Spring at Bobcat Ranch
Yolo Audubon Society is one of five Audubon California chapters that have been conducting phenology surveys (BirdSeasons CA Project) on private state Audubon properties. Yolo Audubon Society has been conducting these surveys at Audubon California Society’s Bobcat Ranch for nearly six years. The surveys are conducted to provide data for the USA National Phenology Network. (Phenology: the study of periodic events in biological life cycles and how these are influenced by seasonal and inter-annual variations in climate as well as habitat factors.) The phenology surveys are conducted biweekly.
Sonjia Shelly and Joe Zinkl will provide a description and the results of nearly 6 years of surveys. This will include where and how the surveys are conducted and how the data is collected, cataloged and analyzed. As of March 10, 2022, 129 surveys have been conducted in which 124 species (and one hybrid) have been found. The highest number of species counted on a single survey was 46 (May 6, 2021) and the highest number of individual birds was 518 (February 10, 2022). The presentation will concentrate on trends in numbers of year-around resident species considering local events (e.g., wildfires). In addition, changes including dates of arrival and departure of migrating species will be discussed particularly from a phenological prospective.
SPEAKER BIO
Sonjia Shelly graduated from THE Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine 44 years ago. Her career focused on diseases of fur/hair bearing friends rather than feathered friends. Thus, her interest in birding began later in life (compared with many Yolo Audubon members) and she considers herself to be a perpetual beginner. Since retirement she has been active as a board member for Yolo Audubon Society, and has taken part in the YAS phenology survey at Bobcat Ranch, helped organize and monitor nest box projects and volunteered for other organizations. She is a certified CA naturalist. She often is found doing something that starts with “B” – birding, biking, building, beer drinking … you get the idea.
Joe Zinkl is a UC Davis veterinarian professor emeritus, and longtime Yolo Audubon Society (YAS) member and supporter. He is a former Board member for YAS, and has taken part in the YAS phenology survey at Bobcat Ranch from the beginning. Joe is continually active in YAS projects such as bird nest box construction and installation. While working with USFW and UCD he worked on diseases of wild birds (avian cholera and aspergillosis), the effects of pesticides on passerine species forests and crude oil toxicity of seabirds.
DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING
You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting.
An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)
During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.
Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.
Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.