Coastal
Cactus Wrens |
We
Need Your Information on Cactus Wrens here in Orange County |
by
Scott Thomas, Conservation Director |
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| For some years birders
and ornithologists have been noticing what they suspect is a
decline in the number of Cactus Wrens along the southern California
coast. There is now enough concern that The Nature Conservancy,
led locally by Trish Smith, was prompted this year to initiate
several regional meetings aimed at launching a range wide Cactus
Wren census and discussions about possible recovery efforts.
Sea and Sage Audubon, Audubon California, and other Audubon
chapters plan to play a significant role in the process in the
coming years. |
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| Cactus Wrens occur
in much of the southwest including California, Baja, and Arizona.
The species is divided into two larger population groups, the
coastal and inland populations. These are then separated into
eight subspecies. The ranges of the coastal subspecies groups
are difficult to delineate and are the center of a good deal
of debate. The San Diego subspecies is considered a California
Species of Special Concern by the Department of Fish and Game.
This subspecies occurs in parts of southern Orange County, but
the ranges are currently being debated and it may occur in more
of Orange County than is currently mapped. In any case, most
everyone is convinced that all of the coastal populations are
experiencing declines at a pace that is alarming. |
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| The consensus of
most scientists and conservation groups is that we need to quickly
get a census estimate of all the Coastal Cactus Wren populations
from Ventura down to San Diego and begin planning for conservation
and recovery of all these populations. |
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| In Orange County
we have the advantage of good historical data from the Atlas
of Breeding Birds by Sylvia Ranney Gallagher published in 1997.
Breeding Cactus Wrens were mapped in 44 of 110 atlas blocks
(5 km by 5km), and perhaps in another 10 blocks that were not
adequately surveyed. In addition, ornithologist Robb Hamilton
has been studying and documenting Cactus Wrens in the coastal
region (Laguna and Irvine area) of the Coastal/ Central Natural
Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP)for many years and has a
very good baseline data set for much of the area. |
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| With these good
historical data sets we would like to use our experience with
citizen science in Sea and Sage Audubon to help establish methods
for surveying and monitoring cactus wren territories and nests.
For starters, we need to gather as much information from all
of our members and friends about recent observations of Cactus
Wrens in Orange County, and anywhere along the coast for that
matter. |
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| Please check your
notes and journals for recent sightings and, as you bird in
the coming months, make note of the locations of Cactus Wrens.
Send information now and in the coming months to me by email
at
, or you can mail it to me: Cactus Wren, Sea & Sage Audubon,
PO Box 5447, Irvine CA 92616. |
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