Tierra Data Inc

Bird of the Month - Green Heron, Butorides virescens -?These birds are not commonly seen in San Diego Bay. To date, there has been a total of 23 observations recorded since the start of Bay Bird Survey. The photo was taken during the February 2025 Bay Bird Survey efforts in Sweetwater Marsh, by TDI's very own Ben Van Allen. -?They are one of the few tool-using birds. The create a kind of fishing lure by dropping bread, insects, and feathers on the water’s surface to entice small fish. (allaboutbirds.org) -?If you are looking for one, look at the edges of shallow water or concealing vegetation. Look for a hunch-backed bird with a long, straight bill actively starting at the water. (allaboutbirds.org) -?The oldest green heron on record was at least 8 years, 11 months old. It was banded in 2013 and then found in Texas in 2021. (allaboutbirds.org)

Congratulations on your promotion Jenna Walls! In 2024, Jenna was promoted to Habitat Restoration Operations Manager / Health & Safety Officer. We're so proud of your 7 years with Tierra Data Inc. Your?dedication and hard work make TDI a safe and productive place to work. Thank you, Jenna.

Bird of the Month – Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon -?During the San Diego Bay Avian Survey, in December 2024 we spotted 20 belted kingfishers during our land and boat surveys. -?The belted kingfisher is one of the few bird species in which the female is more brightly colored than the male.?Females have a blue and a chestnut band, while males have one blue band across the white breast. The accompanying photos are of females. (allaboutbirds.org) -?As nestlings, belted kingfishers have acidic stomachs that help them digest bones, fish scales, and arthropod shells. As adults, they begin regurgitating pellets which accumulate on the ground around fishing and roosting perches. (allaboutbirds.org) -?Pleistocene fossils of belted kingfishers (to 600,000 years old) have been unearthed in Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas. The oldest known fossil in the kingfisher genus is 2 million years old, found in Alachua County, Florida (allaboutbirds.org)

Bird of the Month – Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata -??In November during the San Diego Bay Avian Survey, we saw 100s of surf scoters in San Diego Bay, and continued to see them during out December survey window. -??The black and white patches on the heads of male surf scoters helped give it the nickname “old skunkhead”. (allaboutbirds.org) -??Sometimes immature surf scoters skip the summer trip north to their breeding grounds. Instead, they hang around their wintering grounds - along bays and estuaries. (allaboutbirds.org) -??The oldest recorded surf scoter was found in 2020 in British Columbia. He was at least 19 years and 7 months old when found.?(allaboutbirds.org)

Bird of the Month – Brant, Branta bernicla -??October was the first time Brants were spotted during the San Diego Bay (SDB) Avian survey this year. They’ve arrived for their winter migration. -??Brant’s feed most heavily at lower and falling tides, when eelgrass beds are within reach. (allaboutbirds.org) -??The oldest recorded Brant was a female, and was over 27 years, 6 months old. It had been banded in Alaska and was found in Washington.?(allaboutbirds.ord) -??Adult Brant have white markings on the neck, showing variation in size of this necklace in all populations. A Canadian study found that individuals tended to pair with others that had similar amounts of white in their necklace. (allaboutbirds.org) (photos were taken by observers in pervious SDB Avian Surveys)

Bird of the Month - Osprey, Pandion haliaetus -??During the San Diego Bay Avian Survey, we regularly see Ospreys. In August there were 58 Osprey sightings! - ?Ospreys build nests on manmade structures, telephone poles, channel markers, and nest platforms designed especially for it. These platforms have become an important tool in reestablishing Ospreys in certain areas. -??They are excellent anglers. Several studies show that Osprey catch fish on at least 1 in every 4 dives, with success rates as high as 70%. They spend an average of 12 minutes hunting before making a catch. -??The name “Osprey” made its first appearance around 1460, via the Medieval Latin phrase for “bird of prey” (avis prede).

Bird of the Month - Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Nyctanassa violacea - Last month during the San Diego Bay Bird Survey a few of these birds were recorded in South Bay and Imperial Beach - They are common in San Diego now, but they used to be considered a rare bird of California - They feed mostly on crustaceans, especially crabs and crayfish, as you can see in one of the photos Photographs taken by TDI’s very own Wildlife Biologist, Beth Sabiston

We’re conducting field work in the Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad California in preparation for replacing the 80-year-old wooden railroad trestle that crosses the lagoon. Last Thursday, Daniel Conley and Emily Gardner went out on a small boat with sonar and video equipment to survey for eelgrass and Caulerpa. San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), who’s overseeing this project, will be required to replace any eelgrass found in the construction area. Another TDI employee Derek Langsford talked about the ecological importance of eelgrass. Construction might be delayed if Caulerpa is found. Everyone is hopeful this will not be the case, as Caulerpa is a prolific invasive species that outcompetes the native eelgrass. Thursday morning there were reporters and videographers from KPBS and The San Diego Union Tribune to interview and document the project and the importance of the survey. Here is a link the San Diego Union Tribune article where all three TDI employees are featured! Great work team! https://lnkd.in/gDWRAgq5

We're monitoring ECOncrete units that were originally installed in 2020 to see how well these structures promote settlement of intertidal species along the San Diego Bay. This is one of the Port of San Diego's Blue Economy projects. You can check out all of their projects on their website (https://lnkd.in/eQraH3a) Take a look at just a few of the species that call these units home! Sea slug - Garibaldi - algae

The San Diego Bay Avian Survey is officially underway! To celebrate this survey, we’re introducing Bird of the Month! Each month we will highlight a bird species that is found in San Diego Bay. Bird of the Month: Elegant Tern, Thalasseus elegans Fun facts: -?Most observed species during June sampling for the San Diego Bay Avian Survey. -?The elegant tern was the first found nesting in the U.S. in 1959 in San Diego Bay, California. Since the 1980s, several more colonies have been established in California (source – allaboutbirds.org). - The oldest recorded elegant tern was at least 20 years, 11 months old when it was found in California in 2010, the same state where it had been banded in 1989 (source – allaboutbirds.org).