By Roberta Lyons
More than 200 nature lovers descended on Clear Lake two months ago for the 20th annual Heron Days event. It’s a popular event that brings many tourists to Lake County and also gives local residents the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Clear Lake.
Herons are in the event name, but birders also come to see the Western and Clark’s Grebes. Clear Lake hosts some of the largest breeding sites for these birds, which spend the fall and winter on the open ocean, then come to inland lakes, such as Clear Lake, to build their amazing floating nests.
For the last five years, Redbud Audubon Society has been raising awareness about the need for water skiers and boaters to stay clear of nests, as strong wakes and other disturbances can disrupt nesting grebes. The chapter has also been observing and tracking the breeding success of the Western and Clarks grebes on Clear Lake and made good progress in discovering the challenges faced by these fascinating birds.
However, grebes and other birds are also facing another challenge: climate change.
“National Audubon Society research estimates that the Western Grebe will lose as much as 70 percent of its range in California in the coming decades if we don’t take steps to address climate change. Clark’s Grebes could lose as much as 80 percent,” noted Garrison Frost, communications director for Audubon California. What this means for Clear Lake is that an important aspect of the natural beauty of this lake could disappear.
The mating ritual of Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes is one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see in nature. The male and female birds float in the water together bobbing their heads in fascinating sequence, culminating in an amazing rush across the water together.
Climate change isn’t just a problem for the grebes. As many as 170 California birds could become extinct due to climate change in the coming decades, recent research reveals.
The California State Senate recently approved a slate of bills that will reduce the use of fossil fuels and set ambitious targets for renewable energy use. These bills are important to California not just because of the predicted impacts of global warming on birds, but because of what air pollution is doing to the state and its environment.
The core of the State Senate climate package — Senate Bills 32 and 350 — is working its way through the State Assembly now. For the sake of children and families that need to be able to enjoy nature in California — and for the sake of the grebes — this legislation should reach the Governor’s desk. Please contact Senator Bill Dodd and voice your support for the California Senate Climate package.
Roberta Lyons is president of the Redbud Audubon Society
