Restoring Vital Bird Habitat in Carman Valley

For 25 years, Jim Steele monitored birds in the Tahoe National Forest around Yuba Pass, Sierra Valley, and Perrazzo Meadows. He was also the principal researcher in an intensive study of six wet meadows on the east and west slopes of the Sierra Nevada crest, funded by the U.S. Forest Service. This riparian habitat is critical not only for breeding birds, but also for birds during molt and migration. The research culminated in the restoration of the Carman Valley watershed just west of Sierra Valley. Jim will offer a short history of the restoration and discuss the importance of a healthy watershed for birdlife. He will also share insights on the upslope movements of Orange-crowned Warblers and the changing habitat use of Black-headed Grosbeaks in the Carmen Valley area. In his research, bird banding provided an opportunity to observe the progression of individuals from juvenal to adult plumage, and photos of birds in the hand will let you test your identification skills of the juvenal plumages of common birds such as Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow Warbler, and MacGillvray's Warbler.