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Trips to the Coronado Islands, April and May 1924 | |
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Photo Gallery
Field Notes April 1924 Related Links L.M. Huey Biography
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L.M. Huey Field Notes Huey lists birds, describes behaviors, counts populations, tries to take photos. Tuesday, April 22 1924 The sky was heavily overcast this morning so we were late in getting our breakfast. However, about 10 a.m. the sun began to burn thru & so I lost no time gathering up my cameras and climbing the island side to the rookeries. I searched about the precipitous cliffs for suitable views of the Brandt Cormorant colonies and after several exposures I climbed on up to the Farallon Cormorants & Pelicans where I focused on a nest of the former that contained eggs in hopes the gulls would attempt to rob it. Three hours passed without results & I gave it up as the afternoon shadow was creeping over this side of the island and the fog banks were drifting in. After dinner I set my dozen mouse traps about camp and before bed time each trap held a Peromyscus m. [maniculatus] dubious. They were again reset. Wednesday, April 23 1924 A threatening sky with a stiff south wind blowing came with the dawn and by six o’clock slight showers were falling. The boat was supposed to call for us today but with the prevailing weather conditions it became more doubtful as the day progressed for as we were at our breakfast rain began falling in earnest driving us to a nearby cave for shelter. The storm continued off and on for nearly 2 hours drenching everything. Fortunately for me I had a waterproof sleeping bag but poor Gallegos was doomed to have a poor night. About noon the sun came out beautifully and I, having given up the boat, packed my 5x7 plate camera and my Graflex to the rookeries again. I had great luck with the pelicans feeding their babies and should have some good stuff. Nearby I found a gull’s nest with one egg in it. This was the first gull egg of the season. Later Jose found 2 more single eggs on the south end. Later taking only the 5x7 Jose & I went to the south end of the island to look over the colonies & research for auklet burrows. A careful search failed to reveal any of the latter species, and I feel confident that they are no longer inhabiting this island.* Gulls were seen everywhere and I estimated that 20,000 pairs must be inhabiting north island alone. A small colony of Pelicans with a few Farallon Cormorants were found on the east side of the island towards the south end. They were very timid and left their nests en masse at our approach. This gave the robber gulls an opportunity and dozens of nests were robbed before our very own eyes. This apparently will soon lead to the extermination of the Farallon Cormorants for there seemed to be less than 200 pairs now present in the rookeries while the Pelicans seem to be holding their own. Returning to camp we fixed up a canvas shelter for the sky was again overcast & looked like rain. I captured two more Black Petrels with the net this evening after a two hour try. Thursday, April 24thThe boat came in early this morning & we lost no time in embarking. Leaving north island we circled about the end of south island to sweep its slopes with the glasses. A very large rookerie of sea lions was seen on the west shore and near the south end a fairsized colony of Pelicans was nesting on the protected eastern slope. Numbers of Brandt Cormorants were seen on the guano covered rocks above the wash of the waves but I was unable to determine whether they were covering nests or not, tho a dozen gulls coursing to & fro overhead would indicate the birds to be nesting. After an uneventful journey we docked about 12:30 at the municipal pier. * A 1977 "Marine Guide to the Coronado Islands" by Al Pentis does list Cassin's Auklet as a permanent resident of "the Coronado Islands & Vicinity." |
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