March 2011

Although March is “coming in like a lion”, there are already many signs of spring out on More Mesa.  Grasses are green (and high), wildflowers are starting to make appearances and our special raptors are courting and nest building.  The east kite pair is especially busy.

Kite watchers may be interested in a story from 2004, when Lynn Watson was fortunate enough to observe a White-tailed Kite pair on Vieja Drive – from nest-building, chick fledging to eventual foraging by the family on More Mesa. This photo-illustrated, most special of kite tales, is now available on this web site at Vieja Drive White-tailed Kites, 2004 or click on the image below.

vieja kites
Story Summary

Similar Posts

  • |

    July 2013

    Citizen Scientists Created a Record: In MMPC’s April Monthly News report we encouraged our supporters to become “Citizen Stewards” of More Mesa by reporting any inappropriate activities observed on More Mesa. This month we would like to reprise a similar theme … that of the “Citizen Scientist”. For more than thirteen years, MMPC has played an…

  • November 2016

    White-tailed Kites! Although sightings of White-tailed Kites have been rare in this fifth year of the drought, we are happy to report that a pair of these special birds have been seen, very recently, on the eastern side of More Mesa, and on the western portion as well. While these two sightings may be of…

  • |

    April 2011

    Water, water everywhere The word for this month is WATER!  Here in Santa Barbara, we are currently at 167% of our average rainfall for the “Water Year” 2011.  Indeed 9.62 inches of the 27 inches of rain has fallen in February and March.  What this means for More Mesa is that the vernal pool on…

  • |

    July 2011

    A teaching moment … Although we have not had any documented fledglings at More Mesa, as yet, we have an amazing kite photo to share with you this month.  The image was taken by wildlife photographer Barry Rowan, late in May at Lake Los Carneros.  We thought it would be fun and informative to list…

  • |

    October 2004

    Third Update on Hacienda Vieja Project Project approved by the Planning Commission: Several modifications to the Hacienda Vieja Project were offered by the developer at the 6 October meeting of the Planning Commission. These included redesigning two of the houses to one story, and reducing elevations and size. Two other issues were introduced as well….

  • October 2011

    It’s All About The Birds Many different species of birds have been reported on More Mesa in the past few weeks.  In addition to our year-round residents: White Tailed Kites, Red Tailed Hawks, Red Shouldered Hawks and Kestrels, winter visitors are already arriving, as evidenced by the presence of Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Say’s…