Top,
Left: American Kestrel,
a dove-sized falcon, frequently hunts from boulders and
oaks on the grassy mesas.
Right: The wingless, ground dwelling, scavenging
Jerusalem Cricket or Potato Bug is a primary
food source for Burrowing Owls, as shown by an analysis
of regurgitated crop pellets of the owls.
Middle,
Left: The gold wash on the breast of a White-tailed
Kite—a mark of a nestling—remains visible
for 2 to 3 months after it fledges the nest.
Center: A common visitor in Santa
Barbara from October through April, Golden-crowned
Sparrow can be overlooked in favor of the abundant
winter visitor White-crowned Sparrow.
Right: Although they can dig their own burrow,
Burrowing Owls will readily use existing burrows.
They produce a variety of different calls, from a shriek
to a whistle to a laugh to a coo.
Bottom,
Left: Present throughout the seasons at San Marcos
Foothills, Lark Sparrows nest on the ground
near oaks and display from nearby boulders.
Right: California Ground Squirrels,
along with gophers, are called keystone species because
of the variety of ecosystem services they provide. They
dig burrows that aerate soils, facilitate groundwater
recharge, provide homes for Burrowing Owls, snakes, lizards,
and small mammals, and are themselves food for birds of
prey.
