Dogs Chase (and kill) Birds
"'Most people don't understand that making a bird fly can be an issue,' said Cara O'Brien, a district interpretive program manager for California State Parks."
"People don't realize that some birds set up their nests directly on off-shore rocks, and they unknowingly wander into the seabird's area. The parents then use up precious energy as they call out and fly around to protect their chicks."
Spreading the Word: Observe, Don't Disturb
by Jack Lee
Santa Cruz Sentinel
https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/03/08/spreading-the-word-observe-but-dont-disturb/
"People don't realize that some birds set up their nests directly on off-shore rocks, and they unknowingly wander into the seabird's area. The parents then use up precious energy as they call out and fly around to protect their chicks."
Spreading the Word: Observe, Don't Disturb
by Jack Lee
Santa Cruz Sentinel
https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/03/08/spreading-the-word-observe-but-dont-disturb/
April 16, 2020
Due to the County's coronavirus beach and park closure from April 9 through April 15, shorebirds were able to feed and rest at beaches, undisturbed by unleashed dogs. One may see a picture HERE.
So what happened on the morning of April 16? Exactly what we expected, and many dog owners proved us right.
Dog owners returned to the beaches to violate the leash law and show utter disregard for wildlife that depends on shoreline feeding and resting for their thousands of miles migratory journeys. Here is one example (picture taken just 5 minutes after the photographer arrived at the beach this morning at 9:30 am).
The photographer reports what happened: "A woman was walking along the beach with her dog off leash. She leashed up before she passed a fisherman and then me. The dog saw birds ahead in the distance and was straining hard at the leash to chase them. She unleashed the dog and it took off to chase the birds. Then the dog changed direction and raced back along the beach past me to chase some more birds. The woman then retraced her steps to go after the dog. As she passed me I asked Do you normally allow your dog to chase birds? She replied No, she got away from me." I managed to get a picture of the first chase, not well focused because I wasn't expecting it."
When are these dog owners going to get it? Apparently never.
So what happened on the morning of April 16? Exactly what we expected, and many dog owners proved us right.
Dog owners returned to the beaches to violate the leash law and show utter disregard for wildlife that depends on shoreline feeding and resting for their thousands of miles migratory journeys. Here is one example (picture taken just 5 minutes after the photographer arrived at the beach this morning at 9:30 am).
The photographer reports what happened: "A woman was walking along the beach with her dog off leash. She leashed up before she passed a fisherman and then me. The dog saw birds ahead in the distance and was straining hard at the leash to chase them. She unleashed the dog and it took off to chase the birds. Then the dog changed direction and raced back along the beach past me to chase some more birds. The woman then retraced her steps to go after the dog. As she passed me I asked Do you normally allow your dog to chase birds? She replied No, she got away from me." I managed to get a picture of the first chase, not well focused because I wasn't expecting it."
When are these dog owners going to get it? Apparently never.
January 1, 2020
Due to strong surf conditions, shorebirds rested in front of the apartments (near the 20th Avenue entrance to Corcoran Lagoon Beach.
Unfortunately, the birds were driven from their rest by at least six unleashed dogs who enjoyed retrieving a ball from small lake in front of apartments.
Since the birds could not feed, due to the surf conditions, they could not restore the energy that was drained by the constant disturbance, whose owners were focused on throwing balls for their dogs.
The most prolific group was this pack of three dogs who charged into the water at least ten times. All photos were taken between 11:20 am through 11:53 am.
Since the birds could not feed, due to the surf conditions, they could not restore the energy that was drained by the constant disturbance, whose owners were focused on throwing balls for their dogs.
The most prolific group was this pack of three dogs who charged into the water at least ten times. All photos were taken between 11:20 am through 11:53 am.
September 19, 2019
"In the mornings I’ve been enjoying watching the large numbers of egrets feeding in the outflow, but this morning a German shepherd would charge them, then charge them again, every time they settled. The dog's owner just watched."
September 7, 2019
At 5:00 this evening, as I was photographing migratory birds feeding and resting, an off leash dog, racing along the edge of the lagoon outflow water's edge, caused over 50 birds (seven species) to scatter and fly away. The dog then continued around the lagoon and caused eight Red-necked phalaropes, six Western sandpipers and two Semipalmated plovers to flee.
The dog then came to within four feet of me and began barking at me. When the owner caught up to the dog, he apologized. Too late.
The dog then came to within four feet of me and began barking at me. When the owner caught up to the dog, he apologized. Too late.
May 16, 2019
Narrow Escape for Killdeer Chick
Today I didn't go to the beach until after 7.00 pm. I walked the stretch of beach in front of the apartments. It had been swept over by waves. No sign of the killdeer.
I returned to the beach east of the apartments and was just in time to catch sight of an unleashed dog chasing a killdeer chick. The dog's mouth was at times a foot away from the chick. The chick was zigzagging, that's what saved it. I yelled at the owner who did call his dog. Just in time, because the chick had just entered the water which immediately slowed it down. If the dog had not responded to the owner it would have all been over in the next second, it was that close.
Today I didn't go to the beach until after 7.00 pm. I walked the stretch of beach in front of the apartments. It had been swept over by waves. No sign of the killdeer.
I returned to the beach east of the apartments and was just in time to catch sight of an unleashed dog chasing a killdeer chick. The dog's mouth was at times a foot away from the chick. The chick was zigzagging, that's what saved it. I yelled at the owner who did call his dog. Just in time, because the chick had just entered the water which immediately slowed it down. If the dog had not responded to the owner it would have all been over in the next second, it was that close.
May 8, 2019
To understand how bad this report is, first go see some pretty amazing pictures of this year's Killdeer nesting season HERE.
With that beautiful story of life fresh in your mind, read this now terrible news from the photographer who photo-documented the nesting season. The Killdeer family was decimated by dogs early this morning:
Bad news, bad pictures. I am extremely upset.
These pictures are hard to look at. We lost one baby Killdeer Saturday night. I don't know the cause.Today I had to leave early; one of the adults has been killed by a dog.
I found the other adult sitting nearby with the three surviving chicks beneath her. The saddest photo that I have ever taken. The head had been bitten off and fresh dog prints and fresh boot prints present.
With that beautiful story of life fresh in your mind, read this now terrible news from the photographer who photo-documented the nesting season. The Killdeer family was decimated by dogs early this morning:
Bad news, bad pictures. I am extremely upset.
These pictures are hard to look at. We lost one baby Killdeer Saturday night. I don't know the cause.Today I had to leave early; one of the adults has been killed by a dog.
I found the other adult sitting nearby with the three surviving chicks beneath her. The saddest photo that I have ever taken. The head had been bitten off and fresh dog prints and fresh boot prints present.
Yesterday I was called away from the killdeer by a young man who had found a badly injured grebe which someone had tried to hide under seaweed over near the rocks on 20th. This bird had come ashore tangled in fishing wire. It had obviously been mauled by an animal, most likely a dog because I had seen a couple of owners with their dogs playing on that spot earlier. One wing broken and almost torn off the body, wounds on the body, even the feet were bleeding, all fresh blood. The guy who alerted me to it had removed the fishing wire. The bird was still breathing. I stayed with it until Native Animal Rescue collected it.
When I got back to the area where the killdeer have been hanging out and where I have been trying to keep dogs away, a woman was there with two off leash dogs. The killdeer had escaped them by moving out onto the beach where they were confronted by two more off leash dogs and were confused. I got the woman to leave and ushered the the killdeer back to their spot.
To top it all off, as I was leaving the beach I found another mangled dead bird.
When I got back to the area where the killdeer have been hanging out and where I have been trying to keep dogs away, a woman was there with two off leash dogs. The killdeer had escaped them by moving out onto the beach where they were confronted by two more off leash dogs and were confused. I got the woman to leave and ushered the the killdeer back to their spot.
To top it all off, as I was leaving the beach I found another mangled dead bird.
April 26, 2019
At 3:15 today, beautiful Marbled godwits (Limosa fedoa) first bathed and then tried to feed along the shoreline.
The following report documents what happened next:
"As I took this photograph I saw a couple let their dog of leash. I got their attention and pointed to the birds. They took notice but ignored my warning. The couple then went out to the shore and walked to the shoreline, their dog clearing the beach of birds. Next they retraced their steps and continued eastward along the shoreline, their dog once again clearing the beach of birds. They knew what they were doing, because half an hour after they left the beach they passed me while walking on East Cliff. The character in the grey attire snidely said 'Good afternoon' to me."
"As I took this photograph I saw a couple let their dog of leash. I got their attention and pointed to the birds. They took notice but ignored my warning. The couple then went out to the shore and walked to the shoreline, their dog clearing the beach of birds. Next they retraced their steps and continued eastward along the shoreline, their dog once again clearing the beach of birds. They knew what they were doing, because half an hour after they left the beach they passed me while walking on East Cliff. The character in the grey attire snidely said 'Good afternoon' to me."
April 23, 2019
Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) trying to feed at the shoreline got chased off at least five times. Two of those times were by a German Shepherd. Its owner went from 19th to at least 26th clearing the birds as she went. On the second pass, westbound, after clearing out the birds on the beach, her dog detoured up the beach and cleared the birds out of the lagoon.
The birds cannot make their thousands of miles migrations from wintering to breeding grounds without feeding and resting.
The birds cannot make their thousands of miles migrations from wintering to breeding grounds without feeding and resting.
April 18, 2019
Morning 10 am
Egrets were feeding and resting. Even though the unleashed dog was not racing for the birds, they were wary and eventually had to flee. The dog's owner comes to the beach regularly and allows his dogs off leash. He sits on a log while they do whatever they do. He is known to Animal Services, has had many complaints filed, and probably many citations issued.
April 9, 2019
This shameful dogs-chase-birds incident comes from the blog of a regular observer of wildlife of the San Lorenzo River https://sanlorenzoriverblog.com/2019/04/09/tasks-are-useful/
"A young man was sitting peacefully on the river bank and sharing his breakfast with the MALLARDS, who were overjoyed by this unexpected food supply. They stood around him, waiting patiently for an other morsel coming in their way. The RED-throated LOON swam close to the shore, clearly interested in the MALLARD scene.
"Another young man showed up with his dog. He unleashed the look-alike wolf, who couldn’t believe its luck: MALLARDS nearby on the shore. The dog took off lightning fast, aiming for the breakfast eaters, who couldn’t believe their eyes while they were gauging if this was really true: a dog on the loose, racing straight at them. They decided that a peaceful meal had turned into hell and exploded into the air to land on the water.
"The breakfast benefactor yelled at the dog owner, whose dog was chasing the MALLARDS in the water. The RED-throated LOON dove down and re-surfaced at a safe distance. It became obvious that the dog was on fire with hunting fever, ignoring the helpless master’s calls, chasing after every bird in sight until land and water were feather empty. It took a while for the owner to get hold of his dog and as they left the previously peaceful man tasked the other man to become a responsible dog owner with some peppery comments."
"A young man was sitting peacefully on the river bank and sharing his breakfast with the MALLARDS, who were overjoyed by this unexpected food supply. They stood around him, waiting patiently for an other morsel coming in their way. The RED-throated LOON swam close to the shore, clearly interested in the MALLARD scene.
"Another young man showed up with his dog. He unleashed the look-alike wolf, who couldn’t believe its luck: MALLARDS nearby on the shore. The dog took off lightning fast, aiming for the breakfast eaters, who couldn’t believe their eyes while they were gauging if this was really true: a dog on the loose, racing straight at them. They decided that a peaceful meal had turned into hell and exploded into the air to land on the water.
"The breakfast benefactor yelled at the dog owner, whose dog was chasing the MALLARDS in the water. The RED-throated LOON dove down and re-surfaced at a safe distance. It became obvious that the dog was on fire with hunting fever, ignoring the helpless master’s calls, chasing after every bird in sight until land and water were feather empty. It took a while for the owner to get hold of his dog and as they left the previously peaceful man tasked the other man to become a responsible dog owner with some peppery comments."
April 6, 2019
Two Ducks Flee From Two Dogs
A couple came to the beach with two large dogs. One black and one white. Two ducks were sitting on a log in the lagoon area of the beach. Both dogs ran into the lagoon water. The white dog approached the the ducks from the apartment side. The black dog from the killdeer area. The black dog made the ducks fly before the white dog got to them. The same couple came to the beach the next day. The dogs looked for the ducks, but there were none.
A couple came to the beach with two large dogs. One black and one white. Two ducks were sitting on a log in the lagoon area of the beach. Both dogs ran into the lagoon water. The white dog approached the the ducks from the apartment side. The black dog from the killdeer area. The black dog made the ducks fly before the white dog got to them. The same couple came to the beach the next day. The dogs looked for the ducks, but there were none.
January 28, 2019
At 11:30 am there were eight unleashed dogs and one on leash with seven dog owners at Corcoran Lagoon Beach. One lone Snowy egret, attempting to feed at the shoreline, constantly took wing to evade dogs chasing it. When asked to leash their dogs, on owner ignored the request with the comment "I pay taxes and I live across the street." One wonders if paying taxes relieves citizens of the rule of law.
November 17, 2018
This Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) was first seen by the photographer floundering away from an unleashed dog. It had been seen earlier being chased into the water by another unleashed dog. Numerous people reported the bird in distress to Native Animal Rescue, including a sheriff's deputy.
Thanks to Native Animal Rescue and everyone else who participated in its rescue. May it heal of any wounds and be returned to the wild. May all dog owners learn to stop violating the County Leash Law and keep their dogs leashed when they are in wildlife habitat. County beaches are not designated as off-leash playgrounds for dogs!
Thanks to Native Animal Rescue and everyone else who participated in its rescue. May it heal of any wounds and be returned to the wild. May all dog owners learn to stop violating the County Leash Law and keep their dogs leashed when they are in wildlife habitat. County beaches are not designated as off-leash playgrounds for dogs!
January 27, 2018
Since the lagoon has resealed at the east end of Corcoran Lagoon Beach, a number of egrets have gathered there. This morning Keith went down there at 10:25 am to photograph them. No egrets. This evening another photographer sent the following three pictures, taken at 8:19 am. She said that the unleashed dog chased the birds for almost an hour. The owner showed no remorse.
2016-2017 saw a repeat of migratory shorebirds being chased by dogs. Happens every day. How many pictures do we have to publish in order to document this situation? How many reports like the following are necessary?
November 12, 2016
Birds trying to feed, to gain strength for their migratory journey, were chased by an unleashed dog this morning. This is a constant problem at CLB, as dog owners continue to not understand how their dogs cause disturbance and stress to birds trying to rest an feed along the shoreline. Do these dog owners care? Apparently not, by their words and actions.
November 2, 2016
Beautiful egrets at the shoreline. Then the dog owners began showing up from the 26th Ave. direction - mostly women. I saw a group of 6 people with 6 dogs, one woman with two dogs. I saw those 2 dogs chase the egrets. The woman called them back to the surf line, but the damage was done. A little after 10 I saw Kristin D. on the beach with her dogs off leash. Birds gone.
April 30, 2016
Eight dogs off-leash this morning. One woman's golden retriever chased a few of the Whimbrels trying to feed at the shoreline. I turned around to wait for her to catch up, but she could tell that I wasn't happy and leashed the dog and herded it off in the other direction. Shows people know the rules but just could not care less.
December 20, 2015
This morning, a couple came on to the beach and unleashed their dog. The dog chased birds for three or four minutes. They called their dog several times, but it did not respond until all the birds had flown away. There were at least three species, small sanderlings, Whimbrels or Willets and a Marbled godwit -- all scattered by the dog.
December 8, 2015
This morning, the black dog in the picture below chased every bird visible in the picture. Egrets, ducks, seagulls, everything. The dog belonged to the woman in the background with her arms outstretched. Her walking partner also had an unleashed dog. After the damage was done, they both leashed their dogs and left the beach.
December 7, 2015
Shorebirds feeding and resting along the lagoon outflow at Corcoran Lagoon Beach were flushed by an unleashed dog, which raced into the water. The dog's owner said "Sorry about that." Only the egrets returned...eventually.
Further unleashed dog activity today...
In the beach area to the west of the lagoon, a dog owner threw a ball for her unleashed dog right at the birds, making them fly. Then she crossed over to the east side of the lagoon, where she deliberately threw her ball two more times at the birds. Another dog owner, with two dogs, entered the beach from the east access from E. Cliff Dr. She unleashed both of her dogs. A fourth dog owner, with her two unleashed dogs, came onto the beach.
December 3, 2015
This dog owner was actually trying to get his dog to chase a bird that was resting on the sand. Fortunately, he was unsuccessful as the dog was more interested in playing with three other off-leash dogs that were near by.
Snowy Plovers at Corcoran Lagoon Beach!
Just before sunset of the same day, these two endangered Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) were seen at the tide line of the eastern end of CLB. Unfortunately, they were flushed by an unleashed dog, expending precious energy. Another dog owner, who had leashed her dog said "I see them out here every winter." Another Snowy Plover was photographed at Corcoran Lagoon Beach this past spring (4/6/15).
November 30, 2015
At 9:00 am I was taking pictures of Egrets, when all of a sudden they took flight, the result of being chased by these two small unleashed dogs. Next the dogs ran over and began barking at me. Next, still unleashed, the dogs went over and began barking at a couple that was laying on the sand. The couple got up and left the beach. As the dog owner walked past me to retrieve her dogs, she said to me "They've never done that before." The whole thing was witnessed by three others.
These dogs are off-leash other places besides the beach. The following picture was taken April 19, 2015 at the Shoreline Middle School playing field, where there are two signs that say No Dogs Allowed on Field (whether they are leashed or not). The dogs were observed at the school playing field again on November 29, where the fastest unleashed dog chased birds (Seagulls and Killdeer). Owner and dogs proceeded to the Twin Lakes State Park (posted Dogs Must Be ON Leash), where the dogs were unleashed once more.
November 28, 2015
There were forty birds in the lagoon outflow, until two unleashed dogs entered the water, causing the birds to fly away to seek refuge across E. Cliff Drive. Another dog owner was seen scraping sand over his dog's excrement. Another incident occurred when a woman with a leashed well-behaved pit bull breed dog entered the beach. When the woman was 150 feet from the shore another unleashed dog ran toward the pit bull. Both dogs danced around the woman entangling her in the extended long leash. This happened nine times. The owners of the unleashed dogs were calling their dog the entire time, but the dog wouldn't respond. After the sixth time the pit bull looked at the owner and waited for the other dog to charge for the seventh, eighth and ninth times, finally snarling, that he'd had enough during those last three charges. The owners retrieved their dog after the ninth charge. So much for the pit bull's owner's nice walk on the beach.
I went over to 12th Avenue (State Beach), just in time to see a man walking with his unleashed dog 80 feet behind him defecating on the beach. The owner was unaware of what was happening behind him and of course did not pick it up.
At sunset I checked the the 32nd to 36th Avenue Beach. That was a shocker. It was low tide and birds were trying to land to feed. Three Egrets and a dozen or so Sanderlings were chased for twenty minutes by four dogs. The birds would land at 32nd and get chased off by the dogs. The birds would then try to land at 36th, to be again chased by the dogs. This was repeated many times. So much for the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.
I went over to 12th Avenue (State Beach), just in time to see a man walking with his unleashed dog 80 feet behind him defecating on the beach. The owner was unaware of what was happening behind him and of course did not pick it up.
At sunset I checked the the 32nd to 36th Avenue Beach. That was a shocker. It was low tide and birds were trying to land to feed. Three Egrets and a dozen or so Sanderlings were chased for twenty minutes by four dogs. The birds would land at 32nd and get chased off by the dogs. The birds would then try to land at 36th, to be again chased by the dogs. This was repeated many times. So much for the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.
April 8, 2015
11:00 am A woman entered the beach from E. Cliff Dr. with two unleashed dogs, one of which immediately chased after the egrets in the lagoon outflow. The dog then chased the Surfbirds, a Whimbrel and several Willets feeding at the shoreline. A man who watched this happen said he was going to have a word with the dog owner. I don't know if he did, but she left the beach shortly there after.
March 5, 2015
4:20 pm This was the third chase for this dog. Entered the beach at 32nd, chased birds there, again between 32nd and 34th and then this chase pictured. Dog's owner was heads down in her smart phone and saw none of the chases.
March 1, 2015
Photo taken at 3:00 pm on Sunday. Does the egret stand a chance? Do the mindless dog owners who throw balls for their unleashed dogs have a clue?
February 20, 2015
4:30 pm Since Animal Control officers can't be on the beach all the time, this dog cleared the birds out at 32nd, then chased all the birds off between 34th and 36th.
February 3, 2015
This pelican was chased off by unleashed dogs three times in one hour. Picture taken at 32nd Ave. beach at 5:02 pm.
From an observer: "I think it is very wrong that people run their dogs off leash at Pleasure Point, the only good size reef area in mid county where birds can feed at low tide. It is criminal that they are denied that by dog owners."
February 2, 2015
A dog owner, violating the County Leash Ordinance, allows this unleashed Queensland heeler to chase birds at 34th Avenue beach (3:20 pm).
January 30, 2015
34th Avenue beach at 2:50 pm. This dog is real a bird dog. It stalks the birds before attacking. I've seen it stalk small birds that people down there don't see. These egrets were fine even when the surfers put in near them. Only the charging dog caused them to fly away.
11:15 am These birds were back within ten minutes only to be chased away again, this time by two very small dogs that
continued the chase over into the lagoon, resulting in the flushing of several Whimbrels and Marbled godwits that
were feeding. A second group of birds flew over to feed on the edge of the surf only to be put to flight by an
unthinking man who threw a ball for his dog.
continued the chase over into the lagoon, resulting in the flushing of several Whimbrels and Marbled godwits that
were feeding. A second group of birds flew over to feed on the edge of the surf only to be put to flight by an
unthinking man who threw a ball for his dog.
January 5, 2015
Six Snowy egrets enjoyed the shoreline of Corcoran Lagoon Beach from 9:45 am to 10:33 am. They were not bothered by walkers, who carefully passed them. People and wildlife sharing the beach. At 10:33 the unleashed dogs arrived and harassed the birds for 8 minutes, finally chasing them away for good.
4:30 pm Unleashed dog chases Great Blue Heron from its feeding spot at at Pleasure Point Beach (34th Avenue).
December 28, 2014
11:00 am Beach at bottom of 20th Avenue stairs. Another unleashed dog chases shorebirds. Do these dog owners,
violating the leash law, have any clue or do they think birds enjoy being flushed by predators?
violating the leash law, have any clue or do they think birds enjoy being flushed by predators?
11:48 am Harassment of wildlife on the shore of the National Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary by unleashed dog. These pictures taken at the end of the Corcoran Lagoon outflow. Constant harassment allowed by dog owners.
2:50 pm And another unleashed dog chases birds at Corcoran Lagoon Beach. It is past time to raise the fines for
violation of the leash law, to put some teeth into the consequences of destroying wildlife habitat with domestic pets.
violation of the leash law, to put some teeth into the consequences of destroying wildlife habitat with domestic pets.
December 21, 2014
I was walking on E. Cliff watching unleashed dogs at low tide going nuts on birds. I overheard two men talking about the dogs chasing the birds and then about the controversy regarding off leash.
One man was pro off leash. When I talked about birds not feeding and children running he said "yeah, kids shouldn't run from dogs because the dogs go for the back of the neck." He said that three dogs chased and bit his son in the back of the neck at the beach long ago. When I asked why then he doesn't support the leash law he said his children were grown now and he doesn't care. I told him I did because they chase my grandchildren now. He was unmoved.
One man was pro off leash. When I talked about birds not feeding and children running he said "yeah, kids shouldn't run from dogs because the dogs go for the back of the neck." He said that three dogs chased and bit his son in the back of the neck at the beach long ago. When I asked why then he doesn't support the leash law he said his children were grown now and he doesn't care. I told him I did because they chase my grandchildren now. He was unmoved.
Properly leashed dogs are less of a threat to some birds. This Great blue heron and the Snowy egrets tolerated this dog, controlled by a responsible owner. The owner was respectful of the birds as he allowed his canine companion to momentarily veer off the asphalt walkway. (December 12, 2015)
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