Green Acres Ranch Joshua Tree Birds

RAVEN

Corvus corax

The common raven is a highly adaptable and intelligent bird resident of North American deserts. Ravens are scavengers, meaning they will eat almost anything living or dead. From dates to hamburgers to assorted roadkill, ravens are one desert species that has benefited from the growing human presence. One unfortunate habit that has brought the raven some criticism is their tendency to prey upon juvenile desert tortoises. Studies have shown that raven populations have increased dramatically wherever dumps and other sites of human garbage occur, such as campgrounds. This is one reason desert residents and visitors should handle their trash carefully. Less trash means fewer ravens and healthier desert tortoise populations.

Roadrunner, Geococcyx CalifornianusCalled paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape.Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals. Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.

COMMON BARN OWL

Tito Alba

Range: All four of the Southwestern deserts. The barn owl occurs in great numbers in Southern California. Habitat: Hunts in areas rich in rodents, along desert washes and canyons, where trees for perching are available. Description: The barn owl can readily be distinguished from other owls by its unique shape, color and voice. This distinctive, medium-sized owl grows 15 to 20 inches in height. It has long, feathered legs and makes a loud, rasping hiss, rather than the hoot associated with other owls.

The Barn Owl is primarily white with buff, yellow and tawny shadings. It is delicately freckled with dark specks and the blending of colors in day-light has led some to call it, the "golden owl." Other common names are for it are the "White Owl" and "Monkey-faced Owl."

The barn owl's face is arresting. There are no ear tufts. The eyes and beak are completely encircled by a heart-shaped facial ruff of white, rimmed with tan while slightly curved feathers radiate out from the small, dark eyes.

The eyes of owls look forward in a fixed position and cannot move to the side, as the human eye can. Therefore, to see to the side or back, the owl must turn its whole head. They see extremely well at night. Their hearing must be extremely acute also, for it is known that a barn owl can strike a mouse in the dark.

Barn Owls are more nocturnal than other owls. They wait until dark before starting out to hunt, except when the demands of their young may start them hunting at twilight. Normally, before daylight, they retire to some shadowed or enclosed area in an old building, a hollow tree or a hole in a rocky cliff and remain there drowsily inactive all day.

When hunting at night, the Barn Owl sweeps the fields on silent wings catching its prey with its long, slender claws. It prefers small mammals but occasionally in winter when mice and gophers are scarce, it will take small birds. The prey is tom apart and swallowed -- bones, skull and all. The indigestible parts are formed into pellets and disgorged at the roosting area or about the nest.

Barn owls choose nesting sights almost anywhere, in old buildings, hollow trees and on or in the ground. No effort is made to build or even line the nest. The female lays from 5 to 7 white, spotless eggs at intervals of 2 or 3 days. Incubation starts after the first egg is laid. It takes from 32 to 34 days for the first egg to hatch, so a nest may contain 4 or 5 young of different size and age.

The young are called "owlets." They are covered with snow-white down for 6 days. This is gradually replaced by a buff-colored down which develops into a thick, woolly covering that is still in evidence for about 50 days.

The little owlets are hungry all the time. Both parents are busy night after night ransacking the adjoining areas to catch an unbelievable number of small ground creatures to feed their ravenous babies.

Adult plumage is acquired in about 7-1/2 weeks, at which time, after much practicing about the nest, the young venture out for their first lessons in flying and hunting.

BURROWING OWL

This small owl checks-in to vacant rodent burrows. It feeds on insects, reptiles, and rodents at dusk, and it spends the warm daylight hours hanging out at the burrow entrances. It bobs and bows and crackles to ward off intruders, but has a mellow rolling coo-coo call.

Joshua Tree's resident bird species include Roadrunners, Phainopeplas, Mockingbirds, Verdins, Cactus Wrens, Ravens, Rock Wrens, Barn Owls, Mourning Doves, Le Conte's Thrashers, and Gambel's Quail. For the Winter, Whit-Crowned Sparrows, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, and Hermit Thrushes wind their way through. In the Spring and Summer, expect Bendire's Thrashers, Ash-Throated Flycatachers, Western Kingbirds, Scott's Orioles, Northern Orioles and Western Bluebirds. Bird enthusiasts can pick up a handy bird checklist at a Joshua Tree visitor center.

BIRD CRITTERS

GOLDEN EAGLE

The rabbits and squirrels that evade the night hunters must still search the day time skies for the silhouette of the stately golden eagle. Its keen eyes scan the landscape for the slightest movement as it soars from the mountain heights out over the valleys and desert floor. Its golden nap is visible only at close range. Its soft voice is hardly ever heard.

Roadrunner

Geococcyx Californianus

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape.
Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals. Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.