Rainbows at Lake Murray

We've been getting a lot of welcome, but unexpected rain here in San Diego. It's been pretty nice. Today, while I was walking at Lake Murray, there were some thunderstorms. Right before the first thunderstorm hit, I took photos of this rainbow.

This picture is of the flirting ducks during a less severe rain session a few weeks ago:

One time, when it was raining, all the ducks started doing Yoga, lol:

Baby news, Ternwatchers, and people stealing wildlife

Gosling at Lake Murray

Sorry that it's been a while since I last posted. I've been dealing with other writing gigs and the like. Anyway, before I get started with a little news of what's going around San Diego and SoCal, I would like to make an announcement. If you enjoy researching birds and want to help with predator abatement of one of the world's cutest chicks, then you might want to be a Ternwatcher for San Diego Audubon. This program monitors and records predator interaction at the least tern nesting sites in Mission Bay. You can apply here. I am going to apply even though I am still having a hard time watching cute baby animals get eaten. I just witness a bunch of adorable ducklings at Lake Murray getting slaughtered by the herons. Plus, one of them was eating live squirrels, too. It's really hard to watch, especially when they're cute. Also, killdeer nest there, too, and I might faint if I see one of their babies carried off.

Speaking of baby animals, there are several baby goslings at Lake Murray right now and more of them on the way. All the babies from last year, now teenagers, are still hanging around, not knowing what to do. One of the babies, which was returned to the lake by Project Wildlife after it had disappeared last year, seems to have already found a mate for next breeding season. There are also baby squirrels at the lake, too, and about 30 ducklings have also made an appearance so far, but almost all of them have been eaten by herons and cormorants. But, more are to come.

What's up with people stealing wildlife, lately? Not only did I see a guy grab a nearly grown Canada goose at Lake Murray recently, but someone stole a baby seal in Los Angeles lately. I mean, seriously, what would someone want with a seal? The perps apparently harassed the mother and tried to grab both her babies, but the other one got away. I sure hope the baby they stole is doing OK because baby seals need a specialize diet and care. I can understand why people steal ducks and geese, but a seal has no useful purpose. 

If you love seeing the wildlife, don't take it with you. Let it be and you can enjoy it for the rest of its life.

Police searching for missing SDSU student at Lake Murray

Update: Right as I was posting this, they announced they found his body. Apparently, they found him while I was there, but I had left before they brought him out.

Many people who read my other blogs know that I frequent Lake Murray here in San Diego. I guess on Thursday morning, a set of clothes and other personal effects were found on the round concrete structure near the Kiowa Drive entrance. After searching all over the lake for the owner of these items, the police were called. There is currently a search going on.

Just to let you know, there is officially no fishing or any boat launching until the police are done in the area. They have the area completely closed off around the docks.

I don't know how much I want to say, but they are searching all areas of the lake, but are focusing just to the east of the booms at the dam and maybe near the dam.

The 18 year old man was a student at SDSU and did not show up to class on Thursday. Most of the school has been doing mid-terms all the last week as next week is Spring Break. One TV station has released his name and shown a picture of him, but I can't remember his name. But, I do know that he's from San Jose. His parents are very concerned about him and say he may have been under stress. According to some of the local media, a suicide note mentioning water and the lake was found.

There is talk by non-participants and observers that this might be a hoax. I think it might be wishful thinking. Bits and pieces are coming out through the media that indicate that this is something serious.

If you go to the lake, be aware that you may not be able to access certain areas or may be told to stay out of certain areas. Also, the noise from search helicopters is pretty loud. The helicopters were creating a wind that even blew a mother duck's tiny baby ducklings around.

Christmastime in San Diego

I've been sick lately, so I've missed out on a few events before I could post them here in my blog.  We've already gone past December Nights and one week of the Parade of Lights. Don't worry, if you missed the Parade of Lights around Coronado Bay last weekend, there's more this weekend. It get pretty crowded and cold, so arrive early and bundle up. Perhaps an evening barbecue at Glorietta Bay Park in Coronado before the parade might help.

I love my neighborhood this time of year. Despite being a poorer, working class neighborhood, they take pride in it and the majority of people decorate their houses with lights and whatnot. I work at night, so it's so nice driving home and seeing all the lights. Back when a lot of homes were being foreclosed on, a lot of the neighborhood lights went dim. It took a few years before I started seeing a lot of lights again.

If you're wondering what's closed on Christmas, a lot more than on Thanksgiving. All government offices, libraries, etc. are closed on that day. Most stores and restaurants will be closed or only open a short time on Christmas Day for those last minutes gifts. Some parks and all rec centers will be closed, too. Lake Murray's gates are locked, but you can still go in and walk and see the ducks. Just be aware that it will be packed like on Thanksgiving. Please be kind to animals.

Speaking of Lake Murray, we have a poor male Pekin with injured or diseased feet. I see swollen joints on him and tears in his webs as well as bumblefoot. Pekins, being a meat duck, are bred to be disproportionate and often their legs can't handle the added weight. When they get bumblefoot, an infection in the feet, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause arthritis, especially as they get older. I keep an eye on the domestic ducks at the lake and if I can get them help, I do. But, I am unable to take them home or care for them myself. The added restriction of not being able feed them due to park rules and that people get upset if I try to catch them for treatment makes it harder. I can tell he's hurting sometimes, but seems better after a swim and walking on the sand rather than the rocky shoreline. In this photo, he seems to be feeling good, but his foot seems sore.

The Christmas weather is expected to be very warm up until Christmas eve and then seasonal for Christmas day and the next few days after. I hope it's good the following Sunday as I'm doing the Christmas Bird Count that weekend and don't want to be wet after being sick such much this season.

On New Year's, I plan to go out counting shorebirds in the South Bay.

Thanksgiving in San Diego 2014

Well, Thanksgiving is tomorrow and that's the start of the Christmas season, literally.  Many stores are doing big sales on Thursday.  I don't plan on doing any of those sales.  I don't know what to buy people anymore, anyway.  I've heard that many sales are really not that big of a bargain if you know when to buy things.  I also don't like the crowds.

There are several "Turkey Trots" around town in the morning.  Exercising is good on a day where you eat a lot.  There's the San Diego Turkey Trot and Food Run.  It's held at Rohr Park in Bonita.  Be sure you bring a non-perishable food when you run.  You can find out more at www.sdthanksgivingrun.com.  Father Joe's, a well known charity and shelter here in town, also holds their own turkey trot and encourage people to "move your feet before you eat".  You can find out more about their run at https://my.neighbor.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=411

Many places you might not expect to be closed tomorrow will be.  Lake Murray will be closed and there is no parking anywhere except the street.  It's also one of busiest days of the year at the lake.  Expect to have problems with parking and crowds.  Also, since the lake is closed, fishing will not be allowed.  Anyone who fishes on that day is poaching.  Please save your fishing for the days the lake is actually open.  You are free to walk and picnic at the lake.  Be aware that you will probably have to walk a long way to get to any picnic areas.

If you want to do some bird watching, or bike riding, the usual bike paths and hotspots will be open along the South Bay and San Diego River.

Story of a Dumped Duck

This was a story I published about a year and a half ago about "Bitey", a male Pekin duck.  I miss Bitey a lot and think of him often.  I still don't know what happened to him, but I hope he ended up in a safe place with lots of food, nice people, and girls galore.

"Bitey" was a pekin duck that was dumped off at Lake Murray in the fall of 2012. Many ducks are dumped off in the fall months, usually about six months after Easter. Last year, a large number of domestic ducks were dropped off at the lake. People dump ducks for various reasons. They are either sick of having them, can't keep them any longer, or think that ducks belong near a lake or waterway. What's worse is that the general public doesn't seem to notice that these ducks don't belong at the lake. They see the same white ducks year after year possibly thinking they're the same ducks they see all the time not knowing they don't live long.

When Bitey first arrived, he behaved like any other dumped duck. He began socializing with an older, previously dumped pekin and both became very good friends. This older duck showed Bitey where to get food and girlfriends. Bitey didn't stand out in any way. Then, something changed in the spring and Bitey's behavior began to change, too.

Bitey liked eating out of that small bowl

In spring, duck hormones change and many male ducks get frustrated and agitated. Bitey no longer wanted to be near any other ducks. Other male ducks, even ducks smaller than him, began to attack and chase him around. One thing that began to be a real problem with Bitey is that he began to act strange around people. He didn't move if you walked up to him and he would bite if you tried to touch him. He would also bite you if he wanted you to feed him, sometimes biting really hard. It's not abnormal for domestic drakes (male ducks) to get a little bitey during breeding season, especially. But, most of the other drakes at the lake never let humans get close.

He would spill food, but choose to eat out of the bowl

It wasn't that Bitey wasn't afraid of people. He actually was terrified of them. When I picked him up one time, I could feel how scared he was. But, he wouldn't move away like the other ducks did. As a result, he was the potential subject of abuse. So, I worked to find him a home. I couldn't take him, myself, as my apartment complex doesn't allow animals, except cats, not even temporarily. So, I let him stay at the lake while I put the word out.

After a month of not getting anyone to take him in, Bitey disappeared. No one knows what happened to him. Another duck in the same area was left there and was fine. I did find a small clump of white feathers that looked like they were plucked near where he slept, but Bitey sometimes did that to himself. Or, one of the other ducks could have done that to him. Other than that, there was no sign of him at all. I hope someone took him home. He was there about eight or nine months. A few weeks after Bitey disappeared, two more ducks were dumped near the same area. Within a couple of days, one had disappeared with no trace, as well. The average lifespan of a dumped duck is less than three years.

I have a Squidoo lens on dumped ducks, including Bitey.  But, they're being transitioned over to HubPages.  Check back soon for the new link.

George the killdeer and the killdeer blog

In late 2010, I wrote about one of my other blogs here on Blogger:  Killdeers, Phoebes and Finches.  I also talked about George the Killdeer as well.  George was a real killdeer, but he may have passed away recently as I haven't seen him for at least a year.  He left Lake Murray in 2011 or 2012, but returned each year with his family.  You will find this blog in my lists of blogs on this site.

You can also find out more about George and his family at:   http://shorebirdie.hubpages.com/hub/georgethekilldeer

Killdeers, phoebes and finches (and ducks!) is a blog that I am currently keeping on a family of killdeer at Lake Murray in San Diego, California. 

One might wonder what, exactly, a killdeer is? A killdeer is a plover, a shorebird, but they have adapted themselves to living close to people and away from the shore. Most killdeer need some kind of permanent fresh water nearby for their daily requirements. However, a small drainage ditch or creek is more than enough for a killdeer to live a good life provided that there is always drinkable water. Killdeers like to live in open areas like golf courses, airfields, farms, fields, and, of course, on a beach.

Killdeers are mostly brown and white and are distinguished from other plovers by their double banded breast-marks and necks. They are about the size of a mourning dove with long, stilt-like legs. They often nest in the open and divert predators with a broken-wing act. Both parents usually care for the eggs and chicks. Their eggs look a lot like rocks and can be easily missed if they're laid in a rocky area. Their chicks hatch after about 24-28 days and the babies can run within hours of hatching.

Killdeers, phoebes and finches (and ducks!) talks about killdeers, chicks, ducks, and other birds that live around the lake. There are stories about chicks, ducklings, and other babies that hatched or were born in the summer. Raptors are also mentioned as are other shore and water birds.

So, if one is interested in birds, especially in the San Diego area, check out Killdeers, phoebes and finches (and ducks!). The main killdeer family in the blog, headed by a male killdeer named "George" (also called M2 in the blog) can also be chronicled on Twitter as @killdeergeorge or by clicking on the link in his name above.