Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
declined due to the destruction of its
salt marsh habitat, which may be con-
tributing to genetic stagnation among
the predominantly smaller populations.
YEAR LISTED
: 1970
SIZE
: 4.6-7 inches, in-
cluding tail; body, 2.4-3 inches
POPULA-
TION
: unknown
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. (Depart-
ment of Water Resources)
Soft bird's beak
(
Cordylanthus mollis
ssp. mollis
) A member of the snap-
dragon family with red-tinged greyish fo-
liage, and pointy clusters of white to yel-
lowish flowers, soft bird's beak is
semiparasitic and can obtain nutrients
from the roots of other marsh plants.
Freshwater withdrawals upstream from
the delta have made much of the
plant's former habitat in Suisun Marsh
too salty for this plant to tolerate, a
problem exacerbated by development,
habitat fragmentation, and the spread
of invasive plants.
YEAR LISTED
: 1997
SIZE
:
10-16 inches tall
POPULATION SIZE
: fluctu-
ates considerably from year to year. One population on Joice Island had 1,000
plants in 1991, 7,650 in 1993, and 150 in 1999
SITE OCCURRENCES
: 14 occurrences
in Solano County, but one since extirpated at Mare Island
Soft bird's beak. (Jude Stalker)
Western Snowy Plover
(
Charadrius alex-
andriunus nivosus
) Grey or black side
patches rather than a full band around
the throat, grey legs, and a thin black
bill distinguish this federally threatened
plover from its North American relatives.
In the estuary, it frequents the mudflats,
salt ponds, levees, and evaporation
pond edges of the South Bay, where it
snaps up small crabs, Brine Flies, and
other invertebrates. Its habit of nesting in pebble-lined scrapes on beaches has left
it vulnerable to predation and nest disturbance by dogs, joggers, and hikers.
YEAR
LISTED
: 1973
SIZE
: 6.25 inches
POPULATION AT LISTING
: unknown
POPULATION TODAY
: 2,300
Western Snowy Plover. (Caitlin Nilsen)
