Resources

Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Eaton Canyon Natural Area. n.p. 18 May 1995. Web. 29, 31 Oct. & 12
Nov. 2012

Eaton, Eric. R. "Tucson Grasshopper Story o TV." blogspot.com. Blogspot. 22 Apr. 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.

Bird's eye view

Bird's eye view of our site.

List of Animals

List of Animals

Audubon's Cottontail

Scientific Name: Sylvilagus audubonii

Abundance: 1

Great Basin Fence Lizard

Scientific Name: Sceloporus occidentalis

Abundance: about 5

Nuttal's Woodpecker

Scientific Name: Picoides Nuttallii 

Abundance: 2

Pallid-winged Grasshopper

Scientific Name: Trimerotropis pallidipennis

Abundance: about 4

Bluejay

Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata

Abundance: 2

Honeybee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Abundance: about 10

Mule Deer

Scientific Name: Odocoileus hemionus

Abundance: Tracks, evidence of presence

List of Plants

List of Plants

 Poison Oak

Scientific Name: Toxicodendron diversilobum

Abundance: About 20

Black Mustard

Scientific Name: Brssica nigra

Abundance: About 3

Black Sage

Scientific Name: Salvia mellifera

Abundance: About 25

Western Sycamore

Scientific Name: Plantus vacemosa

Abundance: About 4

Prickly Pear Cactus

Scientific Name: Opuntia littoralis

Abundance: About 2

Whipple Yucca

Scientific Name: Yucca whipplei ssp. parishii

Abundance: About 1

Site Description

Site Description

Location: Eaton Canyon (Pasadena, CA)

Habitat: Chaparral

Dimensions of Site: About 25 paces wide and 50 paces long

Some specific characteristics of our area of Eaton Canyon was that the soil was very dusty and dry, almost like sand. There was sparse ground cover, which was more common in shaded areas. However, our area was mostly sunny and dry. The most common plant in our area was black sage. The area was a dried up river bed and it's bank. As a result, it had a lower level and higher level of ground. The lower level (which was the river bed) was populated by black sage and a few young western sycamores. It was also much rockier than the higher level of our area. On the higher, riverbank area, there was whipple yucca, prickly pear cacti, and more black sage. There was also some black mustard. There was also evidence of plants on the way to our site, with one of the most common trees being oak trees and an abundance of poison oak. We also saw a variety of animal species, too. There was an Audubon's Cottontail inside a bush, and there were also many Great Basin Fence Lizards sunning themselves on the rocks. Some insects that were in the area include Pallid-winged Grasshoppers and honeybees. There was evidence of birds such as the sound of a woodpecker in a nearby tree. We also saw many other birds flying in and out of trees, including a bluejay. We also found evidence of deer present in the area because there were deer tracks in the dirt.  

Mia's Observation Log

Observation Log

By: Mia Palencia

October 29 2012

Temperature: somewhat hot, body estimation: 78 degrees fahrenheit 

Weather: sunny, no clouds in sight, little to no wind, somewhat dry

1147 hrs. -  I hear a very constant buzzing in my ear. It sounded like a busy bee or a mosquito ringing. A slight breezy creates a howl. There are two very tiny grasshoppers that pass by. 

1152 hrs. - A dry dead bush near me shuffles. Next I see a lizard crawling near the bush.

1200 hrs. - A bluejay gracely flies across the sky in a relaxed manner. A high pitched noise is heard and wind rustles trees and plants creating a calm noise. Everything seems to be moving. Then, it is very still and quiet. Temperature seems to rise as sun seems brighter. 

1205 hrs. - Nothing seems to be happening. Trees are still. No birds in sight. It is very quiet and lonesome. Sun seems to be getting brighter.

1209 hrs. - An unidentified bird circles the sky and quickly disapears. Flies have found me. They seem to like a pile of dirt not to far away from me. Buzzing sound seems very loud. 

1220 hrs. - A grasshopper passes by me. Trees are still. Flies seem to have dissapeared. A bird swoops into  a nearby tree and seems to settle there. 

A lizard and a rabbit (video)

The lizard is a Great Basin Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis lonipipes) and the rabbit is a Audubon's Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii). This video was taken on October 29, 2012.