FRESH EMERGENT WETLANDS

VEGETATION:

Fresh Emergent Wetlands are characterized by erect, rooted herbaceous hydrophytes. Dominant vegetation is generally perennial monocots to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall (Cheatham and Haller 1975, Cowardin et al. 1979). All emergent wetlands are flooded frequently, enough so that the roots of the vegetation prosper in an anaerobic environment (Gosselink and Turner 1978). On wetter sites, common cattail, tule bulrush, river bulrush, and arrowhead are potential dominant species (Cheatham and Haller 1975, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1978, Wentz 1981).

COMMON BIRD SPECIES:

Year-round Residents: California Quail, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Black Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, California Scrub-Jay, Yellow-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Wrentit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, California Thrasher, European Starling, Northern Mockingbird, Western Bluebird, Phainopepla, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lark Sparrow, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Brewer’s Blackbird

Winter Visitors: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Summer Visitors: Green Heron, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Violet-Green Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock’s Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak.