Quail, Songbirds Lacking in Study of Presidio Birds

By Ryder Miller

Efforts continue at the Presidio to better understand the diversity of birds found there and to enhance their habitats. Concerned scientists are proceeding with monitoring studies to lay the groundwork for restoration plans.

The Presidio Quail Recovery Project monitors the endangered California Quail at the few sites where it can be found at the Presidio. (Individuals who have unusual sighting or want to volunteer should contact Damien Raffa, Presidio Trust Natural Resource Specialist, at 415-561-4449.)

Terri Thomas, Natural Resources Program Manager for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), said the quail of the Presidio have been banded and, in a mysterious turn of events, some quail which were banded at the Presidio were recently found in Golden Gate Park. Though a ground bird, the quail can fly for short distances. Thomas said the discovery was encouraging because they were likely to have used green corridors to travel from the Presidio to Golden Gate Park.

The number of California Quail found at the Presidio have decreased to low numbers over recent years and efforts are underway to restore habitats to their native conditions so they will be more suitable for the California state bird.

A recently completed report by PRBO Conservation Science (formerly the Point Reyes Bird Observatory) monitored the nesting behavior of resident Presidio nesting songbirds.

In the Presidio Post (April/May 2003) publication, Thomas wrote, "Knowing what species are present and where they spend their time can help park managers plan for wildlife corridors, target restoration sites and highlights areas in need of protection."

Tom Gardali, the author of the report, Monitoring Songbirds in The Presidio, said "Changes in the landscape are mirrored by changes in the songbird communities."

The report highlighted findings for nine songbird species, focusing on their status, nest types, nesting locations and habitat preferences. These birds were chosen to illustrate a range of bird conservation issues in the Presidio. The list included the extirpated (locally extinct) Wrentit, the under-represented Spotted Towhee, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Downy and Hairy woodpeckers.

The most abundant songbirds observed were the House Finch, Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow, American Robin, Pygmy Nuthatch and Allen's Hummingbird.

Songbirds are a diverse group of birds which sing and are in the grouping passeriformes. Common families of songbirds include finches, warblers, thrushes and wrens.

Gardali noted in the study that species associated with buildings and trees were abundant. In contrast, a number of species associated with the coastal scrub community were rare or absent.

Gardali said the study helped set up a monitoring program where change over time can be monitored. He said the Presidio Trust could use more dune scrub and coastal scrub habitat for species like the California Quail, Spotted Towhee and Bewick's Wren.

"Those are the main ones," Gardali said.

Gardali recommended augmenting the scrub habitat to tilt the balance a little back in some areas for birds dependent upon coastal scrub habitat, but he said the forests also have value to some native birds.

"What we added is the scientific element, some standarized methods," Gardali said.

With estimates of more than 300 bird species to be seen at the Presidio during the year, which includes migrants, nearby visitors and permanent nesters, there are many unanswered questions.

"That diversity and abundance of birds is something that we would like to learn more about," said Thomas. "It is exciting to have so many birds here in the middle of the City. We are still trying to find out what birds we have there.

"The Presidio remains a good place in the City to see some native birds," Gardali said. "It is a diverse group of native birds."

The annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count has seen increases in the number of birds at the Presidio in recent years. Thomas suggested that this may be due to the creation of salt marshes on Crissy Field, which has attracted new birds to the area.

"The Presidio is just another green space that is used to the max by the species that are adapted to different habitat types," said Dan Murphy, former president of the local chapter of the Audubon Society. He thinks the restoration efforts are necessary and the park service is doing a good job at the Presidio, an area not ideal for bird life.

"There are streets that go through it. There are houses everywhere. It is pretty edgy too," said Murphy. "If you go into a forest in the mountains it can go on for miles. There is no place for that here."

In related news, Murphy reported that the Great Blue Heron and Double Crested Cormorants were observed in large numbers at Lake Merced this Spring.

"That lake is supporting something between 700 and 1,000 cormorants," said Murphy, who is monitoring the lake this summer.

"I keep wondering what all these things are eating," said Murphy. "The major food source must be in the lake. No frogs or amphibians - they must be eating small fish from the lake."

"If you want the 'birdiest' place in San Francisco, historically, it has been Lake Merced," Murphy said.