hatching, the precocious ducklings use their sharp claws to climb out of the nest and
This month’s Special Sections:
Kids Camps
page 7
Senior Services pages 8-9
jump down to make their way to water. Ducklings have jumped from 300 feet without injury. Nest sites are usually selected over water to provide a soft landing for the young, however some wood ducks have nested as far as 500 feet from shorelines. Hatchlings are able to swim and find their own food. Unfortunately, even with protection from the parents, many ducklings fall victim to predation. Wood Ducks feed See DUCKS page 6