The western screech owlets have grown up and left the nest. All but one of the eggs hatched, and everyone who hatched has fledged. Using Terry’s video clips, I have assembled a video showing some of the high points. For all of the videos from 2025 and 2026, check out Terry’s Owl Cam page.
The video below is a bit big, so may take some time to load.
Here is the Terry’s updated hatch and fledge data from the past seven years. The hatching times show some variation, but the time from hatching to fledging is remarkably consistent at 29 days.
Velvet ants are commonly observed wandering the landscape this time of year. Although referred to as ants, they are wasps in the family Mutillidae. Then again, ants are really a family of wasps, so one can quickly get mired in details by being picky about common names.
Males are fully capable of flight, and look very much like other wasps, whereas females are flightless. Both males and females feed on nectar. The fact that they are earthbound, coupled with their fuzzy and often colorful appearance makes these insects easy to recognize.
The above subtitle “Dangerous Beauties,” refers to two aspects of the ants’ biology.
First, both species described below are ectoparasitoids of ground-nesting bees. That is, their larvae develop attached to the larvae of their hosts, and ultimately kill them.
The second reason for calling them dangerous is because of the females’ powerful stings. Being stung is apparently excruciating to humans, and is an effective defense against most predators. Velvet ants use bright colors and stridulating noises to warn potential predators of the hazards.
Below are two species from closely related tribes of velvet ants. They share common features of velvet ants (e.g., strong stings and parasitic reproduction), but differ in some aspects of physical appearance, behavior and natural history.
Velvet Ants
The common velvet ant, Dasymutilla vestita, is brightly colored and active during the day.
Velvet ant, Dasymutilla vestita, crossing the street near the lab. 5/24/26.
The females appear as colorful fuzzballs wandering around in western North America. Generally some combination of black, red, and/or yellow.
Nocturnal Velvet Ants
Nocturnal velvet ants are seen more rarely. They are generally smaller, more drably colored, and, unsurprisingly, nocturnal. You can click the photos for larger views.
Nocturnal velvet ant from pitfall trap. 8/14/25.
Another view of the same insect. 8/14/25
Photomicrograph of the same velvet ant as above. Note sting at end of abdomen. Photo 5/23/26 of female collected 8/14/25.
The above nocturnal velvet ant is in the genus Odontophotopsis, but I have not been able to identify the species as yet.
A few references
Gall et al., (2018) The indestructible insect: Velvet ants from across the United States avoid predation by representatives from all major tetrapod clades. Ecol Evol 8:5852-5862.
Here at the lab, we are are lucky to have a close up view of nature. It’s a constant parade, with beetles emerging from their winter homes, ants swarming to start new colonies, winter birds leaving, summer birds arriving, and much more.
Carpenter ants swarming. A major worker (front left) guards the nest entrance while a winged male gets ready for his brief duty of finding a mate. 5/9/26
Four of five of the eggs in Terry’s nest box have hatched, and the owlets are growing rapidly. Of course, for each meal the owlets enjoy, a mouse, bird, or insect has a very bad day.
Dead mouse being delivered to growing owlets. 5/726
Snake in a Box
We have been tempted to add another bluebird box that has a camera so that we can watch the process of growth and fledging. I have been hesitating, largely because some broods do not survive and I am not sure that I want to watch that happen. My attitude was reinforced this week, when the female bluebird did not go into the nest box, and there was a something strange and pink sticking out of the hole.
When I opened the box, there was a large pink coachwhip snake inside. It had made a meal of the brood, even though the nest is on a pole about four feet off the ground.
Large coachwhip occupying bluebird box, having consumed most recent brood. 5/10/26
Looks like it will be necessary to add some flashing around the pole to make it harder for snakes to reach the box.
Lame Coyote
There seems to be a large crop of rabbits this year, which has led to plenty of coyote sightings. I see them at least a few times a week on morning surveys, and they show up regularly on the wildlife cams.
Terry was lucky enough to spot one finishing its rabbit meal, and fast enough to get a video. Another coyote, with an injured front leg, tries to share, but the first coyote is having none of it.
Coyote having breakfast, courtesy of Terry Morgan. 5/9/26
It is a harsh life out there, and a coyote that can’t hunt will not be able to eat. Animals can heal, so it may be back on all four feet and able to hunt again.
Four of the five eggs have hatched, and the parents are feeding them heavily with insects, rodents, and birds. The most recent videos are here. For all the rest, check out the owl box main page.
The western screech owls in Terry’s nest box are starting their spring activity. They seem to be slower getting started than in previous years. Nonetheless, there is nesting material in the box, and the male is hunting for food. Hoping for eggs soon!
If you want to see all the videos, including those from last year, go here.
The islands in the Gulf of California provide a natural laboratory for the effects of “spatial subsidy,” the movement of resources from a rich environment (the sea) to a more impoverished habitat (the desert islands). In this context, scientists have studied many species on the islands, including Tenebrionid beetles. The abundance and diversity of beetles on the islands of Bahia de los Angeles have been surveyed for at least 30 years, and my good friend and colleague Dr Drew Talley has been leading the studies for most of that time. In recent years, Dr Natalia Rodriguez Revelo, an expert in beetles and dune ecology, has participated in the work with Drew. I have participated in various roles for several of the past 20 field seasons, and was once again privileged to spend time with them and help out on the islands this year.
Drew and Natalia counting beetles on La Ventana. 6/28/25.
The procedure is straightforward in principle: on each island, set multiple pitfall traps (plastic party cups) baited with lean pieces of fish. The beetles (and, occasionally, other creatures) fall into the traps. Six days later, the traps are checked and the number and species of beetles are scored. In practice, mice or gulls can steal bait if it is not adequately secured, or fat from fish guts can turn the contents of the cup to smelly soup.
In a perfect world, traps would be set on all of the accessible islands in the bay. In practice, time constraints forced us to prioritize. This year, we sampled Coronadito, Coronado (also known as Isla Smith), Flecha, Pata, Llave, Cerraja, La Ventana, Cabeza de Caballo, and Gemelos West.
I made an effort this year to photograph each species using a platform with tacky wax to secure the beetle, and a scale to document its size.
Map of the bay at Bahia de los Angeles. Most islands, including all islands sampled this year, are labeled. The town of Bahia de los Angeles is labeled at lower left.
It was marginally successful, and provided insight about how to improve future versions.
Below is a draft guide to the beetles found on the islands, When possible, photos are provided of beetles held in fingers and mounted on the photography platform. Cartoons provide graphic representation of the relative sizes of the beetles, ranging from tiny (Batuliodes) to hefty (Cryptoglossa), keeping in mind that the sizes of all species can vary significantly.
Distribution of each species are based on data from Sanchez Piñero and Aalbu (2002). A table extracted from their observations can be found here.
Click the photographs if you want to see larger versions.
Argoporis apicalis
Medium sized, with ridged elytra and reddish legs. Argoporis is one of the few Tenebrionids on the islands which possess defensive glands in their abdomens.
Found on all islands except Mitlan (tiny island next to Coronado).
12 mm
Argoporis apicalis trapped on Coronadito island. 6/26/25.
Argoporis apicalis trapped on Cerraja island. The blurred image of an extra antenna was caused by using focus stacking to improve depth of field. 6/27/25.
Batuliodes confluens
This tiny brown beetle with roughened pronotum and elytra.
Found on the majority of islands, and may be undercounted due to its small size.
~3 mm
Batuliodes confluens trapped on Flecha island. 6/23/14
Batuliodes confluens trapped on Cerraja island. 6/27/25.
Cryptadius tarsalis
Small, oval, and deep-bodied, with dense rows of small punctures on the elytra.
Cryptadius is found on Bota, Cerraja, Coronado, Jorobado, Mitlan and Pata.
8 mm
Cryptadius tarsalis.trapped on Llave island. Scale bar, 2 mm. 6/27/25
Cryptoglossa spiculifera
One of the largest beetles on the islands, with elytra decorated with rows of raised, spiny bumps.
Found on the largest islands (Coronado, Cabeza de Caballo, but not La Ventana) as well as the rookery island, Gemelos West.
28 mm
Cryptoglossa spiculifera trapped on Gemelos West island, 6/28/25.
Cryptoglossa spiculifera trapped on Gemelos West island. Scale bar, 10 mm. 6/28/25.
Microschatia championi
Slightly smaller than Cryptoglossa, the elytra of Micoschatia are decorated with dimples rather than sharp bumps and there are punctures on the lateral pronotum of M. championi.
Present on all but the smallest islands.
20 mm
Microschatia championi trapped on Cerraja island. 6/27/25.
Microschatia championi trapped on Cerraja island. Scale bar, 5 mm. 6/27/25.
Stibia sparsa
Shaped like a typical Tenebrionid, with dense punctures on the pronotum and rows of punctures on the elytra.
Stibia can be found on the largest islands (Cabeza de Caballo, Coronado, La Ventana) plus Gemelos West.
11 mm
Stibia sparsa trapped on Gemelos West island. 6/28/25
Stibia sparsa trapped on Gemelos West island. Scale bar, 2 mm. 6/28/25.
Tonibius sulcatus
Very small and reddish, with relatively smooth pronotum and strongly ridged elytra.
Described from most islands, except Coronaditio, Gemelos West, Jorobado and Llave.
6 mm
Tonibius sulcatus found at Las Hamacas hotel. 7/10/24.
Triphalopsis californicus
Small, black, oval, and deep-bodied. Covered with fine hairs that are often coated in dust.
Triphalopsis has been described from all islands except Gemelo West.
8 mm
Triphalopsis californicus trapped on Flecha island. 6/27/25.
Triphalopsis californicus trapped on Cerraja island. Scale bar, 2 mm. 6/27/25.
There are many other beetles, including various species of Histeridae and Dermestidae (not shown).
Hister Beetle on Coronadito Island. Scale 2 mm. 6/26/25.
Centipedes, spiders, and scorpions are often found in the traps in the larger islands.
Scorpion trapped on La Ventana. 6/28/25
References
Sanchez Piñero, F. and Aalbu, R. L. (2002). Tenebrionid Beetles (Appendix 6.1). In A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cortés, pp. 129–153. New York: Oxford University Press.
Although the screech owls have been hogging all the attention this spring, many more birds are raising families in the area. Spotted towhees, Bewick’s wrens, lesser goldfinches, and chipping sparrows can be observed singing their songs and collecting food for their offspring.
We have been very lucky to have a clear view of a pair of western bluebirds. There has been a nest box on the back lot for many years. Last fall, it was time to replace the old, battered box with a new one, and the birds settled in early this spring.
Female western bluebird on nest box. 3/11/25.
They were getting things ready by the beginning of March.
Bluebirds staking out their nest on a cold spring morning. 3/15/25.
Despite the cold, they were ready to get started. Note the fluffed feathers in the photo above.
Mom peeking out of the box. 4/25/25.
The process was largely mysterious, with the parents coming and going during April and May, but no sightings of the nestlings.
The babies finally started sticking their heads out in May. Mom and dad brought food on a regular basis/
Nestling ready to test its wings and become independent. 5/23/25.
By the last part of may, the kids were ready to see the world. Within a day of showing their heads, everyone was gone.
Female starting the next nest. 5/29/25.
I cleaned out the old nest a few days after the fledglings left, and was surprised to see a pair of bluebirds bringing new materials less than a week later. It is impossible to say whether these are the same parents, but it seems likely. They can often raise more than one clutch per year, so maybe we’ll see more fledglings in a few months.
