Of Magpies and Monkeyflowers

“There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than they way in 

which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.” ~Robert Lynd 

One of the best things about living on the central coast is getting to share it with the tenacious Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli). With the curiosity of a crow and loud chatter of a blue jay, they arrive in small flocks to investigate the yard and show off that blazing black, white and iridescent blue plumage. Often seen hopping along local roadsides (like crows, they will dine on carrion), they need tall trees like oaks and sycamores near open meadows to nest and hunt. Chosen as Audubon’s first California Bird of Year in 2009, this magpie is actually one special bird! 

Although they are a close relative to the more common black magpie, that distinctive yellow bill tells the story of being cut off from the others long ago, and becoming geographically isolated in the central valleys. They are only found from the Santa Ynez Valley to Salinas on the coast, and from Fresno to Redding inland, meaning that they are “endemic” to California, and not found anywhere else in the world. Most other local birds, including our state bird, the California Quail, have ranges that include other states or countries, and thus are not endemic. Being endemic makes the Yellow-billed Magpie one of California’s two most vulnerable bird species, with loss of habitat and disease being their most common foes. And since they do not migrate, once a population dies out, it’s gone for good.

The only other endemic bird in our state lives just off our southern shores, on Santa Cruz Island. The Island Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma insularis) likely became isolated from the mainland species after a period of glaciation around 150,000 years ago. This jay evolved to be larger, with a heavier bill, and interestingly the endemic Island Oak tree (Quercus tomentella) has very large acorns, the jay’s favorite food. Santa Cruz Island is about 95 square miles, the entire range of this jay, and thus is under conservation status as threatened. 

Luckily, most other bird populations rarely become completely isolated since they can move around (both with wings and legs) and perhaps adapt to different situations as needed, but not so with plants! There area at least 25 native plants that have become extinct in California in the past 100 years, primarily due to habitat loss from development. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there are 218 species, subspecies, and varieties of native plants designated as rare, threatened, or endangered now protected by state law, and over 2000 more that are considered to be of concern. 

A local example would be the little yellow Vandenberg Monkeyflower (Diplacus vandenbergensis), growing in only nine sites around Lompoc including the Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve, and La Purisima Mission State Park. Monkeyflowers as a whole are common in California, with close to a hundred described species native to the state. Often found clinging to rocky slopes and cliffs, many varieties and colors can be successfully grown in the home landscape and are available at native plant nurseries.

The Vandenberg Monkeyflower is one of the rarest of those species. It grows on soils mainly made up of sand deposited during the Pleistocene, in canopy openings between larger shrubs. Invasive plants pose the greatest threat to the species; by colonizing those canopy openings, plants such as pampas grass and iceplant can displace the monkeyflower from its habitat. The plant also faces threats from development, fire, and off-road vehicle use, and was granted protection by the Federal Endangered Species Act last August.

Another familiar endemic plant is our own majestic Valley Oak tree (Quercus lobata), native to the inland valleys of Central California, and the largest of all North American oaks. With enormous branches now heavy with acorns, and the jays, woodpeckers and magpies are busy squabbling over their annual fall feast. When Californians learn more about our rare and endangered species, most want to become better stewards of the land to provide the healthy environment these remarkable and vulnerable animals and plants deserve. By taking into consideration the long-term effects of our actions in our backyards, neighborhoods, towns and cities, we can all participate in the long-term successes of our unique local endemic species for generations to come.