Outreach and Education Coordinator, Tabatha Yang, above right, explores the MWFB bird collections with an enthusiastic group of first graders from Willett Elementary School.
Outreach
The Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology has an active outreach program reaching over 1700 students and hundreds of people annually. Traditionally our goal has been the education of undergraduate and graduate students at UC Davis. The MWFB collections and staff support over 35 courses across 11 different departments on campus, interacting with over 1,700 students annually. Through our Services Program, we use specimens to assist with species determinations and help train agency biologists in vertebrate identification.
Outreach Events
- Bird Walks at Cosumnes River Preserve. Join MWFB ornithologist John Trochet as he conducts monthly surveys of the Tall Forest. Click here for more information.
- Bird Walks along the UCD Arboretum every Thursday. See the March 2009 Spotlight feature on the UCD homepage for more details.
- Cal State Fair, Monday, Aug 31, MWFB exhibit was a hit!
The MWFB is expanding outreach programs to include more opportunities for the general public to learn from our collections. Currently, we offer tours of the collections for groups with advanced reservations. As our program grows we plan to add more activities. If you have a suggestion or an idea about how we can be of service, please let us know.
We also provide specimens in response to requests for use by educators and researchers both on and off campus. Access to such a complete collection (in terms of species coverage) offers opportunities to a wide array of users. Specimen loan requests must be made in writing to the Collections Manager and approved by our Curator. Please click here for more details on specimen loans.
We are located on the University of California, Davis campus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology in the Academic Surge Building, room 1394. Click here for an interactive campus map, or here for a PDF map to the MWFB.
Tours
For more information on tours please visit our tours webpage, or contact our Outreach and Education Coordinator, Tabatha Yang at (530) 754-4975.
Volunteer / Internship Opportunities
For more information, visit our volunteer webpage, or contact our Collections Manager, Irene Engilis at (530) 754-8813.
Events
Join Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology ornithologist, John Trochet, on his monthly survey of the Cosumnes River Preserve. Click here for more information or to print an informational flyer.
19 SEP 2009, 6:10AM
17 OCT 2009, 6:40AM
21 NOV 2009, 6:00AM
13 DEC 2009. 6:40AMVisit a portion of the preserve not otherwise open to the public. This woodland bears some real resemblance to what valley riparian forests once looked like up and down the Central Valley. It is worth seeing. Anyone with any natural history interest is welcome. Check back for additional dates. Ordinarily it is the third Saturday each month, but schedule is subject to change. ALWAYS confirm the date at the preserve’s website at www.cosumnes.org, checking the link to scheduled events.
We go through the Farm Center gate, at the corner of Bruceville and Desmond Roads, at the listed departure time. DON’T BE LATE! For directions visit www.cosumnes.org.
Past Events
Besides funnel cake, ferris wheels and birthing cows the California State Fair on Monday, August 31 had another treat. We, the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology (MWFB), set up a mini-museum for guests, particularly youth, to get to know some of the unique wild animals found here in California. From Yellow-billed Magpies to the Siskiyou Chipmunk we wanted to celebrate the wild denizens of California. To do this we had five different areas for people to explore: 1) nature photography 2) museum specimens (some of which you could touch!) 3) range maps of California endemic animals 4) backyard nestboxes 5) reading riddles with binoculars.
About 500 people visited the 200 square foot area located in the Youth Expo. If you weren’t able to spend the day at the fair and visit us, let me tell you about it. When you first walked into the Expo building #1 you could see the nestboxes and Canada Geese at the back of the room hanging from above. Hmm, what is going on over there? As you approached the “flying geese” the sounds of different birds could be heard. One moment it was an Anna’s Hummingbird’s buzzing sound and the next there were the cries of the California Gull. (An iPod loaded with the bird sounds of California was continuously playing; contributing to the theme of California’s nature.)
When you rounded the corner you saw an area filled with interesting and different items. On the wall were beautiful photographs of California animals taken by Andy Engilis, Jr., MWFB’s curator. Then there was a large Brown Pelican mounted on the wall “diving” onto a table with many things including a Sea Otter skeleton and a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, a bird only found in California. But this wasn’t the table you could touch. If you wanted to use your hands the “please touch” table was next to this. Here you could find a dozen or so curiosities, including a piece of a Bowhead Whale baleen, an American Beaver pelt and what one young boy declared as “awesome,” a round study skin of a Red-tailed Hawk. But there is more to touch! A raised relief map of California hung on the wall. The Central Valley really is flat. Around the map were range maps for some of California’s endemic animals- these are animals only found here. Who knew there was an arboreal salamander and a small fox only found on the Channel Islands? And here in Northern California the native Delta Smelt are threatened?
Simply knowing about the animals here in California is a good start, but for those who want to help animals from their own backyard we had a display of nestboxes with nests, eggs and specimens of Western Bluebirds, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Tree Swallows and House Wrens. MWFB projects like the Putah Creek Nestbox Highway have been able to increase Western Bluebird populations in areas where they hadn’t been seen for decades. Interested in building and monitoring your own nestbox? We were giving out bookmarks with our website on it http://mwfb.ucdavis.edu . There we have information on nestboxes, current research, tours, the Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology and our on-line gift shop. Click here or scroll below for information on nestboxes.
But wait! There was one last thing you could do before you left. On a small cart across from the mini-museum we had some binoculars for people to enjoy using. We put some toy birds in a Ficus tree, so visitors could practice “birding,” an outdoor activity that is increasingly popular. To practice focusing the binoculars we had jokes with the answers posted at a distance. I’ll leave you with my favorite. ‘What did the museum specimen say when offered lunch?’ ‘No thanks, I’m stuffed.’ ( Snort. Laugh.) Typically, museum specimens are stuffed with cotton, but maybe on this sunny day at the California State Fair it was those funnel cakes.All of the above wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the following individuals: Andy Engilis Jr., Irene Engilis, Melanie Truan, John Trochet, Bobby Walsh, Mana Hattori, Ona Alminas, Avery Cook, Tabatha Yang, Carlos Alvarado, Ellen Engilis, and Annie Engilis. Also, the support of the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology at UC Davis is always appreciated. Lastly thanks to Michelle Johnson of the CA State Fair who invited us to participate and shepherded us through the whole process. We look forward to doing it all again next year!
WINNER Picnic Day 2009 Cutest Specimen Contest
The Cutest Specimen in the MWFB as voted by Picnic Day 2009 visitors was this specimen of Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat, Sturina ludovici.
On Picnic Day 2009, the MWFB held a 'Cutest Specimen' Contest. There were 13 candidate specimens selected by staff and students of the MWFB. Four-hundred sixty-five adults and children cast their votes. It was a tight race all day between two specimens, and the results were...
In 3rd place, with 58 votes was an Emperor Penguin chick.
In 2nd place, with 74 votes was an Ancient Murrelet chick.
And in 1st place, with 77 votes was a Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat, Sturina ludovici. This specimen was collected in Panana at an elevation of 5,500ft, on 21 December 1968 by W. H. Buskirk.
Many thanks to all who voted and visited the MWFB on Picnic Day. Look forward to next year's UGLIEST SPECIMEN CONTEST!
MWFB Bowling Team Fares Well in First Outing
MWFB bowling team 2009 from left to right, Andy Engilis, Irene Engilis, Melanie Truan, and Tabatha Yang.
On May 25th the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology (MWFB) mounted a team of not-so-expert bowlers to try our luck in the UCD Staff Bowling Tournament. The team, dubbed, The Hedgehog Rollers comprised of team captain Andy Engilis (MWFB Curator), Irene Engilis (MWFB Collections Manager), Melanie Truan (MWFB Director of Biomonitoring, and Tabatha Yang (MWFB Education and Outreach Coordinator). We entered as a coed team facing off against 27 other teams from other departments on campus. The event was held from 5:00 pm until about 7:00 pm at the UC Davis Memorial Union bowling alley. We kept the pressure on all evening against our foes, getting stronger through our third game. We finished tied for 20th place with a combined score of 2282. The first place team scored 2355 so a few more pins here and there would have moved us up in the ranking. We are now in training for next year’s event and determined to improve our standing among the bowling elite!
Nestboxes
Background
North America contains some 85 species of cavity nesting birds. Many of these play an important role in the control of insect pests. Unfortunately, the natural cavities or holes in which they nest are often in short supply due to cutting and felling of large dead or deteriorating trees. Those cavities that remain are often taken up by nonnative species, such as the European House Sparrow or the European Starling.
Artificial nest boxes (aka bird houses) mimic natural cavities and are readily used by cavity nesting birds. Nest boxes have been instrumental in increasing local populations of many cavity nesting species. Nest boxes are easily constructed and can be maintained to encourage target species and to discourage intruders.
Species Benefitted
Nest boxes benefit many different species. In California, the species most likely to nest in boxes include:
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)
Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
Purple Martin (Progne subis)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
Western Screech Owl (Otus kennicottii)
For more information on these birds you may visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds Bird Guide website or for full information, visit The Birds of North America Online.
Box Plans
Box plans are widely-available on the web. While each species generally prefers a box of a specific dimension and hole size, in many cases one size box will fit many. (Our generic North American Bluebird Society style bluebird boxes have hosted up to seven different species—though not at the same time!) Often, it is more the specific habitat and placement of boxes that determines which species nest in them.
Nest box plans and other useful information:
http://baltimorebirdclub.org/by/house.html
http://www.natureskills.com/how_to_build_a_bird_house.html
http://www.50birds.com/
http://www.freebirdhouseplans.net
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/nestbox.html
http://www.bygpub.com/bluebird/
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/woodwork/
Nestbox Success Tips
3-STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL NEST BOX
You can enjoy the beauty and fascination of birds—while providing much-needed breeding habitat for them—by following a few basic steps:
Western Bluebird eggs in a nestbox.
- Figure out which species nest in your area and which habitats they prefer. Field guides and ornithological websites offer a wealth of information on birds and their natural history. A little advance homework in this area will go a long way in determining the success of your nest boxes.
- Purchase or construct some boxes and place them in suitable habitats. Wherever possible, boxes should have an easterly or northerly exposure, and should receive afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. Boxes can be mounted on buildings, poles, or tree trunks, or can be hung by wires from tree limbs or eaves. Different types of boxes can be placed together to accommodate a suite of species, or a single type of box can be placed at intervals to accommodate individuals of the same species. In this case, it’s important to maintain a sufficient distance between boxes to avoid conflicts over territory (50 meters, about 165 feet, is generally sufficient, though some species with small home ranges, such as wrens, will tolerate smaller distances between boxes.
- Monitor your boxes regularly to insure their success and the safety of their occupants. Keep your distance early in the season when birds are making decisions about where to nest, as they are easily put-off at this time. After birds have constructed their nest, and especially after they have eggs and/or chicks (watch for food being brought to the nest box), box contents should be checked every 7-10 days. Any dead chicks should be removed, as should left-over material from failed nesting attempts. At the end of the breeding season (late summer or fall), old nesting material should be removed. Boxes can be left up over the winter to provide roosting habitat for wintering birds. It’s a good idea to check these boxes at the beginning of the breeding season (late winter or early spring) to make sure they’re clean and in good repair for the next occupants. The below links contain more detailed information on maintenance and monitoring of nest boxes.
Citizen Science
Many nest box monitors participate in citizen science projects, such as the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Nest Watch program or the California Bluebird Recovery Program. In these programs, you report your observations and the information you have gathered (species of bird, number of eggs, number of nestlings, time of nesting, etc.). This data gets compiled with everyone else’s data in a region-wide effort to better understand changes in bird populations.
Final Thoughts
Nest box projects can be as simple as a single box in your backyard, or as elaborate as a network of hundreds of nest boxes along a nest box “trail.” Click here for information on the MWFB's Putah Creek Nestbox Highway.What matters is that boxes are constructed with an eye towards the needs of their target species and are maintained lovingly and diligently by the people who care about them. Nest box projects are particularly well-suited for scouting organizations, senior centers, and school groups. Boxes can also be constructed to accommodate native squirrels, bats, and beneficial insects, and specialized “roost boxes” can be constructed for birds to use in winter. The important thing is to have fun and to enjoy helping an important and valuable wildlife group.
Additional Links
California Bluebird Recovery Program: http://www.cbrp.org/
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Nest Watch: http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nest/home/index
North American Bluebird Society: http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/
Purple Martin Conservation Association: http://www.purplemartin.org/