Miscellaneous Information About Our World of Nature

Odd Stories from Nature

By Lynn Stafford, Liz Buchroeder and Bill Buchroeder
Photos by Bill Arbanas, Bill Buchroeder, Liz Buchroeder, Randy Cushman and Lynn Stafford
If we take a walk or drive in the natural country around PMC, some creatures are easy to notice. The pines and oaks are obvious with their different postures. A bright blue Steller’s Jay glides between the trees. Many wildflowers below on the forest floor produce shows of color at times. The scurrying bunnies, chipmunks and quail speak of secret lives being led in the woods. However, there are less obvious or understandable lives around us. I will discuss four of these strange beings in or near our neighborhood.

Figure 1: Common Poorwill on San Emigdio Mountain
There are two types of birds that occur locally but are rarely seen. On a quiet night in the summer, a curious sound may be heard up on the ridges - poorwep poorwep. This is the call of a Common Poorwill (Fig. 1). The Poorwill is a strange night bird that looks like a cross between a pinecone and a giant moth. Figure 1 was taken up on San Emigdio Mountain. The bird was sitting on a dirt road waiting to fly up and gobble a night-time insect. It has a very large mouth and whiskers. Its camouflage coloring protects it when it sleeps under a bush during the day. An interesting note about the poorwill is the fact that it was the first bird in the entire world to have been discovered hibernating. That discovery was made in a California desert.

Figure 2: Virginia Rail at Quail Lake
Have you ever heard the expression “as skinny as a rail”? That saying refers to a fence rail. But there is a group of birds called rails. Most of them live deep within clumps of cattails and bulrushes in marshes. At Quail Lake, off of Highway 138, two species of rail live in secrecy. Yes, their bodies are thin, which aids them in their secretive movements through the thick marsh. The Virginia rail (Fig. 2) has a long bill, with which it probes for insects, slugs, snails, crustaceans and worms. The Sora (Fig. 3) sports a short, stout bill for cracking open seeds of various plants. Other local ponds and marshes occasionally are visited with rare detection. A Virginia rail stayed for while at Fern’s Lake in PMC. Only a very patient photographer managed to get a glimpse.

Figure 3: Sora at Quail Lake
Have you seen the bright-colored lichens (Fig. 4) that sometimes grow on rock outcroppings and trees? These organisms stretch one’s idea of what is life. They hardly seem to be doing anything. First of all, they are not one organism. There are many species. Each species is a combination of a fungus and a single-celled algae or bacteria. What we see is the fungus. Inside the fungus, the algae cells create food by photosynthesis. The fungus allows the algae to live in locations where it would otherwise perish. The algae feeds the fungus, which cannot make its own food.

Figure 4: Several species of Rock Lichen – near PMC
Finally, we come to a strange group of organisms that has taxonomists scratching their heads. It is called a slime mold. However, it is not a mold, which is a fungus. It is apparently a tiny single-celled organism. These cells live in decayed wood, and occasionally come together to form masses several inches across, and sometimes shift across their substrate a few inches. These are the fruiting bodies. Here in PMC, there is one species that favors piles of wood chips from our green waste site. Several residents have encountered them. Because of their color and form, they have been given the ‘delicate’ name, “dog vomit slime mold” (Fig. 5).

Figure 5: Dog Vomit Slime Mold – Day 1 of emergence
How cute! The masses last only a few days, changing in color from bright yellow to red (Fig. 6), then black. Dog vomit slime mold is harmless and helps in the process of plant decay and soil production.

Figure 6: Dog Vomit Slime Mold – Day 2 or 3 of emergence
There are many secret lives out there in our mountains.

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Yes, We Have Lizards and Snakes

By Lynn Stafford, Liz Buchroeder and Bill Buchroeder
Photos by Bill Buchroeder, Randy Cushman, Edie Stafford, Lynn Stafford and Roger Stafford
Some folks find it hard to fall in love with reptiles. They are covered with scales; they either crawl or slither; some look like creatures from a horror film; and a few are even poisonous. However, reptiles are quite special. I am going to start by introducing two fancy scientific terms. Homeothermic: having a relatively stable body temperature independent of the outside temperature. This term describes all birds and mammals, including humans. Poikilothermic: having a body temperature that is either equal to or warmer than the outside temperature. This term describes reptiles and many other animals. So, when it gets cold outside, they get cold inside.
Therefore, reptiles are different in their physiology from birds and mammals. This causes them to behave differently. They tend to be seasonal in temperate zones. In our region, they shut down and enter torpid states during the cold months. Some also avoid the hottest periods of the year. Most reptiles are carnivorous. And they tend to need less food than comparably sized birds and mammals. If one is interested in looking for reptiles in our area, Spring is a good time to begin. Warm rocks along a trail, warm soil and warm pavement are excellent places to start searching. Also, the sunny sides of buildings are good for certain lizards. Depending on their size and structure, reptiles are looking for insects and other invertebrates or for small mammals. Bird eggs are not off-limit for some arboreal snakes.

Fig. 1, Female western fence lizard
Here in PMC, we have a modest variety of lizards. I will discuss five of them. Because of our climate, they are strictly seasonal. In the spring, we can begin to see western fence lizards in our gardens, on our wooden fences or even on the sides of our homes. Fig. 1 is a female; males have bright blue underparts, hence the alternate name, blue-bellied lizard. If you see a ‘blue-belly’ doing push-ups, he is either warning off other males or trying to attract a female with his bright colors (is this comparable to showing off one’s biceps?). In some of our drier areas lives a modestly attired lizard called the side-blotched lizard. It looks somewhat like a female fence lizard but has a little dark spot above the front legs (Fig. 2). Then there is the alligator lizard (Fig. 3). It is quite large and fast-moving. It often can be found in gardens.

Fig. 2, Side-blotched lizard

Fig. 3: Northern alligator lizard
Trivial detail: It is the only lizard with a purple tongue. A favorite of mine is the western whiptail (Fig. 4). It could be named “Nervous Nellie.” It moves in a series of jerky undulations. Because of its movements and its characteristic back color pattern, it is easy to identify. Finally, there is the coastal horned lizard (or horny toad). A meadow west of PMC may hold one of the height records for this species – at 6,200 feet. Camouflage is this animal’s chief defense. Can you find the one in Fig. 5?

Fig. 4: Western whiptail
On to the legless wonders, the snakes. Fear of snakes is very common among people. Even with my decades of experience with snakes in the field, I can be startled by the sight of a weaving hose. It is an involuntary, probably instinctive, reaction. However our emotions may feel about it, snakes are an integral part of our natural world. I will discuss three species; several others are possible in our area. Snakes have evolved to use body movement instead of leg movement to propel themselves. Some lizards, such as the alligator lizard, use a combination of these techniques.

Fig. 5: Coastal horned lizard
If one is driving up or down Hudson Ranch Road west of PMC, it is wise to drive slowly to avoid running over a snake. Two that are common out there are the gopher snake and the Pacific Rattlesnake. They like the warm pavement, and often cross the road slowly. These two snakes look somewhat alike. They are quite large and have similar diamond-patterned backs. However, rattlesnakes tend to be chunkier in body and somewhat darker. They have triangular heads (Fig. 6), and of course, rattles at the

Fig. 6: Pacific rattlesnake-showing triangular head
end of the tail (Fig 7). Gopher snakes have heads that slope forward from the body, and have no rattles (Fig. 8). Rattle snakes have no desire to hurt humans or dogs. They simply don’t want to be stepped on. Their poisonous bite has registered in the collective intelligence of large prairie mammals, such as bison, over many generations of evolutionary change. The rattle is a warning. Nonetheless, it is important to be alert when outside during the warm seasons. My rule is to never take a step without looking first. That includes stepping over logs. Never pick up a flat object like a piece of plywood so that the opening faces you. And, of course, dog owners have to use special precautions. Many dogs do not have a sense of rattlesnake presence. My dog once walked over a dead rattlesnake without being aware; and she was walking straight at an agitated rattler when I called her on another occasion.

Fig. 7: Pacific rattlesnake-showing tail rattles

Fig. 8: Gopher snake
Another snake found locally is the two-lined garter snake (Fig. 9). It has linear stripes along its body, rather than rectangular patches, like the two snakes previously mentioned. It prefers water and wet habitats near water.

Fig. 9: Two-lined garter snake
There are several other snake species possible in our area, including the king snake, ring-necked snake, racers, whipsnakes and others. Please try to avoid running over, or killing, any snake, when possible.

Fig. 10: Western pond turtle--marked and studied by population researcher
Lizards and snakes are important natural predators and should be treated with respect. Some of the larger snakes help keep the rodent population in balance. I am going to mention one other reptile that is not found in PMC, but is a very special animal because of its rarity. This is the western pond turtle. The nearest population to us is in a seismic sag pond on Gorman Post Road, southeast of Gorman. This population is being studied by a California State University at Bakersfield biology professor (Fig. 10). Also, our local nature photographer, Bill Buchroeder, has been documenting its presence for the last five years (Fig. 11). This population of pond turtles lives in a pond that dries up each summer. The turtles simply burrow into the mud and remain inactive until the next filling. Any turtles found in local ponds, such as Fern’s Lake, are introduced, non-native species that have been carelessly discarded as unwanted pets. Of course, no pets should be discarded.

Fig. 11: Western pond turtles warming in the sun
Now repeat after me: “Reptiles are beautiful; reptiles are beautiful!”

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It's Summer -- Time to Enjoy Butterflies!

By Lynn Stafford, Liz Buchroeder and Bill Buchroeder
Photos by Bill Buchroeder, Liz Buchroeder and Mary McDevitt
One pleasant sign of summer in our mountain community is the presence of butterflies in our gardens and along trails. This article will discuss six of our local species. Butterflies have amazingly complicated and varied lives. All butterflies pass through four distinct stages of life, often within just a few weeks. First are the eggs. These eggs have been placed on a plant that the emerging caterpillar will eat. The caterpillar is an eating machine! After reaching a certain size, the caterpillar changes into a stationary stage called the pupa or chrysalis. I did not refer to this period as a resting stage. That is because the animal is busy transforming into a completely different form -- the showy and able-to-fly adult butterfly.
Two of our butterflies have rather small distribution ranges. The California Sister (Fig. 1) is

California Sister
indeed mostly restricted to California. It loves oak trees, particularly the canyon live oak, a common tree native to PMC. Both the caterpillar and the adult get most of what they need from these trees. Adults often can be seen drinking from mud puddles and streams. They are getting nutrients, including minerals, as well as water. California Sisters will cycle through one to three generations each year.
Another limited-range butterfly is the dramatic Western Tiger Swallowtail. As its name implies, it is found throughout western United States. Both the caterpillars and the adults

Western Tiger Swallowtail
feed on a wide variety of plants. The pupa overwinter. As shown in (Fig. 2), the adults enjoy planted Buddleia bushes. This one was in Mary McDevitt’s garden in PMC.

Red Admiral
Next, we will look at two butterflies with wide distributions, including annual migrations. The Red Admiral (Fig. 3) is a striking butterfly with bright red or orange bands on its wings. It is found throughout much of the world, but only where stinging nettle is present. The eggs are placed on stinging nettle leaves, and that is all the caterpillar will eat. People frequently do not appreciate stinging nettle because of its irritating leaf hairs, but this butterfly certainly does. PMC’s wetlands are loaded with stinging nettle, so we are blessed with this species. Red Admiral males are quite territorial, defending their patch of nettle. Adults tend to migrate south in the winter. Migration dates are timed to correspond to food sources.
The Variegated Fritillary (Fig. 4) also is a migrating butterfly, being found in both North and

Variegated Fritillary
South America. Different populations have different migration routes and schedules. Unlike the Red Admiral, both the caterpillars and the adults forage on a wide variety of plants. The caterpillars focus on leaves; the adults look for flower nectar.
Finally, we will discuss two species with amazingly complicated lifestyles. Both are multi-generational migrants. The Painted Lady (Fig.5) is found throughout much of the world.

Painted Lady
Painted Ladies studied in Africa and Europe were found to undergo migration between the continents that took several generations. In other words, no individual completed a migration, but the species migrated back-and-forth. Mind-boggling! The caterpillars enjoy a variety of thistles and mallows. The adults seek nectar from the flowers of members of the sunflower family, including thistles.

Monarch butterfly

A wintering swarm of adult monarchs on a tree near the coast
Then we have the Monarch (Fig. 6). The Monarch is well-known, both because of its tourist-attracting massive winter flocks (Fig. 7) and because it is rapidly declining in numbers throughout its range. The Monarch has complicated migration patterns. The eastern U.S. population tend to winter in Mexico, particularly the state of Michoacan. In the west, the adults fly to several locations along the California coast. In each of the two migrations, the butterflies return to the same groves of trees. The caterpillars (Fig. 8) require leaves of

A monarch caterpillar on a narrow-leaf milkweed
various species of milkweed. The adults are less picky; they just want flower nectar. Two species of milkweed are common in the vicinity of PMC (Fig. 9). If one is interested in

Broad-leaf Milkweed with seed pods ready to burst
having milkweed present in one’s garden, seeds can be collected locally in the Autumn from wild plants that are adapted to our unique area. (Fig. 10) shows local resident Liz Buchroeder doing exactly that.

Collecting seeds from a Narrow-leaf Milkweed near PMC
A major mystery is the dangerous decline in insect populations throughout the world. This decline is being studied carefully by entomologists and ecologists, and is thought to be caused by modern human activity. In the case of the Monarch, several theories are being raised. Extensive use of herbicides is a likely candidate. Most of the corn and soy now being grown in the Midwest has been genetically modified to withstand massive amounts of herbicide. Besides contaminating the food, this practice eliminates other plants, such as milkweed. Human-related climate change and other alterations of land cover also are being studied as possible causes. Insects are by far the most abundant animals on earth. The dismantling of their populations could have devastating worldwide consequences.
Here in PMC, we have a relatively healthy environment for all our wild animals and plants, as well as for us humans. As the summer unfolds, do get outside and enjoy! Take a camera; take a sketch pad, or just relax and take your time enjoying our colorful visitors on their journey thru PMC and its environs.